CHAPTER TWO
1907 Words
Nathaniel being a college professor and a naturally domineering person found it rather disrespectful to be answered with simple gestures like nodding, thus, it had become impulsive for him to reprimand, to say:
“Use your words”.
She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly felt dry and her palms were disturbingly clamy, she searched deep and tried hard before she found her voice.
“Yes”. She answered.
Nathaniel had been given a file containing everything he had needed to know about Catherine, he hadn’t gone through them yet because he had been busy, and of course he trusted his parents’ judgment. Not knowing anything about her except her name he said:
“You understand that this marriage is merely one of convenience don’t you?”.
She would have nodded had she not just been reprimanded, so she answered:
“I do”.
“You will be provided for, all your needs will be met as well as your mother’s, you are free to do what ever you please as long as you can be discrete about it. I am in the peak of my career and I do not want anything ruining that”. He explained.
She listened attentively like the good student she was.
“I’m afraid I am a very busy man and my work is my first priority, meaning I cannot be the typical husband picture you may have painted”. He said.
“I understand”. She answered.
She didn’t know how long she would be living like this, she didn’t dare think about it, hell, she was just trying to make it till Monday. New academic sessions would be starting on Monday and she could go back to school, possibly continue to stay in her dorm room and act like nothing had changed.
She had a lot of catching up to do and if her 'husband' was was chill with it she would spend their wedding night studying, she'd start right away if he let her.
"Any questions? Anything you'd like to add?". He said.
Yes. She had a lot to ask, she had a lot to add, she needed to ask about the intimacy side since he had left it out, but how?
She opened her mouth to soeak but shut it. How could she put it?
In the dimly lit car Nathaniel could see that his bride was struggling with conflicting thoughts at the moment, he didn't push it, he let her cone to terms at her own pace
"Um.....I don't.....I". She stuttered quietly.
He understood that his domineering aura was a lot to handle, thus, he tried to ease her up a bit.
"You can tell me". He said turning to face her fully.
Her petit body slowly pressed closer against the door. He liked the reaction people had when they were around him, he liked the dominance he had over them, he devoured that looked in their eyes, the look of fear and immense respect, he was dark in the mind, really, really dark.
"I would.... I". She began stuttering again.
"Speak coherently". He cut in.
Catherine knew she had to say it, she had to say it as it was, they were supposed to be married after all.
"Intimacy". She blurted out finally.
That was all she could get out.
He leaned back into the expensive leather seat, the soft smell of the new car hung softly in the air. He let his gaze rake over her, taking in her features, from her ginger hair to her pale skin which seemed to absorb the light in the car, her head was cast down so he saw little of her face, just long straight lashes fluttering every now and then, she wasn't bad looking he concluded.
"I was going to leave that to you". He said. "But let's talk about it".
She felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach as the words left his mouth.
"I believe by intimacy you mean amorous indulgence". He said.
She nodded.
"Words Catherine, use your words".
"Yes". She squeaked.
"You are free to do as you please , I said that already. However if you're not inclined towards satisfying your needs with strangers you can always cone to me, just as long as you bear in mind that there will be no strings attached". He said.
He spoke smoothly as though his words weren't weighing tons on her nerves.
She really didn't like talking about this, but what choice did she have?
"And you?". She asked.
"Vice versa".
Her heart fell again and she began to sweat regardless of the air conditioning in the car.
"What ....what if I don't want to?". She said quietly.
"I will not come to you if you dont come to me Catherine". He calmed her raging nerves.
The truth was that Nathaniel always had women throwing themselves at him, he was rich, he had the brains and the looks, and his personality, it drew women in like magnet did metal. Thus, amorous indulgence wasn't a problem for him.
With Catherine's mind now somewhat calm she could plan and think about her future.
However, not long later everything became a blur again as the realization dawned on her; this was really what her life had become, and because she wasn't used to wearing her emotions on her sleeves she waited till she was securely tucked underneath a blanket in her new room before she began to sob quietly.
~~
What Catherine liked the most about new sessions were the new electives she would be taking on, as a student majoring in English language she had decided to take on philosophy as a minor. Today being the first class she would be taking in this particular course.
She had been here early so she had time to prepare for the lesson and organize her stuff, as the first few students began walking in and taking their seats Catherine stared absentmindedly at the golden wedding band on her finger, if she was to pretend everything was normal and all was well then surely she didn’t need the ring reminding her of how much things had changed.
