I lookover at my phone. I still haven't said anything to The Society, and I don't know why. What would be better than bringing her to justice than passing her onto someone else? Andrew would certainly want a crack at her. If anyone could make her pay, it would be him. That stupid flair of jealousy spikes as I think about his cum splattering her body during initiation.
That's what I should do. Just give her to him. It would punish her and get her out of my hair. I planned on giving her up when classes started anyway. I should actually be thanking her for making it so easy for me. A soft knock interrupts my thoughts, and the door opens, revealing Chelsea. Groaning, I wave her in. She's the very last person I need right now.
"What do you want, Chelsea?"
She slides up towards my desk and kneels at my feet. I fight another groan. It was cute the first few times she did it while I played with her, but at this point, it just feels like it's all a show. I rub a weary hand over my eyes. It's not innocent like Melody. I grip my fingers into a fist. And even then, there's no proof that she was sweet and innocent, is there? Chelsea slides her hand up my calf and stares up at me with those large eyes of hers.
"I'm very sorry to hear about what happened between you and Melody." I glance down at her, narrowing my eyes. Of course, girls would talk, but from what I gathered from Bethany, there was no love lost between the two.
"Did she send you here to get my forgiveness? You can stop wasting your time and leave my office. I'm through with her. There's nothing you can say to change my mind."
Her lips stretch into a wide grin as she leans against my leg and practically purrs against me. "I'm not here on behalf of her. She had her chance."
The venom in her voice shocks me a bit. Until this moment, I've never heard even as much as a scathing remark pass her lips. Even when she spoke about Jessica. I thought that day in my office before I left was just a fluke – a fleeting lapse in judgment. I see now that I’ve misjudged everyone. I’m not as intuitive as I once thought.
Leaning forward, I cup her chin in my hand and tilt her head back to look at me. She closes her eyes and snuggles into my grip, her lips softening a bit. "Did you know she was cheating on me?"
She darts her eyes to the side. "Well, how does one know anything for sure? She said they were practicing for a play." Shrugging, she continues, "I like to assume the best in people, so I believed her." Reaching up, she curls her fingers around my wrist. "She played us both."
Tossing her back, I release her with a disgusted grunt. "You didn't like her from day one. Why wait until now to tell me? You could have said something from the start."
"Like I said, she said it was for a play. Romeo and Juliet? I hear Chase got the lead."
Frowning, I pick up my phone and scroll through the notifications. Romeo and Juliet is definitely the play, but I don't remember seeing a mention of Chase. As I go through the cast list, my heart plummets. Just as I thought. No mention of him at all. I held onto that small thread of hope. Perhaps he was in a play and needed help. But no. They both just used that excuse to lie to people. To lie to me. I set my phone down and look at Chelsea. "He's not in the play."
Her gasp sounds hollow as she pulls back and lays a hand over her heart. "That liar! Please forgive me, Professor. I just assumed she told me the truth when she talked about helping him. Forgive me for being so naive."
I resist rolling my eyes as she scrapes the floor with her forehead. When my phone pings, I look over at it, dread sitting heavy in my gut. Pulling it to me, I see Bethany's face crossing the screen. Brows furrowed, I open it up and scroll through her message. Several photos pop up, all screenshots of messages between Bethany and Melody about Chase and this blasted play.
The tight bands ease from my heart the more I read. Elation fills me. My precious Melody. Closing my eyes, I let the small kernel I kept locked inside bloom a bit. She was mine, and if I have anything to say about it, she always will be. It was stupid of me to let my anger win out. To cast her aside without hearing her side of it. My face burns as I finish scanning through the rest of the messages, anger engulfing me as I look back down at Chelsea. Taking a deep breath, I school my emotions, letting my face go blank.
"Tell me again, my pet. When did Melody tell you about the play?"
Sitting back up, she tilts her head to the side, her eyes scrunching in thought. "I would say about a week after you left? She was acting rather suspicious, so I asked her about it."
