Chapter Thirty Six

[A/N] Not much happens in this chapter, it's basically just a taste of how Montgomery will act from now on until they kiss or whatever.

It's going to be filled with toxic, manipulative and possessive behaviour + slight bdsm. If you're uncomfortable with these, then I suggest you stop reading.

Monday;

The tires crunched over the gravel as I pulled into the campus parking lot, my mind heavy with exhaustion. I couldn't explain why I felt so drained today—maybe it was the restless sleep, or maybe the events of the weekend were weighing on me more than I wanted to admit. Rubbing the tiredness from my eyes, I turned off the ignition, slung my bag over my shoulder, and stepped out into the crisp morning air.

The familiar buzz of students filled the campus as I made my way to Professor Vargas' lecture hall. The corridors hummed with chatter, but my footsteps felt slow, like I was moving through water. By the time I reached the door, the room was already half-filled with students, their voices blending into a low murmur.

I headed toward my usual seat in the back when I heard her voice, sharp but cheerful, cutting through the noise. "Valentina!"

I stopped and turned, spotting Professor Vargas standing by her desk, a friendly but expectant look on her face. She held up a stack of papers, her bright eyes meeting mine. "Would you mind handing these out for me?"

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips, and I nodded, walking over to grab the papers from her outstretched hand. As I moved through the rows of desks, distributing the assignments, I could feel her gaze on me—warm but unreadable, as if she were studying me in that way she often did.

Once the last student had their paper, I returned to her desk and set down the remainder. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice losing some of the cheerfulness it held earlier. She gave me a small, almost tired smile, like she, too, was carrying more than she let on.

I returned her smile with a quick nod before heading to my seat, the strange tension from the weekend creeping back into my thoughts.

Montgomery's reaction when I told her I gave Octavia my number was utterly baffling. The way her face twisted with something that looked far too much like jealousy—wasn't she supposed to be the mature one here? Yet, she acted like a child. And honestly, I thought I was the one who had a reputation for being a little immature in this... well, whatever this was.

Speaking of Octavia, she still hasn't texted me. Not that I'm overthinking it or anything, but a part of me wonders if she ever will. Maybe it was just one of those fleeting moments of interest, and if she decides not to reach out, I'll have to be okay with that. I need to remind myself to stop waiting around for people.

Today's lecture dragged on, and it wasn't helped by the fact that Professor Vargas used the entire session to explain an assignment that wasn't due for another two weeks. Her voice, usually authoritative and clear, seemed to drone in the background while my thoughts wandered.

Once class was finally over, I made a beeline for the fountain, where I knew I'd find Lea. It was our usual spot—a peaceful corner of campus that gave us a good view of everyone passing by while letting her indulge in her bad habits.

Sure enough, there she was, sitting on the stone edge of the fountain, a cigarette in one hand and a can of Monster Energy Drink in the other. Her gaze flickered up as I approached, a lazy smirk already forming as she exhaled a cloud of smoke into the air.

"Still killing yourself slowly, I see," I teased, sitting down beside her.

Lea took a slow drag of her cigarette, letting the smoke curl lazily from her lips before taking a swig of her energy drink. "Like I always say," she smirked, tapping ash off the cigarette, "everyone dies eventually. I'm just taking the fast lane." She shrugged, her nonchalance adding an almost comedic touch to her morbid outlook. "So, how was your weekend?"

For a split second, I thought about mentioning the afternoon I spent with Montgomery—the play date with Tuna, the tension that lingered between us—but I stopped myself. If I told Lea about the way the professor acted when I gave my number to another woman, she'd dive into her whole theory about making Montgomery jealous. I wasn't in the mood for her teasing today.

"It was good," I smiled, trying to brush off the whole thing. "What about you?"

Lea drained the last of her drink and chucked the can into the nearby trash with casual precision, her eyes flickering toward me, a mix of boredom and curiosity in her gaze. "Boring," she sighed dramatically, "same old, same old." She took another drag, her eyes narrowing slightly as she exhaled, watching the smoke swirl up into the air. "But you," she added with a sideways glance, "you look like something's on your mind."

I swallowed my words, knowing that if I said too much, Lea would latch onto whatever I was trying to hide. She had a talent for that—reading me like a book. Just as I was about to respond, something in the distance caught my eye. Two familiar figures were walking toward the parking lot.

Montgomery and Vargas strolled side by side, each holding a cup of coffee. Montgomery's eyes flicked toward me for the briefest of moments, her expression unreadable, before she quickly looked away, her focus shifting back to Vargas.

I felt a pang of frustration. She was with Vargas, her partner. There was absolutely no reason for her to act so possessive, for her comments and jealousy to creep into our moments together. It didn't make sense, and it irritated me more than I cared to admit.

Lea, oblivious to the inner turmoil, kept talking, her words a gentle background hum as I watched Montgomery disappear into the distance.