Knowing what she was about to do was somewhat wrong she lowered her hands underneath the desk not wanting prying eyes to see her sinful act, and within the privacy she found there she slowly pulled off the ring.
Closing her fingers around it tightly she convinced herself that it was no big deal, after all people took their wedding bands off all the time. She shoved it into the pocket of her jacket and made sure the buttons were securely locked before straightening up.
She hadn't realized that she had taken that much time to simply take off a ring for when she raised her head the lecture hall was almost full, at that moment three students began occupying the vacant seats beside her, they chattered smoothly as they settled down, almost oblivious to her presence, it was true that she had no aura at all, she was almost invisible.
There were two guys and a girl, from the way they were dressed Catherine knew they weren't her typical definition of 'decent acquaintances'. The girl's hair was black with streaks of pinkbajs purple in it, her mini skirt had two many chains dangling from it and her fitting turtle neck top clung to her like a second skin, she waved long black and well manicured nails around as she spoke.
The boys were dressed similarly, with the chains and boots and all, all three wore a matching black leather jacket to kill off their bad ass outfits. The girl had God-knows how many piercings and the boys had one on each ear, it was almost obvious what they were: members of the school's fraternity.
".......would flip on seeing us here". One of the guys said laughing subtly.
"I know right!". The girl laughed. "Cam wouldn't be caught dead here".
She shifted in her seat trying to settle fully causing her elbow to slightly brush against Catherine's, she turned to look at her at once.
Catherine quietly watched the almost flustered girl as she dramatically pressed her palm against her heaving chest.
"You....okay?". She said slowly, not sure what exactly had the girl so flustered, it was normal to brush elbows every now and then right?
"Yeah. Just didn't realize you were sitting right here, I swear I didn't see you, scared me for a sec". She said.
Catherine nodded slowly, a courteous smile on her cherry red lips.
"Oh Rena, quit being so dramatic". The other guy said, His brown eyes seeming almost sleepy as they stared at her.
"No...no, it's fine". She said.
The girl whom she had now discovered to be named Rena rolled her eyes.
"Oh please dude". She said to him before turning back to Catherine. "Sorry about that. I'm Serena, you can call me Rena".
Catherine smiled and nodded.
"I'm Catherine, Cat". She said.
"Nice. That's Nick". She said casually gesturing at the guy with the brown orbs, then she gestured at the other one with captivating blue eyes. "And that's Cam, Cameron".
They said nothing, just stared at her with smug smirks tugging at the edges of their lips, their haughtiness almost choking her. They weren't bad looking, they were obviously aware.
She waved subtly.
"Hi".
"Nice talk Cat". Cam spoke first.
She was about to give an awkward reply when a sudden hush traveled across the hall, it was nothing new, it was the hush that settled when a professor walked in, especially one with control issues.
She averted her gaze from Cam's in time to see the professor walking to the of the podium, her breath hitched and her heart did a triple Summersault as she stared at the man on the podium.
His tall, lean but well built physique stood regally dressed in smooth black pants, and a crisp black button down which peeked out from a long Grey coat that fell just below his knees, his leather black cover shoes glowed dimly underneath the florescents.
Striking black eyes scanned the hall quickly ,probably taking in the amount of students present, he raises his left hand and glanced at his wristwatch before he lowered it
"Good morning. I am Nathaniel Houston, professor, Dr. Or sir is fine". His deep voice traveled through the small hall as though an amplifier aided him. "I will be taking you philosophy 301, philosophy of the mind".
She was dreaming, no, this was a nightmare, one she so desperately wanted to wake from.
How was this happening? She shut her eyes tightly and squeezed her hands shut so that her nails dug into her palms in hopes that the pain would rouse her from her nightmare, it didn't.
".......as many before you did". He was saying.
A light tap on her hand had her eyes springing open.
"What?". She breathed sharply.
Rena who had tapped her backed away slowly, almost cautiously.
"Are you okay?". She said. "You seem.....off".
Catherine blinked, trying to pull herself together, how could she be? She was married to her professor for heaven's sake!
"Yeah.....I'm good". She stuttered.
Though unconvinced, Rena let it be, the girl was weird and she wanted no part in her drama right now.
"Yeah, okay". She said simply.
And at that moment his deep voice hushed them sharply.
- Writer
