Celeste's hands trembled slightly as she stared at Ethan's phone screen. The surveillance footage was still playing, exposing what she had hoped would remain buried. The soft glow of the device cast sharp shadows on her face, highlighting the storm in her eyes.
A quiet chuckle broke the silence between them.
"You seem nervous, Miss Celeste."
Ethan leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy, yet his gaze was piercing.
There was something unnerving about the way he watched her—like a predator toying with its prey. His tone was casual, playful even, but beneath it lay a sharpness that sent a chill down her spine.
Celeste clenched her jaw, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "If you know what's good for you, you'll walk away from this." Her grip on the phone tightened, her fingers turning white from the pressure.
Ethan tilted his head slightly, regarding her with amused curiosity. "Walk away? From evidence like this?" He sighed, almost as if he were genuinely disappointed. "You know, there's been a lot of thefts at that convenience store lately. If I check further, I wonder how many more times you appear in the footage."
"You're making baseless accusations." Celeste's voice was sharp, but there was a slight waver to it, one that didn't go unnoticed.
"Am I?" Ethan took a slow step closer, his movements deliberate.
Celeste instinctively stepped back, but the desk behind her stopped her retreat. Ethan continued forward, closing the distance between them with an air of quiet dominance.
"Do you know what would happen if everyone knew about this, Miss Celeste?" A mocking expression played on his lips.
Celeste's breath hitched. The space between them felt suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in. The power dynamic between them had shifted, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.
Out of panic, Celeste reached out, grabbing Ethan's wrist in a desperate attempt to stop him.
"What exactly are you trying to do? Do you realize that blackmailing is bad? I could report you and have you arrested!" Her voice was cold, unwavering despite the slight tremble in her fingers. "You're still a student, and I'd rather not ruin your future. Leave your phone, and I'll pretend this never happened."
She had always been able to intimidate him before. Ethan had been nothing but a meek little student, always avoiding her gaze, always cowering under her authority.
But now…
Ethan stayed silent for a moment.
Celeste felt a flicker of hope. 'Yes, that's right. Be scared.' A victorious smile crept onto her face as she stretched out her hand to grab the phone, confident that he would surrender it.
But before she could touch it, Ethan suddenly caught her wrist.
His grip was firm yet unhurried, his fingers wrapping around her skin in a way that sent a strange sensation coursing through her. He wasn't merely holding her back—he was savoring the moment.
"W-what?" Celeste's eyes widened in shock.
"Let me go or else!" she blurted out, her voice rising in panic.
"That almost sounds like a threat, professor." Ethan's lips curled into a smirk.
Before she could react further, his other hand reached out and took hold of her other wrist, his fingers grazing her skin in a way that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.
"I said let me go!" Celeste inhaled sharply, twisting in his grasp, but Ethan didn't budge.
Instead, he leaned in slightly, his presence overwhelming. His fingers tilted her chin up just enough to force her to meet his gaze.
"You're desperate to erase this, aren't you?"
"It's none of your business." Celeste swallowed hard, hating the way her voice faltered.
Ethan hummed thoughtfully. "Right, right… If the parents found out about this… well, I doubt they'd want someone with sticky fingers teaching their children."
Celeste stiffened at the unspoken threat. She hated it. Hated how easily he was turning the tables on her. Hated how powerless she suddenly felt.
Ethan gladly loosened his grip on her wrists, but the damage was already done. The shift in control had already been established.
"I'm sure you don't want to lose this job," he continued, his voice softer but no less dangerous.
"You're blackmailing me," Celeste whispered, the words barely audible. Her voice was unsteady, her breathing uneven. "What do you want?"
Ethan's gaze drifted over her, taking in her tense posture, the slight quiver in her fingers. The air between them felt charged, thick with something neither of them could quite place.
He grinned.
Something sweet and floral lingered in the air, a faint scent that clung to Celeste's skin. His grin widened slightly.
"W-what are you doing…" Celeste asked, her voice quieter this time.
Before Ethan could answer, the tension between them shattered as the ringing of the class bell echoed through the room.
Celeste seized the moment, yanking herself free and stepping back, widening the distance between them.
"Now, Ethan, give me your phone!" Celeste snapped, quickly regaining her composure. She refused to let him leave with that footage.
Ethan stared at her for a moment before slowly placing the phone down on the desk.
Celeste immediately moved forward, her fingers inches away from the device.
But just as she was about to grab it—
Ethan swiftly snatched it back, lifting it just out of her reach.
Celeste's breath caught.
He waved the phone lightly in the air, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Looks like you got unlucky this time, Miss Celeste." A deep exhale left his lips.
And with that, Ethan turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Celeste standing frozen in place, her chest rising and falling with quiet frustrated breaths.