We spent the next stretch of time in idle conversation, touching on the usual—classes, assignments, nothing of particular importance. Eventually, the clock pushed us toward our next lecture. Grabbing our bags, we headed toward Montgomery's class.

When we arrived, Montgomery was already seated at her desk, meticulously sorting through a pile of papers. The soft rustle of pages filled the air as she focused, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration. I felt a strange pull to glance her way, but I forced myself to keep my gaze fixed elsewhere. Lea and I slipped into our usual seats.

I didn't bother to pull out my books or laptop just yet, certain we were starting with a quiz, as we always. My fingers drummed idly on the desk, waiting for the inevitable.

Montgomery's heels clicked against the floor as she walked to the podium, her presence commanding without needing to say much. The room stilled, students turning their attention toward her, but instead of the expected pleasantries or introduction, she spoke curtly, her voice crisp and to the point.

"Open your books to page sixty," she ordered, not even glancing up from the podium.

A small surge of relief washed over me. No quiz? That's a nice surprise. I leaned over and grabbed my textbook from my bag, flipping through the pages until I found the one she indicated. The class followed suit, the shuffle of books and papers echoing around the room, as I settled back into my chair.

I was just about to begin taking notes when a subtle vibration buzzed in my pocket. Frowning slightly, I discreetly pulled out my phone, trying not to draw attention to myself. My brows knitted in confusion as an unknown number flashed across the screen. Swiping it open, I read the message, and a small smile tugged at my lips.

'Hey! It's Octavia, we met at the park on Saturday.'

For a moment, I hesitated, wondering if replying so quickly would make me seem desperate. But honestly, I didn't care. I saved her number in my contacts, feeling a little spark of excitement that she'd reached out, and typed out a response: 'I remember! Glad you decided to text me.'

Barely a moment passed before my phone buzzed again with her reply, quick and confident. 'I told you I would, didn't I?'

Her instant response made me smile wider, and I couldn't help but feel a small rush of adrenaline. This was new, something different—a potential for something that wasn't tangled up in the confusing, tense situation with Montgomery.

I spent almost the entire lecture texting back and forth with Octavia. Every now and then, I would glance up at the board, pretending to take notes, but my attention was fully captured by the conversation unfolding on my phone. I couldn't help smiling, and it wasn't long before Lea caught on, noticing the way I kept glancing down with that goofy grin. She raised an eyebrow at me, confused at first, until I tilted my phone toward her, showing her the messages. She immediately wiggled her eyebrows, a knowing smirk spreading across her face.

By the time the lecture ended and Montgomery dismissed the class, I was gathering my things, trailing just behind Lea toward the door, when Montgomery's voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Ms. Wilson, stay a minute."

Her tone was cool, but there was an undercurrent of something else—something sharp. I sighed, my shoulders slumping in defeat, already sensing where this was headed. Lea shot me a quick glance before heading out, leaving me behind in the nearly empty room.

Montgomery's eyes tracked every movement I made as I turned back to face her. She was leaning against the edge of her desk, hands gripping it on either side of her hips. There was a certain tension in her posture, her lips pressed into a thin line, as if she was trying to rein in her emotions.

"You were rather...distracted today," she began softly, but there was no missing the edge in her voice. It was that tone—dangerously calm—that sent a chill through me. "You weren't paying attention to me at all, were you?"

I opened my mouth to defend myself, to explain that it wasn't intentional, but she wasn't having any of it. She cut me off with a sharp, almost dismissive look.

"I don't care who you were texting," she said, pushing herself off the desk and taking a slow, deliberate step closer to me. Her presence was magnetic, overwhelming, and I suddenly felt very small in the quiet room. "When you're in my class, I expect all of your attention on me. Not on your phone, not on anyone else. Me."

The way she said "me" sent an unexpected shiver down my spine, her voice low and commanding. Her gaze locked onto mine, almost daring me to defy her. It wasn't just the words—it was the way they seemed to linger in the charged air between us, dripping with possessiveness. I swallowed, my heart thudding faster than I wanted to admit.

"Got it," I muttered quickly, breaking the tension. Before she could say anything else, I turned on my heel and walked out of the room, determined to escape before the heat in my cheeks became too obvious. I didn't dare glance back—I could still feel her eyes on me as I made my way down the hall, my pulse thrumming in my ears.

The second I was out of sight, I exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to my chest as if that would slow the frantic beat of my heart. What the hell was that? I wasn't sure what had just happened, but I knew I needed to get far away from Montgomery before I completely lost my cool.

With three hours of free time ahead of me, I was technically supposed to be in her office doing some extra work, but I had other plans now. Octavia had texted earlier, asking if I wanted to meet up at Midnight Mocha, and there was no way I was turning down the chance to get to know her better.

