My Special Punishment

Episode three

I finished and stepped out of the bathroom.

For a few seconds, I just stood there. I wanted to say something to Julian. Anything. A smart remark. Maybe something flirty enough to get a reaction out of him. Something that would put me back in control. Nothing came.

For the first time in my life, the confident baddie of Oakcrest didn't have a damn thing to say.

Julian was still behind his desk, reading through the file like I wasn't standing there. I stared at him, but he didn't look up.

“Is there anything else?”

His eyes stayed on the file.

I opened my mouth. Still nothing.

I shook my head.

“Then you can go now.”

That was it. No sign that he enjoyed what happened. No sign that he hated it either. Nothing. Like the last hour hadn't meant a damn thing to him.

I picked up my bag and headed for the door. I didn't look back. I didn't trust myself to. My legs still felt unsteady, and I hated that I couldn't walk normally.

I hated that he had affected me this much. And I hated even more that he didn't seem to give a f**k.

The moment I stepped into the hallway, I saw Emma, Priya, and Jade waiting for me. Their eyes went straight to me.

Emma frowned.

“What happened in there?”

I stopped.

“What?”

“You were in Julian's office for a long time.”

Jade looked me over.

“And you came out looking like that.”

I glanced down. That was when I really looked at myself. My shirt was crumpled and wasn't tucked in properly, my short pleated skirt had the side zipper at the front, and my hair was a complete mess.

Fuck.

I hadn't fixed myself at all.

I could've sworn I had in Julian's bathroom. Apparently, I'd just stood in front of the mirror trying to process what had happened and called that fixing myself.

“What did he do to you?” Priya asked.

“Nothing.”

All three of them stared at me.

I quickly added, “He gave me a boring punishment. That's all.”

Jade's eyebrow went up.

“A boring punishment made you look like that?”

“I fell.”

Emma blinked.

“You fell?”

“On my way out of his office.”

“Into what?”

I gave her a look.

“Does it matter?”

“It kind of does.”

“Can we just go home?”

Emma studied me for a moment. Then she noticed the way I was standing, and her expression softened.

“Okay.”

She glanced at the others.

“Let's get her somewhere private first.”

They guided me toward a quieter corner of the hallway.

“Hold still, let's fix you up” Emma said.

She fixed my collar and tucked my shirt back in. Jade moved around me, smoothing down my hair while Priya adjusted my skirt.

“You really didn't notice how messed up you looked?” Jade asked.

“No.”

I frowned.

“I thought I fixed it.”

Priya’s hand moved under my skirt to adjust the tucked shirt properly. Then she stopped. Her eyes came up to my face.

I knew at that exact moment she noticed.

My stomach tightened.

She looked at Emma. Emma looked at Jade.

Neither of them said anything.

But I knew what they were suspecting.

I folded my arms.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Priya said.

Her voice was different. Not teasing. Careful.

Emma gave her a small look, the kind that said not now. Then she turned back to me.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Did he try–”

“I'm just tired, Emma. That's all.”

Emma didn't argue. She finished and they all stepped back.

“There.”

I looked down. At least I looked somewhat presentable now.

Emma hooked her arm through mine.

“Come on. We're taking you home.”

“I can get home myself.”

“We know.”

She started walking.

This time, I let her. I felt completely drained.

By the time I got home, I didn't even bother checking my phone. I dropped my bag by the door and went straight to the bathroom.

The shower was hot.

I stepped beneath the water, letting it run over me. I squatted to wash my p***y, and my hand brushed a tender spot.

Julian.

The soreness reminded me of the office again. He'd f****d me without mercy, leaving me sore. I didn't have a problem with that. The first time having rough s*x would hurt, of course.

If that was even s*x at all.

My problem was his nonchalance.

He hadn't even come to check on me in the bathroom. When I stepped out, he hadn't looked up.

My hand went to my neck.

I remembered how he'd grabbed it. Put a tie around it. Choked me.

All of that.

And he still hadn't acknowledged a damn thing.

What made him think he could behave like that after having his way with me?

I frowned.

Why was I even still thinking about him?

He clearly wasn't thinking about me. At least, he hadn't acted like it.

