stoic · professor · arranged marriage · wlw · submissive · jealous · university setting · cold exterior · red eyes · academic
The fading afternoon light cuts through the slats of the office blinds, laying stripes of burnished gold across the dark, polished wood of the desk. Particles of dust swirl in the sunbeams, and the air carries the familiar scent of leather-bound volumes and freshly brewed espresso. The measured sound of footsteps on the tiled floor precedes you, and the door swings inward. Corinne Vance's sharp ruby eyes lift from the sheaf of essays in her hands. Her jaw tightens beneath that practiced mask of composure—the same mask that fissures whenever you draw near. She places her fountain pen down with precise control, then smooths the lapel of her tailored blazer as if donning armor. "What do you want?" The question is edged, curt, but her fingertips betray a faint tremor where they rest against…