As I stepped inside Midnight Mocha, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped me, mingling with the sweet scent of pastries. The soft hum of conversation and the low chatter of the espresso machine created a cozy ambiance that instantly put me at ease. My eyes swept across the room, searching for Octavia until I spotted her at a table by the window, sunlight streaming in and illuminating her vibrant features.

When our gazes met, her face broke into a warm smile that lit up the entire space. "Valentina, hey!" she exclaimed, rising from her chair to greet me. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me in a friendly hug, her enthusiasm infectious.

"Hey," I replied, a smile stretching across my face as I returned the embrace. After a moment, she motioned for me to take a seat, her energy lifting the atmosphere around us.

While she perused the menu, I took a moment to study her—her raven black hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, framing her bright eyes that sparkled with curiosity. She glanced up from the menu, catching me watching her. "Order whatever you'd like, it's on me," she said with a playful grin, her voice inviting.

"Really?" I said, my heart warming at her generosity. I grabbed the menu, pretending to browse through the options even though I already had my heart set on an iced coffee. I didn't want to awkwardly sit in silence while she decided, so I scanned the menu as if I were contemplating my choices.

"Are you a coffee person?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, a hint of mischief in her smile.

"Always," I replied, my own smile growing as I felt a flutter of excitement. This was just the kind of distraction I needed.

A waitress approached our table with a polite smile. As she took our orders, Octavia took a sugar packet, absentmindedly playing with it between her fingers while the waitress wrote down our drinks. When the waitress left, Octavia looked up at me, her eyes reflecting the sunlight streaming through the window.

"So," she said, a playful tone slipping into her voice, "do you study?" She twirled the sugar packet before tearing it open.

"Yeah," I replied, nodding as I leaned back in my chair. "I'm at the university just around the corner. What about you?"

Octavia paused for a moment, then tilted her head and smiled as she dumped the sugar straight into her mouth. I blinked in surprise, but she only grinned wider, seemingly unfazed by the sweetness. "I'm an aspiring architect," she said, her voice confident and proud.

"Really?" I perked up, genuinely interested. "That sounds amazing! Architecture seems like such a creative and challenging field."

She nodded, her eyes twinkling as she relaxed into her chair. "It is, but I love it. There's something about designing spaces that people will live and work in—spaces that will become a part of their lives. It's... fulfilling."

I was about to ask more, but just then, the waitress returned, placing our drinks in front of us with a polite nod. My iced coffee glistened with condensation, and her caramel macchiato gave off a tempting aroma.

Octavia took a slow, deliberate sip of her macchiato, savoring the caramel sweetness as her eyes fluttered shut for a moment. When she looked back at me, her smile was easy, warm. "How old are you?" she asked casually, as though the question had just occurred to her.

"Twenty-one," I replied with a small grin. "Almost twenty-two. What about you?"

She leaned back in her chair, her fingers gently tracing the rim of her cup. "Twenty-seven," she said, her voice light, but the age gap between us lingered in the air for a moment. She took another sip, her gaze holding mine briefly before shifting to the café window, as if mulling something over.

For the rest of the time, we fell into easy conversation, learning small details about each other that felt like stepping stones toward something more familiar. She told me about her love for architecture, her dreams of designing homes that felt like art, while I shared snippets about my life as a student, the usual stresses of assignments and deadlines.

By the time our drinks were empty, the café had quieted down, and Octavia pushed her cup aside, pulling out her wallet to pay. She stood gracefully, leading me toward the door, and I followed her into the crisp morning air.

"Where's your car?" she asked, glancing at me as we walked down the sidewalk.

"I actually walked over," I shrugged with a smile, not thinking much of it. Her reaction, however, was instant.

She scoffed, shaking her head playfully. "Seriously? Alright, let me give you a ride back to campus."

I raised my hands in protest. "Oh, you don't have to do that. I can manage."

But Octavia just rolled her eyes, her grin playful as she nudged me lightly. "Come on, Valentina. I don't mind." Her tone left little room for argument, and after a moment, I relented with a small laugh, following her toward her car.

Back on campus, Octavia smoothly pulled into the parking lot, cutting the engine with a soft hum. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to me with an exaggerated grimace. "Please, for the love of everything, show me where the restroom is before I pee my pants."

I laughed, shaking my head as I opened the car door and stepped out. "Alright, follow me." We started toward the building, my pace picking up as her urgency became more apparent.

As we neared the fountain, my eyes caught an all-too-familiar sight. Montgomery stood rigid, her arms crossed tightly across her chest, engaged in what looked like a tense conversation with Lea. Lea's subtle nod in my direction was a silent warning, urging me to slip away quietly. But it was too late—Montgomery's head snapped in my direction, her gaze sharpening like a predator's. Her eyes zeroed in on Octavia beside me, narrowing as she tried to place her.

