Ch 1-10

Summary

Professor Elliot Landon, 38, is a professor who teaches law at Yale University. He has everything a man wants: a career, money, looks, and a wife. People believe that he has it all, but there are secrets that Elliot has. He has an unhealthy desire and obsession for a third-year student, Alexandria, 22, who not only has no fear but also holds no interest in him. Her defiance fills him with insanity to possess her so much that he would be willing to take drastic measures to possess her. Those measures, however, may cost him his freedom and reputation. Not only that, but he also faces enemies around him. It doesn’t matter to Elliot, for he believes that he will possess Alexandria by all means necessary and keep his undoings forever as secrets.

1: Elliot Landon

Yale University was one of the few prestigious universities in the United States. Many of the brightest minds walk its halls. However, not everyone accepted got into such a university with merit alone; corruption was involved. Wealthy families paid administration or used their family name for their children to be admitted to the university. It was a secret that was to be hidden within the walls.

The university’s reputation would go into the mud if the secret were ever exposed. There was one man, a professor, who knew the secrets. The Professor was in his mid-thirties and was considered the most handsome man in the entirety of the university. The man stood six feet tall with a well-built body and a slightly circular face. He had a well-shaven dark beard and raven-slicked-back hair. His eyes were blue, which was emotionless and calculating. His name was Elliot Landon, and he enjoyed wearing the best clothes and jewelry life could offer.

Elliot was a Professor who taught law at Yale University; he used to be a lawyer and truly loved his former job. One of the main reasons he enjoyed the profession was the love of breaking his enemies. The Professor enjoyed watching their defeated looks; his clients weren’t safe from him. He would charge them double for his work, knowing they couldn’t afford it. Elliot loved the thrill of seeing their happiness and hopes of winning the case dwindle when given the bill. Many of his clients would beg for leniency; it was a different story for the women.

The former lawyer would ask for sexual favors from them if they wanted their bills to be lowered. When the women agreed, he would record them or use any leverage on them for blackmail if they ever opened their mouths. He would hire corrupt hackers to change the female clients’ videos or pictures. They were threatened with exposure in the media, and he would sue them for indecency; he never kept his promise of lowering their bill. Many of his former female clients were mentally, emotionally, and physically destroyed.

After working in the law for ten years, he applied to become a Professor to fulfill his appetite for destruction. He wanted to destroy the hopes and dreams of many students, whether rich or poor. Before applying for the position, he researched those who were to interview him and any of the higher-ups who would dare reject him having the position. Elliot found their deepest secrets and kept them with him.

He was given the position due to his experience, which was without difficulty and suited him fine. It has been two years since he worked at the university. During that time, many students complained about his teaching methods and treatment of the students. It was brought to the board’s attention, and they met with him. Elliot was threatened with being fired in the meeting, but he got evidence of their corruption. He informed them they had people who had all the information about the university’s unfair practices when choosing students. The board members were also told that he had information about their private lives that could end them.

The board members threatened to become silent and let Elliot keep his job. Because of the meeting alone, the board members and Professors feared him. Elliot was the truth power of the university, and he enjoyed every second of it.

With his cruelty, many students quit their dreams to become lawyers or chose another major; some committed suicide due to the stress or their failures. Elliot was always prepared when some of the families went to him and threatened to sue him. He always did his research on his students and their families. Like the board members, he threatened to expose some of their wrongdoings to the media or other loved ones; it kept them silent. It was nothing but entertainment for him. Elliot knew he was a narcissistic psychopath; he felt no empathy toward others. He believed that he was the embodiment of perfection.

Since that was what Elliot believed, that meant he deserved the best, and he would refuse to have anything less.

2: Alexandria Graham

The bells tolled in the university; Elliot walked through the halls as he held his suitcase. He walked toward his law class, where his students would await him. He never tolerated tardiness and ensured his students that it would go on their record no matter the excuse. If his students were tardy or had many absences, they would be kicked out of his class.

Elliot planned it very well since the class he taught was the last class needed to graduate and go to law school. Throughout the years he worked at the university, many students missed a lot of classes, especially the rich ones, since they could use their parents’ influence to get good grades. However, when he arrived and became a Professor, many wealthy students couldn’t escape their actions. When the students realized they had failed and couldn’t graduate, they tried using their parents to do something. However, nothing could be done since Elliot deeply researched and used their parents’ secrets against them.

Elliot’s reputation spread throughout the university. Many students and faculty members feared him and tried not to get close to him. Many students tried not to get into his class, but sometimes it was impossible. Many students failed his style since the Professor made it difficult. Elliot felt unstoppable, but one day, he received a new student who arrived from Harvard University. The student was a young woman in her early twenties who wanted to get into law school and transferred her credits to Yale University. When this particular student entered his class, he had to admit she was the most beautiful female student he had ever had. Many women at Yale were usually average-looking, and some were beautiful due to heavy makeup and plastic surgery.

