Convincing the grumpy man

That night upon getting home Mia had dinner with her mother and after a lot of persuasion finally got to help her mother with a few chores before taking a shower and getting ready for bed. She picked up her cat, Robby, a white fluffy snow cat with beautiful blue eyes. She had adopted the cute little stray cat from the street. 

Mia recalled the first time the cat had followed her all the way to the shop she'd gone to run errand for her mother. When she had attempted to pet the cat, it had stayed and rubbed it's fluffy body against her palm. She had immediately fallen in love with the cute little cat and took it home with her and named him Robby. 

And now, Robby had become her greatest companion in the house. She ran her fingers around his soft fur, and the cat closed it's eyes purring. She lay on her bed petting the cat.

Closing her eyes the beautiful image of the gray eyed man in his office sitting with a frosty expression concentrating on his job appeared in her mind. Such cold person.

A smile slowly surfaced on her face, her two dimples plus her slightly damp hair in the dim lighting of her bedroom made her appear cuter.

Turning over on her bed, she murmured to herself, "Mr. Bennett, first you don't want to mentor me, now you're giving me sleepless nights on how to convince you to mentor me." 

Having failed at her attempts to fall asleep she pulled out her phone and checked into the school's online forum.

Seeing the trending contents on the forum she quickly sat up on her bed.

"The new professor is a prince charming." Read the headline of the thread.

It was posted barely a few hours ago but the thread had already gotten over a thousand comments.

"Damn my heart literally stopped the first time I saw him, he's soooooo handsome, I can't even help myself from following him around throughout the day to all his classes."

"He's my ideal man, my idol, I wish I could get one chance just one to kiss those beautiful lips goodnight, I would gladly die happily."

"I can't believe it, the man of my dreams has suddenly appeared before me, I can't wait to have our dream wedding."

"That's all it can ever be, a dream do you think he'll ever like someone like you? Heh, some people just can't wake up to reality."

"All of you stop fighting over my man, with someone like him, of course he's only meant for me, if you all keep fighting you'll just be wasting your time."

"Guys guys relax, he's so handsome, do you all want to taint that beauty by shamelessly coveting him like this? I think a handsome man like that is only meant for another equally beautiful woman. I vote for Diane, the most beautiful girl in school."

"That's right, beauty deserves beauty, I vote for Diane as well.'

"Diane is so beautiful and she's kind hearted, of course only someone like her can deserve a prince."

More threads similar to these ones ran the length of the post, and it wasn't the end as more people continued to comment every few seconds.

Mia continued to read through the thread with her mouth agape.

"How shameless, drooling on a man, who they don't know if he's in a relationship or even married. Pathetic." Mia scoffed to herself. But then she couldn't help but agree, he was too good looking to be resisted by girls. Even she couldn't resist him. However, she bet he would pay anyone of them any attention with that personality of his.

And Diane? Tsk, she'd like to see her try and hit on Leo Bennett. Diane had dated almost all the handsome dudes on campus. Mia thought to herself. The professor might be handsome with beautiful eyes, Mia dared not cross the lines. All she needed from him now was for the man to supervise her project assignment.

Diane could throw her beautiful self at the professor for all Mia cared. 

Actually the reason why everyone thought Diane as the most beautiful was because of the way she carried herself, how she dressed plus she had a wealthy background.

True, Diane was beautiful however compared to Mia, one who had eyes would know who was more attractive.

Mia had a kind of beauty that was innocent and cute, though she wasn't born in a rich family and didn't have the privilege to wear expensive luxury clothes and designer items and makeup. She was still beautiful in her own way. Her beauty wasn't the type that screamed in your face. It was one that was capable of warming hearts and drawing people in.

Actually before the incident with Diane there were still many people comparing them in terms of beauty, and a whole lot more rooting for Mia over Diane whenever they appeared on screen in the media center room.

But after everything happened Mia's beauty seemed to fade in everyone's eyes, since that's how things were, a beautiful woman however attractive will turn sour if she had a bad character. But of course to Mia she didn't care about physical appearance, so none of these things mattered to her at all. All she wanted was a chance to show the world what she'd got and give her mother a good life.

An idea suddenly struck Mia. She rolled out of bed and grabbed her laptop. She did a background check on Leo Bennett, though she barely found any personal information about him, she was satisfied with the little she got. 

Mia slept peacefully afterwards not bothering about anything else as she'd already figured out how to convince him into helping her tomorrow.

Uptown Zen city.