The moment of recognition was unmistakable. Montgomery's expression twisted from confusion to barely contained fury. I could almost feel the heat rolling off of her as she stalked toward us, her heels clicking against the pavement with a sharp precision that made me wince.

"Ms. Wilson," she said, her voice tight with restrained anger. "As my TA, I expect you to be in my office between lectures. Not... wandering around campus." Her gaze flicked to Octavia briefly before returning to me, her words as sharp as the look in her eyes.

I huffed at her demanding tone. "Calm down," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm allowed to grab a coffee with someone." I gestured for Octavia to follow me, resisting the urge to glance back at Montgomery as I added, "I'll be in your office when I'm done."

I pointed Octavia toward the restroom and leaned against the wall, scrolling mindlessly through my phone as I waited. The quiet hum of campus life filled the background—students laughing in the distance, the occasional car passing by. It wasn't long before the door creaked open and Octavia reemerged, looking relieved.

"Thank goodness," she exhaled dramatically, running a hand through her raven hair. "I literally almost peed myself."

I chuckled as we started walking back toward the parking lot together.

When we reached her car, she turned to face me, her smile warm. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. "Thanks for grabbing coffee with me," she said, her voice low and sincere as she opened the door. "We should definitely do this again soon."

"Yeah," I replied, returning the smile. "I'd like that." I gave a little wave as she closed the door and started her engine, the sound of her car fading as she drove away.

As I stood there for a moment, I couldn't help but think about how... normal it had all felt. There was no confusion, no tension like there had been with Montgomery. Just two people getting to know each other, laughing over coffee. It was nice.

Lea, of course, would demand every last detail. I sighed, realizing I'd have to go through the whole encounter with her soon enough. I headed toward the fountain where I usually found her. But when I arrived, it was empty, save for a few students milling about.

She must be in a lecture.

I stood outside Montgomery's office, taking a deep breath. I wasn't exactly eager to see her, but I had a job to do. Being her teaching assistant meant responsibilities, whether I liked it or not. After a moment of hesitation, I knocked lightly and pushed the door open, stepping inside.

Montgomery was at the bookshelf, her back to me, fingers trailing along the spines of neatly organized books. When she heard me enter, she barely glanced over her shoulder.

"You've got a lot of work ahead of you," she said without preamble, pulling a book from the shelf. "I need you to go to the library and find this one," she turned and showed me the cover briefly, "but I need Volume Two." Her lips curled into a sarcastic smirk. "And try not to grab another coffee on your way, alright?"

I rolled my eyes, turning toward the door, ready to brush off her snide comment. But before I could take a step, I felt her hand seize a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back with a sharp, brutal force. The sudden pain made me gasp, a startled moan escaping involuntarily as my vision swam.

"Don't you ever roll your eyes at me again," Montgomery hissed through gritted teeth, leaning over me. "Do you understand?" Her fingers tightened in my hair, pulling me so close that I could feel the heat of her breath against my skin, her presence overwhelming, dominating.

My pulse quickened, every nerve on high alert, heart racing as her voice dripped with dangerous intent. I nodded quickly, but the movement only made her tighten her grip, the sharp tug drawing another involuntary sound from me.

"Say it," she demanded, her voice low and menacing, her face so close that her scent—coffee and something darker, spicier—filled my senses. "I want to hear you say it."

It took a moment for me to gather my breath, and when I finally managed to choke out, "I understand," she released me so suddenly that I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance. She straightened up, an amused smirk playing on her lips, eyes gleaming with satisfaction at the effect she had on me.

I swallowed hard, my scalp still stinging, my heart still racing. She was watching me, a smug look on her face, as if she knew exactly how to get under my skin—and she did. The air between us was thick, suffocating, and for a second, I didn't know what to do.

But I turned, forcing my legs to move, and left the room without another word.

As I made my way to the library, I felt a slow, burning heat pooling between my legs, each step reminding me of what had just transpired in Montgomery's office. My breath was still uneven, my heart thudding against my ribs as I tried to regain some composure, but my body wasn't cooperating.

I should be scared. The way she'd grabbed me so suddenly, yanking me back by my hair, forcing me to face her, to feel her control—it should have made me want to run. But fear was the furthest thing from my mind. Instead, there was a dangerous thrill coursing through my veins, a strange satisfaction in the way she'd taken command so effortlessly, so fiercely.

The memory of her fingers tangled in my hair, the tight grip, the intensity in her voice—it sent a shiver through me, one I couldn't ignore. She hadn't just reprimanded me; she'd dominated me, made me feel every inch of her control. And somehow, instead of being scared, it left me wanting more.

I shook my head, trying to focus. I shouldn't be rolling my eyes at her, not if that's how she's going to respond. No matter how rude or sarcastic she gets, pushing her buttons feels like playing with fire. What she did to me earlier—well, that felt like just a taste of what she's truly capable of.

And something told me that next time, it wouldn't be just light work.