I finished washing up, turned off the water, and grabbed my towel.

Maybe that was what bothered me. I didn't know. I just knew I couldn't seem to get him out of my head.

I got out, changed into something comfortable, and collapsed on my bed. I stared at the ceiling for a while.

Then my eyes landed on my notebook.

My bucket list.

I reached for it and flipped past the pages until I found the list.

Level One.

Ryan Banks.

I stared at his name for a moment before checking it off.

Done.

That should have felt satisfying.

It didn't.

I moved down the page. Then I reached the bottom.

Ultimate.

I picked up my pen.

For a second, I hesitated.

Then I wrote:

Julian Smith.

I looked at it.

Ultimate level.

The hardest one. The one I hadn't even planned properly because I hadn't known who it would be.

Then I frowned.

Wait.

I hadn't gotten Julian.

I'd walked into his office thinking I was going to make him fold. Instead, somewhere along the way, he'd turned the entire thing around.

I went there thinking I was in control. When I wasn't.

My grip tightened around the pen.

He ruined my game.

I drew one line through Ryan. Then another through Julian. Then I crossed out the entire list.

The bucket list was stupid. It was built around the idea that I could decide who I wanted, work my way through them, and check each one off.

But Julian had ruined it.

I stared at his name beneath the crossed-out ink.

That was the part I couldn't let go of.

I didn't know what could make him react.

And suddenly, that was much more interesting.

I turned to a fresh page.

At the top, I wrote:

NEW CHALLENGE

Underneath it, I started a new list.

Study Julian Smith.

Why he say anything to me afterward?

Why he acting like nothing happened?

Why he so controlled?

What the hell was going on in his head in that office?

And most importantly...

How do I make him crack?

I stared at the last question.

Then a mischievous smile slowly spread across my face.

Now this was a challenge.

The next morning, I saw Julian in the west wing.

He was walking alone, a folder tucked beneath one arm, his attention fixed ahead of him.

I smiled.

Perfect.

“Daddy.”

He kept walking.

I frowned and hurried after him.

“Hey. I was calling you.”

Julian finally stopped and turned. His expression was completely neutral.

“What do you need?”

I stared at him.

“Wow. That's it?”

His gaze moved briefly over me.

“Is there something else?”

“You really don't remember?”

“Remember what?”

I stepped closer.

“Yesterday.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly.

“What about it?”

I laughed.

“Oh, you're good.”

He said nothing.

“You're really going to stand there and pretend nothing happened?”

“I don't recall saying that.”

“You didn't have to. Your face is doing all the work.”

“My face?”

“Yes. Very innocent. Very professional.”

He started walking again.

I followed.

“You're telling me you forgot everything that happened in your office?”

“I haven't forgotten.”

I smiled.

“Got you.”

“But I'm still not sure what you're talking about.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You're such an asshole.”

“I've heard that before.”

“Do you always act this calm?”

“Usually.”

“Even when a girl is standing in front of you reminding you about what you did yesterday?”

He glanced at me.

“Should I be concerned?”

I stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop.

“You should at least look a little nervous.”

“Why?”

“Because I know something you don't want people knowing.”

His expression didn't change.

“Do you?”

I blinked.

He walked around me.

I turned after him.

“Are you seriously not going to react?”

“I don't see the point.”

I laughed under my breath.

“You're impossible.”

“So I've been told.”

I hurried to catch up.

“You really think you can keep pretending nothing happened?”

“Yes.”

The answer came so easily that I stopped for half a second.

Then I smiled.

“Fine.”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice.

“You know I could go tell the principal you f****d a student in your office.”

That finally made him stop.

My heart jumped.

There.

I had him.

After everything else, this had to mean something.

I watched his face carefully, waiting for the panic. The calculation. Even a flicker of uncertainty.

Julian looked at me for a long second.

Then he smiled. Almost like I'd just told him something amusing.

“Go ahead.”

He walked past me.

I stood there, staring after him.

Wait. What?

That was it?

Who the f**k was this guy?

He wasn't even worried.

I couldn't help the grin tugging at my lips.

He thought he was so tough.

Fine.

He was in for a surprise on Friday.