Bound by law

Chapter 2: Beneath the Surface

Estelle Brooks was no stranger to competition. She'd spent her entire life working harder than everyone else around her, pushing herself to be the best, and refusing to back down when the odds were stacked against her. That determination had brought her here—to one of the most prestigious law schools in the country, staring down the opportunity of a lifetime. But this wasn't just about proving herself anymore. Somehow, she was the one who'd caught Professor Celeste Thorne's eye.

As Estelle walked home from class, the crisp autumn air biting at her cheeks, her mind drifted to the one person who had always believed in her—the person she missed the most: her father.

Growing up in a small, quiet town, Estelle had been raised by her father, a local attorney with a passion for justice. He'd taught her everything she knew about standing up for herself, about fighting for what was right. He wasn't just her father—he was her hero. But life had a way of being cruel. He had died suddenly when Estelle was seventeen, leaving her to navigate the world on her own.

In the years since his death, Estelle had thrown herself into her studies, determined to honor his memory by becoming the lawyer he always believed she could be. But that drive had come at a cost. She often found herself burying her emotions, putting on a cheerful front for the world when inside, she still felt the weight of her father's absence. It was easier that way—easier to focus on what was ahead rather than deal with the pain of what she'd lost.

Now, as she approached her apartment, Estelle couldn't help but wonder if her father would be proud of her. She had made it this far, hadn't she? But something about Professor Thorne rattled her in ways that no other professor or challenge had before.

When she unlocked her door, Mia was already sprawled out on the couch, scrolling through her phone. "You look like you're in deep thought," Mia said without looking up. "Still thinking about Thorne?"

Estelle let out a sigh and collapsed next to Mia, her mind swirling. "I don't get it. She barely looks at anyone else in class, but every time she does look at me, I feel like I've done something wrong—or like she's expecting something from me."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Well, she is the Ice Queen. Maybe she sees potential in you? Or maybe she's just super intimidating, and you're overthinking it."

Estelle shook her head. "No, it's more than that. I feel like I'm being singled out, but I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Definitely a crush," Mia teased, laughing when Estelle shoved her playfully.

Professor Celeste Thorne was used to silence. She had cultivated it in her life like a carefully tended garden, allowing only the faintest whispers of anything emotional or personal to creep through. That was the way it had to be—no distractions, no messiness. She had built a career on precision, control, and the ability to remain unaffected by anything other than the pursuit of success. Feelings? They had no place in her world.

Celeste sat in her office, the heavy wooden desk an imposing presence in the otherwise minimalist space. Everything about her environment was designed to reflect the way she lived her life: clean, orderly, and cold. Her office was her sanctuary, free from the chaos and emotion that often ruled others. Here, she could think clearly, free from anything that might threaten to unravel the carefully constructed walls she had built around herself.

It had been years since she'd allowed herself to feel anything deeply. Her childhood had taught her that emotions were dangerous—unpredictable, uncontrollable, and ultimately destructive. Raised in a family of high-achieving lawyers, Celeste had learned from a young age that weakness was not an option. Her parents, both career-driven and emotionally distant, had instilled in her the belief that love and affection were distractions—vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Celeste had carried that lesson with her, using it as armor to navigate the cutthroat world of law.

By the time she'd reached her current position, she had become known for her ruthlessness in the courtroom and her detachment from anything personal. Her colleagues respected her, but none of them truly knew her. She preferred it that way.

But then, there was Estelle Brooks.

Celeste had noticed her from the very first day. Something about her vibrant personality, the way she seemed to laugh at the world even when it was trying to crush her, had caught Celeste off guard. Estelle wasn't like the other students—she didn't hold herself back, didn't carefully measure her words or shield her emotions. She was open, unfiltered, and, quite frankly, infuriating at times.

But she was also brilliant. Beneath the light-hearted exterior and the incessant talking, Estelle had a sharp mind, one that Celeste couldn't ignore. In a way, she reminded Celeste of herself before she had learned how to shut everything off.

Celeste's fingers traced the edges of a file on her desk. The students' mock cases were all here, waiting for her review, but her mind kept drifting back to Estelle. She hated how much space the girl occupied in her thoughts. It was...disruptive. Celeste prided herself on her ability to compartmentalize, to keep her professional and personal lives separate. But Estelle seemed to blur that line every time she spoke in class, her teasing tone leaving Celeste off-balance in ways she hadn't been in years.

Celeste had made a point to keep her distance, to make sure Estelle knew she was just another student—but lately, even that cold detachment was slipping. The brush of their fingers when she handed Estelle the case file earlier still lingered in her mind. It had been nothing, just an accidental touch, but it had rattled Celeste in a way she couldn't explain.

She couldn't afford to be rattled. Not by anyone, least of all a student.

With a sharp inhale, Celeste stood from her desk, brushing off the thoughts that were beginning to creep in. She had a reputation to uphold—a firm to run. Whatever this was, it would go no further. She would make sure of it.

Later that night, Estelle lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts still circling around her strange interactions with Celeste Thorne. Her admiration for the woman was undeniable—Celeste was everything she had dreamed of becoming. But admiration wasn't the only thing that swirled in her chest when she thought about the professor. There was something deeper there, something more complicated.

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced over to see a message from Mia.

Mia: You're still obsessing over Thorne, aren't you?

Estelle: Not obsessing. Just...thinking.

Mia: Thinking is a gateway drug to obsessing.

Estelle: Goodnight, Mia.

Mia: Just remember to smile at her tomorrow. Maybe she'll smile back. Or maybe her face will crack.

Estelle rolled her eyes and tossed the phone onto the pillow beside her. She knew Mia was teasing, but it was true—there was something about Celeste Thorne that Estelle couldn't shake. Maybe it was because she'd never met anyone like her—someone so in control, so cold and untouchable. Or maybe it was because, deep down, Estelle saw pieces of herself in Celeste, pieces she hadn't been willing to confront until now.

Either way, she knew one thing for sure: this semester was about to become a lot more complicated.