However, this female student was a natural beauty. She had long, beautiful red hair that flowed throughout her back like a waterfall; her eyes were light green and glowed like diamonds. She had an average body figure that wasn’t too chubby or skinny. Her skin was fair, with a couple of freckles on her face, making her look innocent and her face glow. Her lips were slightly thin but pink. She wore lovely long dresses that barely clung to her body, but sometimes she liked wearing regular jeans and t-shirts, depending on her mood.

Alexandria Graham.

When Alexandria first entered his class, she held high confidence. Elliot looked forward to breaking her spirit as he taught his class and gave everyone challenging classwork and homework. To his shock, the young woman did not look deterred and did her work without complaint or fail. She would pass all of his assignments and answer many of his questions. Her determination irked the Professor as he noticed his students looking up to her or going to her for assistance. He didn’t want his students to gain hope.

That was when he decided to research Alexandria to find anything to use against her. To his anger, there was nothing much on her. She grew up in foster care and went home to home. He learned that Alexandria was put in special classes since she was advanced for her age. She received scholarships to Harvard and Yale University; her grades were in top shape. Alexandria did everything by the book and was talented from a young age. It angered him that he couldn’t use anything against her.

Yet, Elliot couldn’t help but feel impressed by her intelligence; she was the only one to challenge him. It made him feel alive, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Not even his wife made him feel that way. Whenever he saw Alexandria and tried making challenging assignments, she would always prevail. Elliot believed she was up to his level, but not entirely. His student eventually became an obsession for him. She was a mystery to him and would not talk much about her thoughts, feelings, or past. He knew some things about her but not everything.

The Professor would sometimes spy on her whenever she was with some of her classmates outside his class. He also found out where she lived and would watch what she was doing. He learned that Alexandria did have some friends but was a little more introverted. Once, he saw her go to the beach with friends and saw parts of her body. She looked magnificent to him; there was no sense of imperfection, just how he liked it. The more he spied on her, the more his obsession grew. He imagined that Alexandria was beneath him when he slept with his wife. The desire for her grew more with each passing day.

Now, he finally arrived at his class, where all his students sat in their seats. Alexandria sat at the back of his class with her notebooks and pen ready. The two eyed one another; Alexandria, as always, looked undeterred and was prepared to face any challenges he would throw at her. Elliot knew this, and it excited him for a thrill and challenge. Only Alexandria could make him feel such a way.

Meanwhile, Alexandria took her notes precisely, ensuring she did not miss anything important.She knew that the Professor loved giving surprising quizzes, tests, projects, and other work. Elliot tried to speak and rule like a god whenever he stood before the class. Alexandria noticed his behavior and character when she first entered his class. She couldn’t help but notice that her Professor was a narcissist; she knew this but didn’t bring up the issue.

Rumors were circulating that the faculty and board were afraid of him. There were many complaints from other students; some families went to the board, but then their accusations ceased. It was said that Elliot was a lawyer who always had tricks on his sleeves. It would have made since many of her classmates were confident in themselves. Many of her former classmates came from wealthy families; the feeling of being powerful and entitled overcame them.

Everything changed after the first couple of weeks. The Professor assigned a tremendous amount of work and exams. Many failed and became overwhelmed. Alexandria would have thought that the wealthy students wouldn’t have to worry about the classwork or would use their wealth to pay Elliot off.

It was the exact opposite. Many of the students quit the class or even the university. Alexandria was happy that the wealthy students didn’t get their way. However, she disagreed that students getting by honorably didn’t get mercy from Elliot. The Professor enjoyed making his students suffer and stress so much that the students would quit.

However, Alexandria wasn’t afraid of him and his challenges. She knew how it felt like to face bullies and hardships and used that to motivate her to have a better life and future. She motivated her classmates to go forward and face Elliot. The young woman would also help them with their classwork and homework when needed. Her classmates saw her as their leader who wasn’t afraid of the tyrant. Her classmates even bought her lunch, dinner, and gifts as thanks.

It was because of her that they refused to quit. At that moment, everyone wrote notes, and it was time for the class to end. “Alright, you all have an exam covering next week’s three-week lectures. It will not be easy. Dismissed,” Elliot announced.

Everyone immediately packed their belongings and left the classroom; Alexandria was the last to get ready and go; however, Elliot stopped before her and told her he wanted to speak to her. When he looked at her, it made the young woman uneasy; it was as if the Professor viewed her as his prey. “Miss Alexandria, I would like to speak with you; I will walk with you.”

She froze, surprised that her Professor wanted to speak with her privately. “Uh, my other class is nearby, and I don’t want to intrude on your time.”