Inside of a luxurious looking mansion, In a spacious room decorated with a golden and lavender theme.

A beautiful young woman could be seen smiling as she stood in front of the floor length mirror in the room. She fixed her hair repeatedly turning her face this way and that in clear admiration for herself.

"So pretty." Diane complimented herself with a satisfied smile before moving away from the mirror.

She picked up her phone logging into the school's online forum and her face broke into a wide grin.

"Of course." She suddenly said at one of the comments nodding her head in agreement.

Everyone else could see, that the handsome professor was only meant for someone like her. However, she remembered how she had tried to send him suggestive glances and beautiful shy smiles in class, but his gaze didn't even linger on her for a second.

Maybe he didn't notice her, after all who could ignore such beauty as herself?' she was even more certain he didn't see her the more she thought about it.

There was not a single man on this Earth who could be able to resist her charms, the type of man just hadn't been born yet, and if he was born then she was sure just one smile from her would melt him.

She chuckled to herself at that thought. What could she do? It wasn't her fault she possessed this level of charm. Men just get enchanted by her and there's nothing she could do about it.

And she was absolutely certain this new professor, would be no different. She suddenly began to think of ways to create their beautiful chance encounter, one that would make it evident that they were made for each other.

Her face lightened up as an idea struck her.

Why would she have to be the one to do something, when she had this many fans at her beck and call. She wouldn't lift a finger, and the professor would be hers, all she needed to do was pull a few strings with a few of her die hard fans and that was it. She could already picture the face of that breathtaking man, catering to her every need, falling all over her.

She pulled out her phone and typed a few strings of words, after that she kept her phone with a relaxed expression. Now all she needed to do was just wait, and watch, her fans will get the rest done on her behalf.

The room suddenly filled with the soft sounds of her laughter.

The next morning after having her first class for the day, Mia headed straight for the second office in block 29.

After knocking lightly and receiving response she strode in happily.

"Good morning Le...I mean sir, good morning sir." She coughed lightly straightening her posture as she stood at the entrance obediently.

He wanted an obedient student right, ok, no problem, she would give just that. She would be obedient until he would help her pass her project. 

"Hmm." Neil hummed a reply to her greetings tearing his eyes off the computer. "What do you want again?" He asked in a straight forward manner not liking the fact that this girl kept appearing in his presence.

Mia shrunk her neck and silently stepped forward dropping the papers in front of him, she moved backwards and stood quietly like a high school student.

Without looking at her, Neil continued to type rapidly on his computer before finally glancing at the papers. He picked one up to have a look and then shook a finger in dismissal.

"Haven't I told you? I won't work with you. Go back to Mr. Jasper and have him assign you to someone else." Having said that plainly he returned to his typing.

"But Mr. Jasper said there's no one else available to mentor me on this, that's why he sent me to you." Mia spoke meekly with her neck lowered. She stole a glance at his expression which remained unfazed before adding. "And besides, Mr. Jasper said I was too unruly, and that no one else could handle my wild nature better than you. He also said if you mentored me, then I'll definitely become a more responsible student because you are a very strict and straight forward professor and that he admired your skills in your resume." Mia sighed at the end of her words stealing glances at his expression.

Although his face remained cold, she could see the slight raise of his brows in agreement, his eyes glinting with a light full of pride. Though, one thing Neil would agree with, was the fact that he was indeed good at discipline and this one here seemed to be lacking in that.

Mia continued speaking. "Then again maybe you're right, I should just go find another professor, but that might take really long. It doesn't matter, I'll just have to bear with it, and if I fail, then I guess I'll just accept that." She made sure to emphasize the words fail as she spoke.

She pitifully picked the papers off the table one after another, drawing her words.

Seeing no reaction from him she turned to leave with tiny steps dragging her feet against the floor sluggishly. She had already reached the door but no response from him.

And to think she had gone and looked into his profile to know more about him before coming here, she could have sworn he'd quickly accept her, guess she was wrong. Her shoulders slumped in disappointment as she opened the door to leave after sending him one last glance.

"Two o'clock tomorrow. If you're late this time, then consider your assignment failed." He dropped his words hurriedly.

Mia's face brightened in excitement as she quickly looked back at him, but he continued to work as if he wasn't the person who just spoke.

But how could she mistake it. "Thank you, thank you so much." She said gratefully, she lingered a little staring at him dazedly, he glanced at her with a raised brow that said. ' What are you still doing here?' she quickly regained her senses dashing out of the office as she smiled along the hallway.