by Viola Vera
I exhaled in relief. Maybe he didn’t remember me. It was a week ago since I’d last seen him and he’d only met me once anyway. Still, his presence unsettled me. Even as I stepped past him into the exam room, I contemplated turning around and leaving the building. But to do so was sacrificing money I needed.
I set down my bag with the others on desks pushed together and then went to sign in as Veronica Sutherland. My arms felt shaky and my stomach tight as I handed over Veronica’s ID to Graham’s assistant. Jared hadn’t been far off. Veronica and I shared similar features.
The assistant gave a brief glance between me and the ID then encouraged me to sign in. I gripped the pen he handed me tight as I put down Veronica’s initials on the sheet. Then I strode quickly to a seat at the very back of the room.
When we were all seated, Graham moved to stand at the front and addressed us.
“I am Professor Graham West and I will be your invigilator for your exam today. The time for this exam is ninety minutes.” Then he went on to state rules we shouldn’t break unless we wanted an immediate fail mark for the exam. “Most importantly, if it’s discovered your exam was falsified in any way, your scores for this exam will be invalidated and further disciplinary action will be taken against you.”
His words made me squirm. I peered at him beneath the brim of my hat, certain he was staring right at me when he spoke, but he turned away and went to grab up a stack of paper.
With the help of his assistant, the test sheets were distributed. The timer for the exam began. As much as I tried to ignore Graham, I couldn’t help but glance up at him every so often. He was either at his desk at the front of the class, his handsome face in a stern expression watching us intently, or he was patrolling the aisles to ensure we weren’t cheating.
Whenever his gaze wandered in my direction or he passed along my side, I focused even more on the paper on the desk before me. I’d hold my breath in dread, waiting to see if he’d recognize me.
Relax. The most he can do is throw you out of the room. There wasn’t any major penalties for being caught as an impostor for a student. At least, I didn’t think so. I’d been so caught up in studying for this exam, I hadn’t bothered to find out what were the ramifications.
I guess Veronica Sutherland might get expelled for cheating if we were found out. Granted that wasn’t great, but it made me feel better that if the worst were to happen, it wouldn’t affect me as much.
That consolation was what I needed to concentrate on the test. What is the meaning of ‘fiscal deficit’? asked the question sheet, and I was tempted to write down my bank account as the answer. In a way, there was a dark humorous irony that me—who sucked at personal economics—had to take and pass an Economics exam.
I was confident that I’d followed Jared’s instructions by the time I’d written the last answer. Veronica would at least get a passing grade. When the exam was over, our sheets were collected and then Graham told us we could sign out, take our belongings and leave.
Since I sat at the furthest seat in the back, I was the last student to grab my bag. Anxiety came over me again and I hurried over to Graham’s assistant to sign out before Graham noticed me. I wrote down Veronica’s initials then straightened to find Graham standing beside me.
I hadn’t heard or felt his approach at all. His intent stare made my stomach tighten and my heart race. I took a step back, ready to flee when he smiled and held out a hand.
“I would like to see your ID, please.”
He knew. Oh god, he knew it was me.
And yet, with shaking fingers I took out the ID card with Veronica’s name and smiling face on it and handed it to him. He glanced at it and nodded before handing it back to me.
“Miss Sutherland, would you mind waiting while I finish up here?” He’d phrased it as a question, but we both knew it was a demand. “I’d like to discuss an important matter with you in my office.”
“I’m sorry but I can’t—I have something… I—I have to go, Professor West.”
“It won’t take long.” His gaze darkened. “And believe me, for your own good, it’s imperative we speak. Do you understand?”
And he waited. Expectant. Those deep blue eyes boring into me, hypnotizing me.
And I remembered what he’d said to me that first time we met.
I dropped my gaze to the floor.
“Yes, sir.”
Six
* * *
After Graham gathered all the documents into his briefcase, he indicated I follow him out of the room. While we walked alongside each other, I berated myself for being so stupid. Why was I following his orders? Why didn’t I just leave? Furthermore, why had I gotten myself in this mess for the first place?
All for the promise of more money I definitely wouldn’t get now that the shit had hit the fan. There was no way Graham would let the test answers I submitted as Veronica stand. As a matter of fact Veronica was probably going to be expelled. No, definitely going to be expelled. And I was pretty sure Jared wouldn’t pay me for a spectacular fuck up like this.
Julia’s Law, I thought bitterly. What can go wrong, will go wrong when it comes to Julia Stevens. If only I’d remembered that one constant truth before I’d agreed to be a part of this mess.
Graham came to a stop and opened the door, waving me in. Then he shut the door behind him and set his briefcase down on his tidy desk. But instead taking a seat behind the desk, he occupied the chair beside mine.
I swallowed, forcing the fear and nervousness down to present a brave, unworried front.
“What do you want to talk about, Professor West?”
“I’m curious to know why you’re pretending to be someone you are not.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I pursed my lips. “I’m a university student.”
