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Chapter Five
Cole
She scoffs, and I swear I’ve never known anyone like her before. It’s like she’s completely oblivious to the threat and tension in the room. To me, it feels like all the light has been sucked out and there’s a tangible hum of electricity vibrating in the air.
Can’t she sense it?
“Ha!” she barks. “What are you going to do, spank me with a ruler?”
She crosses her legs, folds her arms, and leans back in the chair like it’s her bloody throne or something.
Okay...she does have a death wish.
My fingers curl into fists of their own accord.
“Exactly,” I stare directly at her, until the amusement drains from her face.
She squirms nervously in her seat.
That’s better.
She needs to feel hunted.
Like prey.
“Not just a ruler,” I add in a slow, deliberate, and dangerous tone. “Every single one of these rulers that you’ve kindly fetched for us, in anticipation of your punishment.”
She gulps and turns to survey the mess all over the room. I can imagine that through her scared eyes it must suddenly look like there are hundreds of rulers scattered across the floor.
“But...but…” she stammers.
“Yes, Ms. Hall?” I raise a brow coolly at her.
“But I don’t want you to,” she replies, blinking rapidly.
“Really? Okay… You can go,” my brother states, joining in.
“Really? Back to my desk?” she looks so hopeful.
I want to laugh.
“Home. For good.” I tell her.
Her head whips back and forth between my brother and I, trying to gauge if either of us are joking.
Trust me, our faces clearly say we’re not. She swallows, clearly torn, and we patiently wait her out. We’re not about to back down. And I don’t think her pride will let her walk away.
“I tell you what, Rhylie,” I decide to throw her a bone. “Why don’t we see if you’re telling the truth?”
“The truth?” she repeats the question back to me, puzzlement etched all over her face.
“Yes. You say you don’t want this, but I'd wager that you do want - and need - this, very much. If I’m right, you take your punishment without complaint. If I’m wrong, you can go home...and come back tomorrow with your job still intact. Does that sound fair?”
The silly girl doesn’t even ask what the test is to check if she’s lying. She bites the corner of her lip while she contemplates my proposition.
But who is she kidding? We all know she’s going to say yes.
“Okay,” she whispers, her eyes still blaze with defiance though.
It’s fucking sexy to behold. I can completely understand why my brother is frustrated with her; she’s challenging, sexy, and defiant as fuck. A brat that needs to be broken.
“Stand,” I don’t bother with niceties, now that she’s agreed.
She gulps again - a nervous habit I’m beginning to think - and gets to her feet shakily. But when she notices I’m watching her, she throws her shoulders back, tosses her long dark hair over her shoulder, and sashays toward my desk like she owns the place.
I’ll soon change that.
