Love Starts with Coquetry

"Amber, come to my office."

Something was wrong with the expression of the head teacher, Anastasia Bates. Did she know what I did yesterday?

I suddenly had a bad feeling.

I was done for.

Every time Anastasia asked to see me, it was about something bad.

"Hello."

The teachers in the office were sitting with their legs crossed, with a playful and curious look in their eyes.

Anastasia's gaze was terrifying as if she wanted to tear me apart.

She didn't say a word but tapped her fingers on the desk a few times.

The pink envelope on the desk was dazzling. Wasn't it the one I gave to the guy in the Computer Department yesterday?

"Does it look familiar?" Anastasia threw the envelope on the floor and said with a strange tone.

I didn't respond.

She then stood up and stepped on the envelope, looking ferocious.

"I don't care how poor your academic performance is. Don't affect others' future. Take your nasty letter away. Toss it into the trash can. Stand and listen to the class from now on."

I almost had a heart attack. What the heck? It wasn't my letter at all. How come I ended up being scolded?

Later, I found out that it was just a prank from Meadow. She already knew that Josh was Anastasia's son.

"Amber, don't stay mad at me. I lost in a Truth or Date game. That's all. I never expected Josh to actually tell on us."

I refused to talk to her for a whole week. Then she transferred me 300 dollars, and that was how we made up.

However, I wasn't planning to let Josh off the hook.

"Amber, why don't we just let it go? If he tells on us again, Ms. Bates will make us suffer."

"Let it go? No way. This time, I not only want to deal with him, but I also want to piss Ms. Bates off."

Meadow looked shocked and asked, "Do you have a plan?"

"I've decided to officially pursue Josh and then dump him heartlessly."

After hearing this, Meadow gave me a thumbs-up and said, "Amber, impressive."

Since then, I ordered love songs for Josh every day, which would be played on the radio station.

I sent him a love letter and lunch every day, too.

Our daily encounters were orchestrated by me, but unfortunately, Josh was unmoved.

Since he liked studying, I planned on conquering him with knowledge.

I didn't think he had ever seen snow, so I planned to widen his horizons with a chemistry experiment.

Unfortunately, I forgot that I was a poor student.

At the moment when the alcohol lamp and various containers fell, the flames shone in the lab, and I panicked.

"Amber? Amber, can you hear me? Wake up."

In a daze, I seemed to hear Josh's voice. I didn't know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, I saw Josh leaning on my bed.

I had to admit that he was indeed quite cute.

Anastasia came in at some point, grabbed me by the collar, and pulled me out of bed.

"Amber, are you done? Do you take my words as if they were nothing? You have no upbringing at all. You're as cheap as your mom." Anastasia slapped me, making my ears buzz.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Josh pulled Anastasia away, roaring angrily.

Anastasia glared at him and pointed at his forehead. "I'm telling you. From now on, you are not allowed to talk to her! She's a bad influence!"

After saying that, she glanced at me and forcibly took Josh away.

I don't know why Anastasia hated me so much. She hated me to the point of ripping the deepest scar in my heart open.

Later, I stopped bothering Josh, but he started to contact me proactively.

"Amber, don't take what my mom said to heart. Actually, I can be your..."

Josh touched his red ear and stuttered as he spoke.

I smiled indifferently, "What? You're not thinking of being my boyfriend, are you?"

His expression froze.

I looked at him and laughed, saying, "Why do you think I approached you? It's all because of your mom. Now she's so pissed off, and I've achieved my goal. I'm so happy. Why would I be angry?"

Josh lowered his head, smashed the gift he had prepared on the ground, and then left without looking back.

His self-esteem was trampled on by me, and my revenge plan was successfully completed.

But why did I feel a little sad?

Then I never saw Josh again. I heard that Anastasia forced him to transfer to another school.

I didn't expect that after so many years, our reunion would be like this.

Did Josh still have feelings for me?

No way. He must be trying to get revenge on me. After all, back then he was an inexperienced and innocent boy who was played with by me emotionally. He probably had shadows on relationships after that.

"Amber, come to my office."

It was those familiar and suffocating words again.

My heart sank. Was he about to get back at me?

"Mr. Beck... What can I do for you?" At this moment, I felt as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

I was on his payroll, so I had to treat him with respect. I tried my best to stay calm.

Josh raised his hand to adjust his glasses on the bridge of his nose, put down the documents in his hand, and walked toward me.

His overwhelming aura somehow made me dare not look directly at his eyes.

He was completely different from the drunkard yesterday. If I had known, I wouldn't have refused him last night.

"I need an assistant, and it's you."

He stared at me, which made my heart race.

He really was determined to get back at me. I'd suffer after I became his assistant!

I might as well quit!

But my body reacted quicker. I said, "OK. Whatever you say, Mr. Beck." Then I showed him a standard ninety-degree bow.

Damned capitalists!

"Well, about yesterday..." I tried to get him to bring it up.

But he seemed completely indifferent.

"What happened yesterday? Sorry. I black out when I get drunk." he said righteously.

So, I was the only one who couldn't sleep last night? He came on to me, and that was it? What a jerk!

"Don't just stand there. If you have nothing to do, go downstairs and buy me a cup of coffee."

His bossy tone was annoying, but I endured it for the sake of my job.