Bound by law

Chapter 9: Teasing the Storm

By the time Estelle hung up the phone with Victoria, her nerves were frayed. The entire conversation had been a strange mix of flirtation and tension, with Victoria clearly playing some sort of game. Estelle didn't know what her end goal was, but something about the way Victoria had spoken—smooth, calculated—left her feeling unsettled.

Now, back in the apartment she shared with Mia, Estelle was pacing the living room, trying to process everything. Mia, who had been watching her with growing amusement, was leaning casually against the kitchen counter, nursing a cup of tea and clearly enjoying the drama.

"So," Mia began, her voice teasing, "you actually called her. I knew you couldn't resist."

Estelle groaned, sinking onto the couch. "It's not what you think."

Mia's grin widened as she hopped onto the armrest of the couch, looking down at Estelle with a glint in her eye. "Really? Because what I think is that you're caught in some weird, sexy love triangle, and honestly? I'm living for it."

Estelle threw a pillow at her, but Mia dodged it easily. "Mia, this isn't some drama for your entertainment. I don't even know what Victoria wants. She's... being weird."

"Weird how?" Mia asked, taking a sip of her tea. "Weird like, 'Hey, I like your shoes,' or weird like, 'I'm low-key obsessed with you, and this is all some elaborate game?'"

Estelle sighed. "More like the second one. She was being all flirty, but I could tell there's something else going on. It's like she's trying to mess with me."

Mia's grin only widened. "Oh, for sure. And you know who else is being weirdly possessive over you? Our dear, cold-hearted Professor Thorne."

Estelle rolled her eyes. "Not this again."

"Oh, this again," Mia said, hopping off the armrest and plopping down next to Estelle on the couch. "Don't pretend you didn't notice. Thorne practically ran interference when Victoria came over at the café the other day. You saw how she looked at you—like she was ready to drag you out of there by the collar."

Estelle's cheeks flushed. She had noticed, of course. It was impossible not to. The look Celeste had given Victoria when she told her to leave had been cold, protective, and more intense than Estelle had ever seen from her professor. It wasn't a look someone gave a student they were simply concerned about. But admitting that out loud? That was another matter entirely.

"Thorne was just making sure Victoria wasn't bothering me," Estelle muttered, though the words felt weak even as she said them.

Mia gave her a skeptical look, clearly not buying it. "Oh, yeah. She's really good at pretending it's all professional. I mean, that icy tone? That's the sound of jealousy, my friend."

Estelle groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Mia, please. This is all too much. I just wanted to get through law school, not end up in some... twisted power dynamic between my professor and her colleague."

Mia reached over and playfully tugged on a strand of Estelle's hair. "Hey, don't act like you're not into it. I see the way you blush every time you mention Thorne's name."

Estelle swatted her hand away, but couldn't stop the small smile creeping onto her face. "That's because I'm embarrassed. Not... whatever you think this is."

"Sure," Mia said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Embarrassed. That's definitely it."

They sat in silence for a moment, Estelle fidgeting with the hem of her shirt as Mia studied her.

"So," Mia said after a beat, her voice softening slightly, "what are you going to do? Are you going to keep playing along with this? Or are you going to make a move?"

Estelle bit her lip, unsure of how to answer. "I don't know. I don't even know what I want, to be honest. Victoria's... confusing. But Celeste? She's even more confusing."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "You think Celeste is confusing? She's been pretty clear to me. She's into you."

Estelle blinked, surprised. "What? No, she's not. She's just... concerned about me, I guess."

"Concerned?" Mia let out a bark of laughter. "Estelle, she's not just concerned. She looks at you like you're the only person in the room. And trust me, I've seen that look from people. It's not concern. It's... something else."

Estelle's heart thudded in her chest. Was Mia right? Was Celeste really interested in her in a way that went beyond professional concern? The thought made her stomach flip, and she wasn't sure if it was in excitement or anxiety.

Mia nudged her gently. "Come on, Estelle. You can't tell me you haven't thought about it. About her. About what it would be like if... you know."

Estelle's cheeks flushed bright red, and she quickly shook her head. "Mia! No! That's not— I mean... it's not like that."

Mia gave her a knowing smile. "Uh-huh. Sure."

They both sat in silence for a few moments, the air between them thick with unspoken possibilities. Estelle's mind raced, a jumble of thoughts and feelings she couldn't quite untangle. Everything about Celeste was complicated—her cold demeanor, the way she always seemed in control, the flashes of something deeper that Estelle had seen in her eyes. And now Victoria had thrown herself into the mix, adding another layer of confusion.

Mia broke the silence, leaning back against the couch. "Listen, you don't have to do anything right now. But you've got two incredibly intense women circling you, and eventually, something's going to give. Either Thorne's going to make a move, or Victoria's going to push harder. And when that happens, you need to be ready to figure out what you want."

Estelle exhaled slowly, nodding. "Yeah. I guess you're right."

Mia grinned. "Of course I'm right. I'm always right. Now," she said, pushing herself up from the couch, "how about we order some food and watch a movie? You've had enough drama for one night."

Estelle smiled, feeling a small sense of relief wash over her. "That sounds like the best idea you've had all day."

As Mia grabbed her phone to place the order, Estelle leaned back against the couch, her thoughts still drifting toward Celeste—and the strange pull she felt whenever the professor was near. Mia was right about one thing: sooner or later, something was going to give.

And Estelle wasn't sure she was ready for it.