Elliot smirked and knew Alexandria was trying to evade him; he wouldn’t let her. “Not at all. If you were intruding, then I would not be bothered. Let us walk to your next class.” He grabbed his belongings and motioned out of the class, where other students were waiting for another Professor. They walked out of the classroom and began to walk upstairs. “You are doing well in my class; I am impressed.”

Receiving compliments from Elliot was new, but Alexandria couldn’t help but feel that something wasn’t right. However, she thought playing it safe and straightforward. “Thanks.”

“Usually, many students would quit. What motivated you to keep on staying in my class?”

Alexandria knew what he was trying to do; he wanted information from her to determine her weak points. She refused to play his game. “Well, Professor, we must deal with difficult situations and people. I have my goals, and your class is needed. If you will excuse me, I have another class to attend.”

Alexandria stopped and went toward a classroom where there were some people inside. Elliot stopped and gave her a final look before going on his way. He smirked as he got to the parking lot. “Interesting answer. However, I believe there is more than meets the eye. Until next week, Alexandria.”

3: The Wife

It was 6:00 pm, and Elliot drove home; he dreaded it since he would have to see his wife’s face. A face that brings misery to his existence. He considered marrying her the biggest mistake in his life and the only mistake he made. Before they married, Elliot thought of her as nothing more than a fuck since she was married when they first met. She was his secretary when he worked as a lawyer; she was immediately attracted to him. To Elliot, she was the easy prey, and he used her to release his lust and frustrations. However, she got pregnant as he was about to fire and leave her. She told her ex about our affair, and they divorced.

Elliot was enraged and asked her to get an abortion, which she refused. That’s when he realized his reputation was at stake, and she could get child support from him. He didn’t want that to happen and had to marry her so his reputation would not be tarnished. Fate to him worked in mysterious ways; she lost the baby three months after marriage.

He was happy that he would never raise a brat that he never wanted but angry that he was still married. However, Elliot was slowly approaching divorce, and his wife didn’t know his plans. His wife knew many of his actions as a lawyer and the university, and she could use them against him. Elliot was planning how to make his wife unreliable and hired hackers to help him.

The Professor finally got home and parked his car in the parkway. He owned a mansion-like house that he paid for. His wife didn’t pay for anything. Even after losing the baby, she wanted to be a housewife and care for everything.“Lazy bitch, I will get rid of her soon,”he thought as he exited his car and entered his house.

When he entered, his wife, Amanda, was seen in the living room reading a magazine. She had a thin figure with tan skin, making her white teeth stand out. Her long raven hair touched the sides of her waist. She wore a jaguar-like robe; her nails were polished, and her eyes were black but were difficult to see due to her long, fake eyelashes. Amanda did look pretty, but it was noticeable that she had work done on her. During their marriage, Amanda got breast implants and a butt lift.“Can’t believe I’m married to plastic.”

“Elliot, how was your day?” she asked while standing up from the sofa.

His day? He thought back on Alexandria and smirked; he would always have a good day whenever he saw her. “Fine.”

“I made dinner. You must be hungry,” she said while motioning him to sit.

Elliot looked at the food. The food was put nicely on plates, but he knew Amanda ordered takeout. She didn’t know how to cook but always said she cooked the takeout she ordered. He didn’t say anything since he kept the receipts of her spending that he could use against her. “I already ate at work. I am going to take a shower.” Amanda was about to respond, but Elliot immediately went upstairs. Once inside, he closed and locked the door and went to the bathroom; he undressed as he turned on the shower. The water hit his body; he relaxed and closed his eyes. Alexandria came up to his mind. The thoughts of her became common, as did his lust; it became out of control.

The Professor slowly touched his muscular chest and abs as the water fell on him. He imagined Alexandria being the one feeling him. The image of her fiery red hair being wet with the water as she looked at him with lust and want. Elliot trailed his hands down at his cock, and he began to make slow tantalizing strokes. He imagined her giving him pleasure; her small mouth sucked on me while looking at him. There was a part of him that couldn’t believe that a woman like her made him insane with desire and lust. Her beauty, defiance, and strength always got him excited for her.

Then, there was his wife, the woman he got bored of and hated. She was beautiful, but she was fake. He knew she would get in his way, and he had to get rid of her.

He stroked harder and faster, feeling his release coming; Elliot breathed heavily. “Alexandria…Alexandria…” Elliot came. His cum landed on parts of the wall and the shower floor, where it was swept away. His sanity for Alexandria was dissipating, and he felt he had to act quickly.

4: Push

Elliot finished taking a shower and dressed in his sleeping clothing. Leaving the bathroom to dry his hair, he saw his wife changing into her nightgown; Elliot did not speak to her. Elliot would sleep in the same bed as his wife, but after meeting Alexandria, things changed. He slept in the main room while he made Amanda sleep in a guest room.