I go back to one of the screenshots and smile. "Oh, my dear. You know I detest a liar."
Her mouth quirks up in a gleeful smile, her eyes shining with bloodlust. "I do indeed, Professor. Poor Melody. I wouldn't want to be her at your hands at the end of all of this."
I set my phone down and crack my knuckles before standing up. "Not poor Melody." A grin slides into place. "If you have any sense of self-preservation, you will keep your lips shut and assume the position at my desk."
Her eyes widen as she shuffles back. "Whatever do you mean, Professor?" Her breathing hitches as she eyes me wildly.
"Do you really want to make this worse with more lies?"
She shrieks and bolts up from the floor, racing towards the door. My long strides eat up the distance, and I grab her arm as she pulls the door open. Holding her in place, I slam the door shut and lock it before bringing her back to my desk. Her pale skin turns pink under the force of my grip, and she squirms about, trying to free herself from me.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she babbles, her fingers scrambling over my hand, trying to pry it loose. I just grip tighter, delighting in the pained yelps spilling from her lips.
Dragging her over to the chair, I hold her in place while attaching a cuff to her wrist. I stand over her, my body heaving. It takes several gulps before I can even see straight to text the members. Satisfied that a Society officer is on their way, I hunch down and look Chelsea straight in the eyes. "I have proof that you're lying. Tell me the truth. It will make things much easier for you."
Her eyes dart back and forth as her tongue snakes out to lick her lips. "But I don't-"
I walk over to the armoire and fling it open, letting my finger slide along the various implements. Smirking, I grab a clothespin and walk it over. Sometimes something so simple can yield the best results. Her fingers fly up to her mouth and clamp over it, denying me access. I wrench her hand away and pinch her chin in between my thumb and forefinger, prying her mouth open. "Stick out your tongue. I'm not asking."
Slowly, she extends the muscle, tears shining in her eyes. Without hesitating, I clamp it down, ignoring her howls. Keeping her hands trapped in mine, I watch her for a few minutes. Drool pools in her mouth and dribbles to the side and down her throat. Once her tears start pouring in earnest, I remove the clothespin. "Want to try that again?"
"What do you even see in her?" she spits out, venom shining in her eyes. "She was stupid enough to fall for this. Why would you still want her?"
Staring down at Chelsea, a small bit of warmth blooms behind my chest. God help me, but I do still want her. A silly grin lifts up my lips. As much as I try to fight it, I can't be without my mouse. Elation flows through me, and I want nothing more than to grab Melody and make her never want to even think about another person again. Narrowing my eyes at Chelsea, I pin her with a deadly glare. "And Chase?"
Her eyelids flutter closed. "He wants her. He wants her so badly. I thought I could give him what he wanted and have you all to myself."
Shaking my head, I walk over to my door at the sound of a knock. "I've made it clear that I don't want you. Your delusion is what's causing this." Two burly men make their way into the room and make a beeline for Chelsea. "Grab Chase Akerman, too. They will both appear before The Society."
They reach out and grab Chelsea, ignoring her thrashing and shrieking. Nodding to each other, one man holds her steady while the other pulls out a long needle. Her eyes widen, and her struggles pick up even more. A small part wants to feel sorry for her, but she caused a rift between my submissive and me, putting her at risk, and that I cannot allow. Ever. She slumps in their arms, and they walk off with her, leaving me in a blessedly silent room.
Walking back over to my desk, I sit down and lean back in my chair. A maelstrom of emotions rages through me. Pulling my phone back out, I open up Melody's picture and stare at it for several minutes. I rub my breastbone as I look at her before sliding a finger down across the image of her hair. Smiling, I pull up my messages and shoot off a quick one to Bethany and an old friend.
I don’t worry about John. Once I tell him everything, he will have no problem with a public punishment. The fact that one of our own got caught up in this scheme is another matter entirely. An example must be made. Just because the jocks get a free pass as a perk for their athleticism doesn’t mean they’re not beholden to at least some of our tenets.