ILLICIT AFFAIRS | WLW

Mastermind

The moment Blair had left Catherine's office, a strange cocktail of emotions had surged through her – anger, frustration, and most unsettling of all, desire. Her mind was still spinning from her professor's pointed comments, the flirtation laced with meaning, the suggestive smirk that had hinted at something more, the feel of warmth when their hands had shook, the spark that had reignited between them. She hadn't anticipated the conversation taking such an intimate turn, and the flirtatious edge in Catherine's voice still lingered in Blair's mind.

And now, with the promise of a real conversation looming on Friday, Blair couldn't help but feel a sense of dread mixed with anticipation. She wasn't ready to face the full weight of her emotions, to unravel the tangled mess of attraction, resentment, and curiosity that Catherine evoked in her. What would Catherine say? And, more importantly, what would Blair admit?

Blair's thoughts raced as she walked the familiar path back to her apartment. The sharp autumn wind tugged at her pastel pink sweater, but she hardly noticed, too lost in the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. She had confronted Catherine about the unfair grade, but the conversation had veered far off course. Catherine had a way of turning everything on its head, of making even the most straightforward issues seem complicated and personal.

Her words echoed in Blair's mind: "You deserve someone who knows you only wear silver." The memory of that moment sent a shiver down Blair's spine. It wasn't just the fact that Catherine had known such a small, intimate detail about her preferences—it was the implication that Catherine had been paying attention. And not just in the way a professor observes their student. It was more personal than that. More meaningful.

As she climbed the stairs to her apartment, Blair sighed, trying to shake the thoughts that clouded her mind. It was her birthday, after all. She didn't want to spend the rest of the day obsessing over Catherine, even though she couldn't seem to stop.

When she finally opened the door, the comforting scent of food greeted her, immediately grounding her back to the presence, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her. Ann had clearly been busy while Blair had been gone, setting up a small birthday feast in the kitchen. The counter held two neatly prepared containers of chicken Ceaser salad – Blair's favourite – and a couple bottles of sparkling water. Ann had always been good at knowing exactly what Blair needed.

"Hey, birthday girl!" Ann said, grinning as she appeared from around the counter, "I got us some lunch, figured you might be hungry."

Blair felt a small smile tug at her lips, some of the tension in her shoulders easing. Ann always knew how to bring her back to herself, how to remind her that life could be simple when she wasn't overthinking everything. "You're the best, you know that?"

Ann shrugged, waving her hand dismissively as if to say, Of course, I know. She nudged Blair toward the kitchen. "Come on, let's eat before the lettuce wilts."

Blair chuckled, sitting down at the table as Ann brought the food over. "Thanks, Ann. This is perfect."

The two friends settled in for lunch, the crispy chicken and shaved parmesan beckoning. Their conversation was light and easy as they chatted about the day. Blair found herself slowly relaxing, grateful for the distraction that Ann provided. But even as they ate and laughed together, her thoughts kept drifting back to Catherine—the intensity of their conversation, the way Catherine had flirted with her, and the anticipation of what Friday might bring.

Just as Blair was about to push those thoughts aside once more, a sudden knock on the door interrupted their meal. Blair and Ann exchanged puzzled glances before Ann stood up to answer it.

Ann raised an eyebrow, setting her fork down as she rose from her chair. "Expecting someone?"

Blair shook her head. "No. Probably just a neighbour."