Bound by law

Chapter 40: Underneath Celeste's Watchful Eye

Estelle followed Celeste back into the sleek, glass-walled office, her heels clicking against the polished floor. The weight of the situation hit her all over again, the realization that she was truly stepping into a world where Celeste controlled not just her career, but so much more. As they walked in, the tension between them simmered just beneath the surface, unspoken but undeniably present.

Celeste moved with her usual grace and confidence, stepping behind her massive mahogany desk. Estelle, meanwhile, lingered awkwardly by the door, glancing around the office. She tried to figure out where she was supposed to work. Surely, she would have her own desk somewhere, right? A space that wasn't so... close to Celeste?

"Uhm... do I, uhmm... get my own desk somewhere?" Estelle asked, her voice a little hesitant. "Or... uhm...?"

Celeste paused in the middle of straightening the papers on her desk and looked up at Estelle with a sharp, knowing look, a smirk playing on her lips. "Yes, Miss Brooks," she said smoothly, her voice laced with authority. "Right here. In my office."

Estelle blinked, her stomach flipping at the sudden realization. "Right... right here? In front of you?"

"Precisely," Celeste said, that smirk widening ever so slightly. She gestured to the smaller desk positioned directly across from hers, in clear view. "I told you, Miss Brooks, you'd be working right underneath me. That includes being within my sight."

Estelle's pulse quickened, her breath catching in her throat as she processed what Celeste had just said. She glanced at the desk, realizing just how close it was to Celeste's. Every time she sat down, every time she worked, Celeste would be watching her, scrutinizing her. The tension between them would only grow more intense.

"Uh, but I thought...," Estelle stammered, trying to find a way out of the situation. "I thought maybe... somewhere outside this office? I mean, where is Pierce? Isn't he supposed to be working here too?"

Celeste's expression darkened just slightly, a glint of something dangerous flashing in her eyes. "Yes, Pierce does work for my firm," she said, her voice sharp, with a hint of venom in her tone. "But that doesn't mean he works directly with me. He's under Victoria's supervision now."

Estelle froze at the mention of Victoria. The way Celeste said her name, with that thinly veiled resentment, sent a chill down her spine. Of course, she remembered Victoria—the tall, blonde associate who had been all too familiar with Celeste during that night at the bar. Estelle hadn't forgotten the strange jealousy that had flared up when she saw how close Victoria had been to Celeste.

"Oh, uh, right. Victoria," Estelle muttered, not knowing what else to say.

Celeste's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched Estelle's reaction. "I'm sure you remember her," she said, her voice cold but with a sharp edge. "She's one of my best associates. But I wanted you working directly with me. Is that a problem?"

Estelle swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Celeste's words pressing down on her. "No, it's... not a problem," she said, though her voice was softer than she intended. She didn't want to admit how much the idea of being so close to Celeste—so closely watched—unnerved her.

"Good," Celeste said, her voice firm. "Then let's sit down, Miss Brooks."

Estelle walked over to the small desk, her mind still spinning as she tried to wrap her head around the situation. As she sat down, she felt Celeste's eyes on her, and her skin prickled under the intensity of her gaze. The air between them seemed to hum with tension, and Estelle couldn't help but feel like she was being tested—pushed, in ways she didn't fully understand yet.

The silence that followed was thick, as if both of them were waiting for the next move, the next word to be spoken. Estelle fidgeted slightly, her hands resting on the smooth surface of her desk, trying to avoid looking directly at Celeste. But she could feel her professor's presence—strong, commanding, and far too close for comfort.

Finally, Celeste spoke, her tone shifting back to a professional, businesslike manner, though the tension still lingered beneath it. "Here's your first task," she said, sliding a thick stack of legal documents across her desk toward Estelle. "I want you to review these thoroughly. It's a contract dispute we're dealing with for one of our more... complicated clients. Pay attention to the details. Every word matters."

Estelle nodded, reaching for the papers, grateful for something to focus on besides the oppressive tension between them. But as her fingers brushed against the documents, Celeste's hand grazed hers—just for a second—and the jolt of contact sent a shiver down Estelle's spine. She looked up, meeting Celeste's eyes, and saw the hint of a smirk playing at the edges of her lips again.

"I expect nothing less than perfection from you, Miss Brooks," Celeste said softly, her voice low and dangerous. "You'll be working under my direct supervision. Make sure you impress me."

Estelle's heart raced, her pulse quickening as she tried to maintain her composure. "Of course, Professor Thorne," she replied, her voice steady despite the rush of emotions coursing through her.

But as she began working through the documents, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning—another layer in the tangled, twisted relationship she now found herself in with Celeste. Every word she read, every page she turned, felt like another step deeper into Celeste's world, where control and power reigned supreme.

And no matter how much Estelle tried to focus on her work, she couldn't escape the fact that Celeste was watching her. Always watching.