Bound by law

Chapter 10: A Line Crossed

The next morning, Estelle walked into Professor Celeste Thorne's lecture with a heavy feeling in her stomach. After the events of the past few days—the strange phone call with Victoria, the teasing from Mia, and Celeste's increasingly intense behavior—she felt like she was walking into a powder keg, just waiting for the spark to set it off.

She slid into her usual seat near the middle of the lecture hall, trying to focus on the day's material. But her thoughts kept wandering. Victoria's number was still in her phone, and the weight of that conversation hung over her. She hadn't heard from her since the call, but something about the way Victoria had sounded—so confident, so sure of herself—left Estelle uneasy.

The lecture hall filled with the usual murmurs of students settling in, notebooks and laptops being opened. Mia shot her a sly grin from the next seat, clearly still enjoying every bit of drama that had unfolded over the past few days. Estelle gave her a weak smile but didn't have the energy to tease back.

And then, as if on cue, her phone buzzed.

Estelle frowned, glancing down at the screen. Her heart stuttered when she saw the message preview.

Victoria: Did you think about our conversation? Let's meet.

Her stomach twisted. Now? In the middle of class?

Estelle glanced around nervously, half expecting Celeste to appear at her side. Her eyes flicked toward the front of the room where Celeste was setting up for the lecture. She looked as calm and composed as ever, but even from this distance, Estelle could feel the intensity rolling off her.

Another buzz.

Victoria: It's time for you to make a choice, Estelle. Let's not keep pretending.

Her pulse quickened. She quickly typed a reply, trying to be discreet.

Estelle: Not now. I'm in class.

But before she could hit send, the phone buzzed again.

Victoria: You can't avoid this forever.

Her fingers shook as she pressed send, but the buzzing didn't stop. The messages kept coming, one after the other, each more cryptic and suggestive than the last.

Estelle could feel the eyes of her classmates on her. She quickly glanced at Mia, who gave her a questioning look, but Estelle didn't have time to explain. The phone buzzed again. And again. Her nerves were on fire.

She barely noticed when Celeste's voice cut through the room, bringing the class to attention. Estelle tried to slip her phone into her bag, but just as she was about to, the buzzing continued, and a message popped up in large letters across her screen:

Victoria: We both know you're not thinking about class right now.

In her panic, Estelle accidentally dropped the phone onto the floor with a loud clatter, and it skidded across the aisle, landing near the front row. The entire room went silent. Estelle's heart stopped as everyone—including Celeste—turned to look at her.

Celeste's eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. Her gaze flickered briefly to the phone lying on the floor, then back to Estelle, cold and unreadable.

"Miss Brooks," Celeste's voice was dangerously soft, but it carried across the room. "Would you care to explain why you're disrupting my class?"

Estelle's face flushed bright red as she scrambled to retrieve her phone, the weight of everyone's eyes on her. She grabbed it quickly, mumbling a quiet apology.

Celeste's gaze didn't waver. "Bring your phone here, Miss Brooks."

Estelle's heart pounded in her chest. "W-What?"

"Bring it here," Celeste repeated, her voice cool and authoritative. "Now."

There was no arguing. She was caught. Estelle stood shakily, feeling the entire class watching her as she walked down the aisle toward Celeste. Her legs felt like jelly, and her mind raced with thoughts of what might happen next.

When she reached the front, Celeste extended her hand, palm up, waiting for the phone. Estelle swallowed hard and handed it over, her fingers trembling.

Celeste took the phone without a word and glanced at the screen. Her expression didn't change, but something in her eyes darkened. She glanced up at Estelle, her voice even colder than before.

"Stay after class, Miss Brooks."

Estelle's stomach dropped. There was no mistaking the edge in Celeste's tone. This wasn't just a scolding for disrupting the class. This was something else entirely.

She could barely focus on the rest of the lecture. The clock seemed to tick slower with every passing minute. Mia shot her concerned looks, but Estelle was too distracted to respond. All she could think about was what Celeste had seen on her phone—and what she would say after class.

Finally, the lecture ended. The students packed up their things and began filing out of the room, but Estelle stayed frozen in her seat, her heart pounding in her chest. Mia gave her a quick, encouraging nod before heading out, leaving Estelle alone in the now-empty hall.

Celeste stood at the front of the room, still holding Estelle's phone, her posture rigid and unreadable. Once the last student had left, she turned her attention fully to Estelle, her blue eyes icy and sharp.

"Miss Brooks," she began, her voice calm but laced with something dangerous. "Would you care to explain how you came into possession of Victoria's number?"

Estelle's heart raced. "I—I didn't ask for it. She left it for me at the café. I didn't—"

Celeste cut her off, stepping closer, her eyes locked on Estelle's. "And why, exactly, are you messaging her during my lecture?"

"I wasn't trying to," Estelle stammered, her voice small. "She was the one messaging me. I didn't mean to disrupt class."

Celeste's jaw tightened, and she took another step forward, closing the distance between them. Her presence was overwhelming, her cold demeanor only making the tension in the room more suffocating. Estelle felt trapped under her gaze, unsure whether to speak or stay silent.

"Victoria has no business messaging my students," Celeste said quietly, her voice dangerously low. "Do you understand?"

Estelle nodded quickly, but she couldn't look away from Celeste. There was something in her professor's eyes—anger, yes, but also something else. Something more intense. Something possessive.

"Why did you respond to her?" Celeste asked, her voice sharp. "Why are you getting involved with her?"

"I didn't—" Estelle's voice faltered, her heart racing as Celeste took another step closer, so close now that Estelle could feel the heat of her breath. "I didn't want to get involved. She kept messaging me."

Celeste's gaze bore into her, and for a moment, the cold mask she always wore seemed to crack, revealing something deeper. She stepped even closer, and Estelle felt her back press against the edge of the desk behind her.

"I told you," Celeste murmured, her voice softer now, but no less intense. "Stay away from Victoria. She's not who you think she is."

Estelle's breath hitched. "I-I didn't know."

Celeste's hand hovered near Estelle's, her fingers brushing lightly against the surface of the desk. Her eyes searched Estelle's face, as though trying to read her every thought.

"This isn't a game, Estelle," Celeste whispered, her voice filled with something that bordered on desperation. "I won't let her get to you."

Estelle swallowed hard, her pulse racing in her throat. She didn't know what was happening, but the energy between them was electric—charged with something intense and unspoken.

"Why do you care so much?" Estelle whispered, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Celeste's eyes darkened, and for a moment, Estelle thought she might not answer. But then, in a low, quiet voice, she said:

"Because you're mine."