“Holding strong to the lie, I see.” He chuckled and it galled me he found my situation amusing. “I know you are not Veronica Sutherland. While I was the invigilator for the Economics exam today, I teach Psychology and Miss Sutherland is one of my students. I know her well by her frequent tardiness and lack of attendance to my classes.”
The jig was well and truly up. I didn’t know what else to say. Unwilling to endure this mortifying episode any longer, I stood.
“Good talk, but I think we’re done here.”
I turned to leave but Graham grabbed my hand, stopping me.
“We’re far from done, Miss Stevens.”
I yanked my hand free from his grasp, and my eyes narrowed at his smiling face.
“How do you know my name?”
“From Nadine.” He stood, dwarfing me with his height. “I wanted to know why you seemed familiar that first day we met. But I didn’t know why until I saw you today. I remembered the article in the news about you and your… episode at a pharmacy.”
Episode. I wanted to laugh. That’s what he called the pharmacy’s loss prevention officers hauling me to a closed off room, then the cops showing up soon after to cart me away in cuffs. Then my mother arriving at the precinct, her face pale, her eyes filled with a well of disappointment so deep, I still drowned in it to this day.
That whole shameful experience that was the impetus to where I stood right now minimalized into one soft word.
It bothered me he knew about my shoplifting. Did he know about my past as a drug addict too? I tried my best to keep those secrets hidden, and the threat of them being revealed made me wish I could vanish from this room.
“Look, this has all been a mistake, OK?” I breathed out in frustration and shook my head. “I shouldn’t have come here. Forget you ever saw me. Give Veronica a fail if you want to. I don’t care. I’m done with all of this.”
“What you did cannot be simply forgotten or forgiven, Ms. Stevens.” He moved closer, blocking my path to the door. “You committed a crime today. Fraud and forgery. You can be arrested and charged if I notify the authorities.”
My blood ran cold. “You wouldn’t.” I licked my lips as
fear and terror tightened in my chest. “Please, Mr. West. Don’t call the cops on me. I’m sorry.” The words tumbled from my lips in an anxious babble. “I was hired to do it. I’m not even going to get paid if Veronica doesn’t pass. I didn’t know it was a crime. I thought it was just unethical.”
“Miss Stevens, calm down.” He gripped my shoulder, his warmth and his voice reassuring. His gaze kind. “I’m not going to call the police. That would be foolish. I need you.”
Relief was like a punch to the gut, his claim that he needed me sending a sizzle of surprise through me that eased my fear.
He needed me.
Yes. For something.
And that voice of suspicion tempered my growing excitement. I pulled away from his touch.
“Why do you need me?”
“I’m hosting a party tomorrow night at nine. I’d like you to attend as an… honoured guest.” He smiled. “You’ll be compensated well for your time.”
“A host paying his guests to attend his party?” I folded my arms. “Something isn’t right about that picture, Mr. West. What if I say no?”
“If you’re wise, you’ll say yes.”
“Because then you’ll tell the cops what I did, right?” He didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. His answer was in his silence. “You’re blackmailing me.”
He cupped my right cheek, his thumb smoothing across my lower lip. His gaze snared mine as he stepped closer and bent his head as if in preparation to kiss me. Although he touched my mouth, I felt it in the pit of my stomach, and in the heat building between my legs. Like a fucking ninny, I stood there and waited for his lips against mine.
“Blackmail is an ugly word, Julia.” The devil’s voice is silk, his promises made of regret. “You need me and I need you. I’m doing what’s best for the both of us.”
Seven
* * *
Yesterday, Graham hadn’t spoken the magic words, yet here I stood outside his door.
I’d like you to attend as my honoured guest.
His forced honoured guest.
From inside, I heard muted sounds of jazz and people talking. Knowing there were other attendants to the party made me less afraid of what to expect. I was still wary of Graham’s intentions. Who paid their guests just for showing up to a party? No-one. There had to be more he hadn’t told me and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to find out what it entailed.
I waited for the nerve to ring the doorbell. My hands shook, so I occupied them by smoothing them over my dress. All Graham had told me was to show up at ten thirty, showered and dressed in formal wear. When my mother was alive, she used to say that when in doubt, wear black. So I’d followed her advice and opted for a simple black dress and heels.
It was the kind of outfit I used to wear when I worked at the staffing agency. I’d also worn a bit of makeup and had taken the time to do my hair. I’d told myself I wanted to look my best to boost my confidence but I knew the real reason. It was so Graham could appreciate me looking nice for a change. After all, both times he’d seen me I’d been wearing baggy, unflattering clothes.
Blowing out a breath in preparation, I rang the doorbell and waited. Whatever. I shouldn’t care what Graham thought of me. I’d done what he’d asked and that should be enough.
My phone buzzed with a text notification and I winced. Most likely Kim again. She’d been trying to get in contact with me all day. I didn’t have the heart to tell her the job her brother sent me to do had been a bust. I suppose when Veronica told Jared she’d failed the exam, they’d know something went wrong.
The door opened admitting music and the delicious scent of food. Graham stood before me dressed in a white dress shirt tucked into charcoal-grey slacks. Behind him, several people stood around his living room holding wine glasses, laughing and talking.
