Guidance

chapter 1

Another long day at work with nothing but boredom and misery following it. She knew what was waiting for her at home, a complete lack of fulfillment. The thought of the empty house with its defeaning loneliness made her shudder. At 34, watching most of her friends deep in their domestic bliss only made the days and nights spent alone go by slower and slower. Almost as if time had slowed down to an irreversible, terrible stop where all she could do was watch as her life passed her by. Not even the illusion of control could exist there.

A knock on her door began dragging her out of the seemingly never-ending dread. A timid voice carried through to her, it was a pretty voice but irritating nonetheless. It looked like she would have to stay a bit longer.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you professor, I know it's late but I thought you would still be here and well it's kind of urgent. Can I come in?"

As Dean of admissions and chair of the psychology department, she should have gotten used to the periodic interruptions by students to her carefully scheduled days. But, the slightest change to her curated schedule still irritated her to no end.

She realised the girl could sense her irritation,the girl must have been aware that she was coming well after office hours. Reluctantly, she called her in.

The girl had a pretty face atleast, the narrow jaw, the full lips, the slender neck. The interruption felt alot less irritating now. She'd seen the girl around campus before, it dawned upon her now what she must be visiting her about.

"Professor, I'm sure you've heard about the disciplinary action committee's decision on mycase. "

The conversation may yet turn out to be mildly interesting. The girl looked cute when she was nervous and desperate.

The professor let the nerves simmer for a moment before speaking up. "Yes Miss..?"

"Its Leia, Ma'am"

"Right. Miss Leia. Talks of your breach of the code of conduct have been quite the talk. Its a shame to see a promising young student such as yourself to go down such a path"

The girl couldn't meet her professor's eyes. The shame and regret ever present. She waited in silence for the professor to recount her failings to her.

"It caught me off guard you know, I had no idea such a thing was going on at campus. Cheating in an exam is one thing but leaking papers, breaking into a professor's office, selling question papers. It was all a bit much. I'm sure you see why the committee took the decision to revoke your scholarship"

The professor could see the girl weighed down by her actions, she was still so young, so easy to disregard all that she had worked for. The complete lack of discipline soured the professor's mood. Girls like her could use a hard hand, no, they needed a hard hand to guide them towards what was best for them.  Her eyes looked up at her now, they were glossed by tears but something felt off. The professor was hit by the sudden realisation, this girl wasn't sorry at all. Maybe sorry she got caught but that was it. The shame, the guilt, it was all feigned, the timidity nothing but an act.

"You don't really think you were wrong do you? What exactly are you here for Miss leia?"

The girl's mock shame began to drop, her features morphing into a look of shock at being caught dead within her act. She must not be used to people being able to call her bluff so easily. She had to think quick. She knew she had one chance at getting the professor to help her out, she could not blow it.

"You're right. I'm not really sorry. I may have done wrong but it wasn't without good reason."

The slight gleam of an opportunity started to materialise infront of the professor. An opportunity at regaining some semblance of control. A chance to make the endless loop of time move at her pace. It had been too long since she had been with a girl so young as the one sitting across from her.

"Oh, is that so? Do go on Miss Laia, what exactly is this 'good reason'"

The girl had now completely shed the mock shyness she had masked herself in. Her words were now beginning to border on desperation.

"I needed the money, I am deep in debt Professor. I did what I did out of necessity only. It may have been wrong but its what had to be done. You have to believe me professor. Without the scholarship I will be forced to drop out."

The professor's interest was officially piqued. The girl seemed so mature all of a sudden, the pride and conviction in her voice was refreshing to see in someone so young.

"I see. Its quite an unfortunate situation you have ended up in. What exactly do you think I can do to help?" The professor strained to keep her excitement to herself. The girl was almost perfect. Young enough to direct, to mould into her image of perfection. She saw an escape from the loneliness, from the boredom in the girl's now nervous antics.

"I was hoping you would plead my case to the committee Professor. I'll do anything you want, I can assist you in class, he'll I'd do your fucking laundry. Sorry for that! I didn't mean to cuss!"

The girl's frantic desperation was a treat for the professor. She couldn't make her excitement too obvious though. It might scare the girl off. Now was the time to tread slowly and carefully.

"I understand your situation Miss. I would be happy to help. I could put in a good word for you with the committee."

"Please, just a word from you and I get to keep my spot here."

The professor was pleased by how this was turning out. It seemed the girl was too, her words sounded much less jumbled now.

"Do you have a guardian? A parent?" The professor prodded for information.

"No, it's just me here. I do have a little brother but he lives with my aunt"

This was pleasing to hear. Ofc, the professor wasn't pleased that the girl was likely an orphan, she wasn't THAT much of a sadist. But she couldn't help but see it as a situation where she could help the girl, have her all to herself.

"Well, Miss laia. I wouldn't want you to do my laundry but I do have another proposition for you. I'll help you out of this situation with the committee, I'll help pay off your debts too. But, I require something in return."

The girl was taken aback. Shocked. She didn't know what next to expect. People had made demands of her before, of her body. In the deliberate silence, her mind went at a 100 miles an hour. Weighing her desperation against what she thought the professor was going to ask. It wouldn't be like the other time she gave her body as 'debt servicing'. The professor was much better looking for sure, more than once laia had heard the other students, girl's and boys alike, talk about how hot the professor is. Laia would be lying if she said she hadn't noticed it too. The professor's commanding voice swept her away from the barrage of thoughts.

"...you remind me of me when I was your age. I didn't have anyone to guide me. I made too many mistakes. It wasn't easy getting to where I am now all on my own. I want to help you laia, if you'd let me."

The girl was expecting the professor to say  something much different. She couldnt tell if she was relieved or disappointed. She tried her best to keep her face devoid of both emotions, using a shroud of confusion as her mask.

"What exactly do you mean when you say help? I mean ofc I would love your help but I don't want to be too much of a burden Ma'am."

The way the girl called her Ma'am excited her to no end. The professor did her very best to keep her composure, continuing in a level tone.

"I would help you stay away from anything that could jeopardise your future leia. A young girl like you, alone, without anyone to turn to for guidance. It's no mystery how you ended up breaking the code of conduct so thoroughly. "

Leia was truly confused now. Why would a woman as competent and busy as the professor waste time correcting her?

"I would ask just one thing in return from you."

Laia let out an all too eager reply that was music to the professor's ears.

"Anything Professor."

"For me to be able to help you, and perhaps help myself as well, I would require you to submit your will to me. You will have to do as I ask you to. No questions asked. You will have to follow my rules leia. There will be repercussions if you go against what I have asked you to do."