The rest of the lecture was a blur. Estelle sat rigidly in her seat, staring at her notes but unable to process a single word. Celeste’s cool, authoritative tone echoed in her head: “I’ll need to see you in my office after class.” It was a sentence that carried so much weight, yet Estelle had no idea what Celeste wanted to discuss.
Her mind raced with possibilities, and none of them were comforting. Had Celeste noticed Estelle’s pointed indifference over the last few weeks? Was she angry about being ignored? Was this some kind of professional talk, or something much more personal?
Mia, sitting beside her, shot her a questioning look, clearly picking up on Estelle’s sudden tension. She leaned over and whispered, “What did she say to you?”
Estelle kept her eyes forward, whispering back through gritted teeth, “She wants to see me after class. In her office.”
Mia’s eyes went wide, and a mischievous grin spread across her face. “Oh, things are getting serious. You’re in for it now.”
Estelle groaned under her breath. “I don’t know what she wants, Mia, but I doubt it’s anything good.”
Mia nudged her with a playful elbow. “Maybe she’s ready to confess her undying love for you.”
Estelle shot her a look, but her stomach churned. If only it were something as simple—or ridiculous—as that. But she had a sinking feeling that whatever awaited her in Celeste’s office wasn’t going to be pleasant. The weeks of silence, the way their connection had been shattered and left hanging, the tension simmering beneath the surface—none of it could end easily.
As the lecture finally drew to a close, Estelle gathered her things slowly, waiting for the room to empty out. Mia gave her a quick hug and a whispered, “Good luck,” before heading out the door with the other students. Estelle lingered in her seat for a moment, taking a deep breath before standing and making her way toward Celeste’s office.
Her heart pounded with each step, and by the time she reached the door, her palms were sweaty, and her mind was racing with nervous anticipation. She paused for a moment outside, staring at the nameplate on the door: Professor Celeste Thorne.
Steeling herself, Estelle knocked softly.
“Come in,” came the cool, familiar voice from the other side.
Estelle pushed the door open and stepped inside. Celeste sat behind her large mahogany desk, her posture as rigid and composed as ever. Her office was immaculate, every detail in perfect order, just like the woman who occupied it.
Celeste looked up, her expression unreadable. “Close the door, Miss Brooks.”
Estelle did as she was told, the soft click of the door closing behind her making the room feel suddenly smaller, more intimate. She stood by the door for a moment, unsure of whether to move or speak.
“Sit,” Celeste commanded, her voice steady but carrying an undertone of something that made Estelle’s skin prickle.
Estelle sat down in the chair opposite Celeste’s desk, her heart racing, waiting for the professor to begin. The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable.
Finally, Celeste leaned forward, folding her hands neatly on the desk. “I’ve noticed your… behavior over the last few weeks.”
Estelle’s stomach flipped. So she had noticed.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” Celeste continued, her voice calm but cutting. “You haven’t so much as glanced in my direction during lectures. You’ve kept your head down, focused on your work. Impressive, I’ll admit. But your avoidance is… obvious.”
Estelle swallowed hard, her mouth dry. “I wasn’t avoiding you,” she lied, but the words felt flimsy as soon as they left her lips.
Celeste raised an eyebrow, her expression cold and knowing. “Let’s not insult each other with lies, Miss Brooks. You were avoiding me. And now, I need to know why.”
Estelle blinked, her heart racing. She hadn’t expected this direct confrontation, and she wasn’t prepared for it. “I wasn’t trying to… I just needed space.”
“Space?” Celeste repeated, her voice soft but dangerous. “From what, exactly?”
Estelle felt a flush creeping up her neck. “From everything. From the internship, from… you.”
Celeste’s eyes darkened at that last part, and the room seemed to grow colder. She leaned back in her chair, studying Estelle with that piercing gaze that always made her feel exposed.
“You’re upset that you didn’t get the internship,” Celeste said, her voice almost clinical. “Is that it?”
Estelle felt a flicker of anger rise in her chest. She had been angry, yes, but this was about so much more than the internship. “I worked hard for that internship,” she said, her voice firmer than before. “I deserved it.”
“I know,” Celeste said quietly, surprising Estelle with her admission. “You did deserve it.”
Estelle blinked, caught off guard. “Then why didn’t you choose me?”
Celeste’s eyes met hers, and for the first time since the conversation began, something raw flickered behind them. “Because I couldn’t.”
“You couldn’t, or you wouldn’t?” Estelle shot back, the frustration she’d been holding in finally bubbling to the surface. “You made this personal when it shouldn’t have been.”
Celeste’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, she looked like she was fighting to keep her composure. Then, without warning, she stood up and walked around the desk, closing the distance between them in a few swift strides. She stood in front of Estelle, her eyes blazing with an intensity that sent a shiver down Estelle’s spine.
“You think I don’t know that?” Celeste said, her voice low and sharp. “You think I don’t know that I made a mistake? That I let things between us get out of control?”
Estelle stood too, unable to sit still under the weight of Celeste’s presence. They were close now, too close, and the air between them was thick with tension. “Then why are we still playing this game, Celeste? Why can’t you just admit what’s really going on here?”
Celeste’s eyes flashed with something—anger, frustration, desire—and before Estelle could react, Celeste’s hands were on her shoulders, gripping her tightly.
“You want me to admit it?” Celeste whispered, her breath hot against Estelle’s ear. “Fine. I’ll admit it. You make me lose control. I don’t want to lose control, but I can’t help it. You are the one thing I can’t seem to keep my distance from.”
Estelle’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. The intensity of Celeste’s words, the way she was holding her, sent a rush of heat through her that she couldn’t ignore.
But she wasn’t going to be swayed. Not this time.
Estelle pushed back, stepping out of Celeste’s grasp. “You don’t get to control me, Celeste. Not my career, not my choices, not my life. I’m not yours to claim.”
Celeste’s expression faltered for a brief moment, but then her walls came back up, her face hardening into that familiar, icy mask. “You’re right,” she said quietly, though the words seemed to cost her. “You’re not.”
Estelle’s chest heaved with emotion, the tension between them nearly suffocating. “I’m done with this game,” she whispered, her voice trembling but firm. “Two can play, but I’m not playing anymore.”
Celeste stood there, silent, her eyes never leaving Estelle’s as she processed her words. For the first time, Estelle saw something close to vulnerability in her professor’s gaze—a crack in the armor she so carefully wore.
Without another word, Estelle turned and walked out of the office, leaving Celeste standing there alone.
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