Graham swept his gaze over me, an appreciative look on his face. Inside, I revelled in a sense of victory he liked what he saw.
“Come on in. Everyone’s waiting to meet you.”
Confused and curious, I passed him into the house, inhaling a whiff of his divine cologne as I did so.
Graham led me around and introduced me to the ten other party guests. They were all couples ranging from their twenties to their sixties, and they all seemed eager to shake my hand.
“Thank you for the work you do,” said one man with greying brown hair, a blond woman standing beside him. He cupped my hand between his, an earnest, grateful expression on his face. “I’ve heard great things. I can only hope you and Mr. West can help me too.” He released my hand and curled an arm around his wife. “Help us last.”
I frowned, about to speak, but Graham beat me to it.
“You can rest assured we’ll do our best for you, Mr. And Mrs. Stanley. Now if you’ll excuse us, Julia and I must prepare.”
His hand on my back, Graham steered me upstairs to his guest bedroom.
“What’s going on?” I demanded as soon as he shut the door.
“You and I are going to put on a performance for the guests downstairs.”
“What kind of performance?”
He moved closer, a curve on his lips, his gaze dragging over my body as his blue eyes darkened with desire.
“I’m going to fuck you while all of them watch.”
Alarmed and speechless, I took a step back. Then my indignation took over, bringing back my voice.
“And you think I’m just going to let you do that to me? In your dreams, asshole!”
I spun and stormed toward the door. Graham overtook me in a few long strides, blocking my exit. I pushed against his chest to shove him out of the way, but it was like trying to move solid stone. God, he was sturdy, and if I hadn’t just learned what an arrogant jerkface he was, I definitely wouldn’t have minded being beneath his powerful body. No, that was a lie. I still didn’t mind the idea. Hell no to the live porno show, though.
“Not only are you going to do it, you’re going to love every second.”
I glared at him. “Get out of my way or I’ll scream.”
“Are you going to call the cops, too? Because I have an interesting story I’m sure they’d like to hear.”
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists at my sides.
“Is this how it’ll always be, Mr. West? You demand something from me and if I don’t obey your bidding you’ll threaten to tell the cops what I did?”
“It won’t.”
“How am I supposed to trust you?”
“Tonight, I want your complete submission and total obedience to my demands. That’s all I want from you, Julia. You will do as I say and you will not fight. And as I told you before, every time you address me you will call me sir.”
Outrage swirled in my chest and if Graham saw it in my gaze, he seemed unconcerned. Why should I fight this when I had no hope of winning? If I walked out that door and I’d find myself in a lot more trouble than being paid to have sex with a handsome man while ten strangers watched.
“What do you want me to do?” Then I added: “Sir.”
“I want you to take off your clothes.”
I hesitated before stiffly moving my hand to my dress’ zipper at the back of my neck. My face burned as I peeled the dress from my body and let it pool around my feet. It had been a while since I’d undressed in front of a man. Ridiculously, I worried about what Graham thought of my body as I removed my bra and slid my panties down my thighs.
I bent to unstrap my heels but paused when Graham spoke.
“Leave them on.”
Straightening, I met his stare. Graham’s gaze travelled over me, cataloguing every bit of me. The urge to cover myself was almost too strong to ignore, but I kept my arms rigid at my sides. Then he stepped forward and smoothed his hand over my shoulder. My pulse raced at his touch, my breath growing faster. I told myself I hated him, hated his touch, and yet I felt arousal stirring between my legs, anticipation tightening my nipples.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.” His unexpected praise unbalanced me. “But th
ere’s something missing. Wait here.”
He left the room and I contemplated grabbing up my clothes and running. Instead, I remained where I stood, obeying his order to wait. When he returned, he regarded me with satisfaction. Clearly his departure had been a test to see if I’d disobey him.
In his hand he held a leather collar with a long chain coiled around his forearm. He unwound the chain and secured the collar around my neck.
Oh my god. He’d just leashed me like a dog.
“Too tight?”
I lowered my gaze. “No, sir.”
He cupped my face and raised my gaze to his.
“Are you going to be a good girl for me tonight, Julia?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Excellent. Let’s go put on a great show.”
Eight
* * *
Graham led me back downstairs by the chain attached to the collar around my neck.
Mortification bloomed hot on my cheeks and ears when the conversation died away and ten pairs of eyes were riveted on my naked form. None of the guests looked appalled. As a matter of fact, I felt an undercurrent of excitement in the room.
“Everyone, our honoured guest is ready,” announced Graham. “If you would please follow me down to the basement, we can begin the show.”
He flipped a light switch and unlocked the door he’d forbade me to enter over a week ago. Several pairs of eager footsteps followed us down the stairs. The basement was a large, windowless room and even sparser with furniture and decorations than upstairs. In the center of the room was a large table surrounded by chairs. On one wall was a wide glass cabinet displaying candles, whips, paddles and handcuffs.
Seeing it all made me realize what was in store for me.
The couples took seats at the table as Graham instructed, then he guided me to the head of the table.