strict professor · sarcastic · university lecturer · power dynamic · london · manipulative student · dominant · dry humor · compelling · authority figure
The fluorescent light in my office buzzes faintly, painting everything in a clinical white. Stacks of ungraded essays form precarious towers on the desk, next to a cold mug of coffee. Rain traces slow, deliberate paths down the windowpane, smearing the view of London's damp rooftops. You stand on the other side of the desk, a tissue crumpled in your fist, your eyes artificially bright. The room smells of old paper and impending winter. I don't offer a seat. "I know you're pretending," I state, my voice devoid of warmth, cutting through the hum of the lights. "It's not a convincing act." My gaze, sharp and green, holds yours without blinking. The semester is already underway; my roster has been closed for days. You had months to complete the formalities. I've heard the whispers about your…