Professor Cline Revealed (The Professor #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

yawned into the phone.
    The feeling in the pit of my stomach sank lower. “Okay, sorry to bother you. I tried to call your office phone, but you must have not been in there when I called,” I goaded.
    “Yeah,” he agreed. “I’m not working in my office today. I’ve been in the meeting room trying to get all these files ready for Dad to sign on Monday.”
    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as the words left his lips. He was straight-out lying to me and it made my chest hurt. How could he lie to me so easily? I could feel the tingling in my nose as the tears started to form, and I tried not to think about all the other things he could be lying about.
    “All right. Well, I guess I’ll let you get back to work,” I managed to get out without my voice cracking.
    “Okay, sounds good. I’ll see you tonight,” he blurted quickly before hanging up, like he couldn’t get me off the phone fast enough.
    I sat on the bench for fifteen minutes while I gained my bearings. I still didn’t have any proof he was actually cheating on me, but I had this heavy feeling in my chest that something was definitely going on. My mother always told me growing up that I needed to trust my gut, to always follow my instinct, but right then I didn’t want to trust my gut. I wanted to be so very wrong.
    I sluggishly got up from the bench and made my way out of the building to walk back to the train. That wasn’t how I’d wanted to start my night, but a part of me knew things might turn sour. And at that point, work would be my only refuge. At least there I’d be too busy to think about my three-year relationship going down the drain.

Chapter 3
    Mason – Seven years old
     
    I woke from a sound sleep.
    Mom and Dad were arguing. Again. For the third time that week. I didn’t understand why they always argued. It made me sad. I just wanted everyone to be happy like me. I didn’t understand why Dad always got so mad. Mom said it was because he was an important man and with that came big responsibilities. I knew he had a big, important job, but I still didn’t understand.
    Dad was one of those important people who were gone all the time. I didn’t really know him. He was my dad, but that was about it. We never did anything together. I hardly saw him. Mom was the one who was always there for me. So when they fought and I’d hear how sad she was, I’d always go to her.
    I climbed out of bed, opened my bedroom door and quietly made my way to the hall. Their room was on the other side of the staircase. Normally, I wouldn’t hear them but when they argued, they always had their door open. I think it was Mom’s way of letting me know to stay away.
    Hiding behind the wall where I always did, I waited for my dad to leave their room. I’d go to Mom and comfort her when he left. I hated hearing her cry. He always said bad things to her to make her cry, stuff I wasn’t allowed to repeat.
    His voice echoed in the hallway and then I heard something break.
    They usually argued about money. Mom liked to shop and sometimes she did too much of it and it would make Dad mad. But that time was different. He was talking about stuff I knew nothing about.
    “You can’t keep doing this, John,” Mom pleaded. “I know what you’re hiding down there. I saw that file. You need to stop. You’re going to get caught. How could you do such a thing?”
    I heard him laugh, a loud smacking sound, and then my mother’s soft cries.
    “Who the fuck do you think you are, you little bitch? How many times have I told you to stay out of my fucking office!” he yelled.
    There was quiet for a few moments and then he spoke again.
    “You don’t need to worry about what I do or how I do it. I’ve never heard you complain about the money you spend. Where do you think that money comes from?”
    “It’s not right, John. You’re a lawyer, for Christ’s sake. How could you do this? I don’t even know who you are anymore,” she cried. “I’m leaving. I can’t