"Um, uh..." Lexi was racking her brain for any word. Just a single word to say to Wes, who stood there with shock plastered on his expression. She knew how it looked, and saw the smeared lipstick on Tom's face that likely mirrored hers. Yet, that didn't stop both Tom and her from holding their hands up to their mouths.

How could we have been so reckless? We weren't even thinking! Now that they knew they weren't faculty and student anymore, it was as if every line drawn in the sand had been washed away and along with it, every sensible notion.

"Can I help you, Wes?" Tom asked while he rubbed his mouth with his palm.

"No, I saw all I needed to see, you filthy piece of shit." Wes was about to turn back toward the door but stopped when Lexi gasped.

"Hey! Don't call him that!" Lexi crossed her arms but then quickly unfurled them when she realized the fate of their jobs now rested on Wes. "Please, Wes! You can't tell anyone."

Wes scoffed. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm going to tell everyone. This man deserves to be put in jail. And as for you, Hannah, I didn't realize how much of a slut you were."

Tom's fists clenched and he was about to charge toward Wes, but Lexi was able to grab his arm in time. "Tom, don't! I'm not offended, it's okay!"

"It's not okay! He doesn't get to talk to you like that!" The look in Tom's eyes seemed as if he would murder Wes on the spot, yet it softened when his eyes met Lexi's. He quickly turned back to Wes. "Apologize to her, right now!"

Wes laughed. "Or what? You'll throw a punch? I think you're already in enough trouble as it is, Professor Miller. Right now, I think you should be asking me how you'll get me to keep my mouth shut." A smile crept over Wes' face. It was the same one that he used on Lexi when he was trying to get her to 'make it up to him' after she ghosted him at the party. And both times rolled discomfort through her body. She just didn't realize it the first time.

"What do you need us to do?" Lexi asked before she even registered the words that came out. A part of her was desperate not to have any more screw-ups. Her parents had just gotten on board with her and Tom being together and she felt as though they were on the cusp of solving the case. Getting kicked out of the university would only put another pin in the Lexi Screwed Up sign. And not to mention, Tom's real-life job would be thrown into jeopardy.

Tom raised his brows toward Lexi, likely wondering what she was doing. Honestly, Tom, same. Lexi curled her lips, waiting for Wes to respond. He drew his hand to his chin as if deep in thought and seemed to enjoy the silence that was spread between them.

Tom sighed. "What is it you want, Wes?"

"An automatic A in this class. I don't ever want to see your ugly ass face again."

Tom huffed, "Fine."

Oh, thank God, that's it! Yet, Lexi's stomach dropped when she heard the "And" leave Wes' lips.

"And...I want to touch Hannah's boobs."

"Fuck no!" Tom bellowed.

"Oh, my God, Wes! Are you serious?" Lexi shook her head in disbelief and quickly crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Of course, I'm serious! Have you seen your tits? How could I not ask for that?"

"You're disgusting!" Lexi spat out.

"So, I guess that's a no?"

"Wes, just get the hell out. Tell whoever the fuck you want." Tom's jaw clenched as he clasped Lexi's hand.

Wes stole a glance at the action and disgust lined his features. "Suit yourself. It's really a win-win for me since I'll never have to see you again when you get fired." He quickly turned around and stormed out of the classroom.

Lexi shook her head, still in disbelief over the turn of events. Her heart was beating fast as Tom wrapped his arms around her. "Are you okay?"

"It's over?"

"Yeah, I'm so sorry. It's done. We're getting kicked out. I bet you we'll be getting a call from the Dean any moment now."

"Wh-what does this mean for your job at Black Sphere?"

Tom let go of Lexi and sighed. "I'll probably get fired once word spreads to some of my coworkers on campus."

"I'm so sorry! This is all my fault! I shouldn't have worn this outfit today!"

Tom let out a loud laugh. "What are you talking about?"

"This outfit! I wanted to dress up for you and I like seducing you!" Tom let out another deep laugh and it forced a small smile out of Lexi. "What?"

"Lexi, you could've come to class in a garbage bag, and I would've still gotten a hard-on." Her eyes grew wide before Tom continued. "Except Crocs. That's where I draw the line." His eyes raked her body for a moment before he pulled her in closer. "Actually, scratch that. You could wear whatever the hell you wanted and it'd get that same reaction out of me."

Lexi giggled before resting her head against Tom's chest. The erratic beats of his heart were banging against every receptor in her body. They held each other tight knowing that things would soon change. She furrowed her brows as she took in his manly scent. "I am so sorry," she said in a quiet voice as he stroked her back. "What are you going to do if you get fired from Black Sphere? Where would you work?"

Tom shrugged and sighed. "I have no clue."

Lexi leaned back abruptly, and Tom gave her a quizzical brow. "I have an idea!"

"What is it?"

Lexi began pacing the room in front of him. "Okay, let's say my parents don't fire me. What if you came to work with us?"

"How would that solve anything? We still wouldn't be able to be here because we'd be kicked out of the university."

"You're right, but I don't know. Now that I'm thinking more about it, maybe it wouldn't be so bad if we weren't here anymore. There's a fifty-fifty chance I'm on the cusp of solving this case. I just need to get back to my dorm room to see."

"W-what?"

"This code I started to run this morning." Lexi glanced at the clock, "I think it may be done running now. It's on my other computer in my dorm room."

Tom placed a hand on his mouth. "Th-that could be huge, Lex. Are you sure?"

"I don't know for sure if it'll work since the last five hundred versions haven't before, but I have a good feeling about this one."

"Well, go check that code!" Tom planted a quick kiss on her cheek and smiled.

"I will but you have to promise me you'll come work with me and my family!"

Tom's smile dimmed. "Your parents may not even want me – the guy who got their daughter kicked off an undercover mission because he can't control himself when he's around her."

"Trust me, they'll want you! Your background and experience would be a huge asset to our company. And now, if, by some miracle of God, I'm able to solve this case, then we would be setting ourselves up for huge future successes and business. You'd really be joining at a good time."

"And we'd get to spend more time together?"

Lexi nodded. "And we'd get to spend more time together," she echoed before a smile stretched across her face.

Tom gave her a toothy grin before lifting her off the ground with a hug. "I love you. Did you know that?"

Lexi giggled. "I love you, too!"

"Alright, let's hope to God that code works."

"I'm going to run back now and check, and then I'll meet you at the Dean's office. We can turn ourselves in before Wes does or after, whatever."

Tom agreed and Lexi sprinted out of the classroom. When she reached the dorm, she flung her bag at Mindy who was near the door. "Mindy! Things are happening."

"What? What's happening?"

Lexi grabbed her laptop and opened the software. Her stomach fled up to her chest as soon as she saw the green check mark that was on the log. This was it. This was when she'd discover if she'd make or break her and Tom's careers and if her family was done using every last resource they had on something seemingly impossible. Her heart beat rapidly as she opened the results, and her eyes grew wide at the animation that popped up. "Oh my God, Mindy!" Lexi shrieked and jumped up from her seat. "I know who the hacker is!"

***

Any final guesses?? The culprit will finally be revealed in the next chapter! Thanks for reading, voting, and commenting! ♥️