He knew his wife was growing suspicious, but he didn’t care. Amanda would try to talk to him, but he would leave to his privacy before she could even say a peep. Amanda finished changing and watched as her husband got his bed ready. In her view, things have changed in their household, and it was too sudden. Her husband had changed drastically; they hardly spoke or had sex in a while, and it frustrated her. “You won’t even ask me to sleep here?” she asked.

“What do you think?” he asked almost mockingly. “Now, are you going to leave? I need to get my sleep and you’re getting in the way.”

Amanda noticed that the way he spoke to her also changed. He became cold, distant, and plain mean. “Why? You have changed completely.”

Elliot turned his back to her and did not bother to look at her. “And? If you don’t like it then leave.”

“Are you seeing another woman?” Amanda dreaded asking this question. However, her suspicions intensified after he asked her to sleep in separate rooms. Deep in her heart, Amanda hoped that it wasn’t the case.

He rolled his eyes in annoyance. Before and after their marriage, he fucked other women behind his wife’s back. Elliot was surprised that Amanda did not realize she was nothing more than a quick fuck. “Why should that bother you? You were married to another man when you and I fucked. It didn’t bother you then. Why should it bother you now?”

Amanda was shocked; her eyes and lips widened in horror. Her fears came true. His words stabbed her like a thousand knives. “So you are! I knew it!”

Elliot turned, chuckled, and clapped his hands; his expression held arrogance and pride. Looking at her husband’s expression made a shiver go down her spine. His claps eventually subsided. “Don’t be so shocked, Amanda. Before and during our affair, you knew who I was. You thought I married you because you were different from the many nameless women I have been with. Stupid bitch, the only reason I married you was that you were pregnant. I did not want my reputation to be tarnished. After you miscarried, I wanted to divorce you, but I didn’t because of my reputation. Now, the gloves are off.”

His wife cried. Nothing he said was a lie; she knew how he was, but she hoped he would change. Amanda sacrificed her previous marriage, her reputation, and parts of her youth for a man with no heart. Amanda didn’t want to give up, but it seemed that Elliot had other intentions. “Wh-What do you mean?”

“I want a divorce.” Elliot said it without hesitation or remorse; he sounded so factual.

Amanda’s heart began to pound hard and loud. “NO! I will never give you a divorce! I have given up everything for you! I did everything for you! I sacrificed my previous marriage, my career, and my body for you! And this is how you repay me!?”

Elliot rolled his eyes. “You are stupid and emotional. I told you that I never loved you; you were nothing more than a fuck.”

“If you go through with this then I will tell the whole world you really are! I will expose everything about us to the university and everyone you know!” Amanda was filled with rage. She refused to be mocked by Elliot. “You may be a lawyer but you know that I will still get half of everything that you have! You will have to pay me alimony!” She grinned. “I still have our previous messages when we first began our affair! I will make your life a living hell!”

The Professor slowly began to feel his anger swell inside him. He couldn’t believe that Amanda still had their old messages. He could say that she was mentally unstable, but since many people hated him, they would believe Amanda more than him. Elliot also didn’t want Alexandria to know the truth about him. That was when the Professor knew he had to act right then and there. He went to one of his cabinets, got some blue disposable gloves, and put them on.

Elliot then slowly walked toward his wife with gloves in hand. “Look at you, talking against the big bad wolf. You think you can destroy me, you bitch?” He kept on walking even when his body collided with Amanda’s. Amanda was pushed back as Elliot kept walking toward her, making her step back. Looking at her husband made her tremble; he held no emotion. “E-Elliot, h-how about w-we talk about this tomorrow. I-I-I sh-shouldn’t have-!” She stood up as quickly as she could.

Then, Elliot stopped when he saw the pair of stairs; a smirk slowly reached his lips. “No, you shouldn’t have. You could have accepted the divorce with grace, but now, you truly have pissed me off. I can’t have you get in my way.” Without warning, he pushed Amanda with all of his might, and Amanda fell violently down the stairs. Her body rumbled and tumbled down; her head collided with many of the steps, and her neck moved in with it that a crack was heard. Amanda tumbled down at the end of the stairs but didn’t move.

The Professor slowly walked down and looked down at his wife; she was still breathing, but it looked like her neck was broken. He sighed as he got a hold of her head and then snapped her neck, killing her instantly. Elliot looked at his now-deceased wife; he killed her. Elliot then went to the kitchen where the plate of food was, put them on a tray, and slowly walked up the stairs. He climbed the stairs and threw the tray of food, where it splattered everywhere around Amanda’s body. The young man also went to his wife’s room, where he got her heels; he put one on her right foot and the other sideways on one of the steps.

Everything looked ready. Elliot got his cell phone and called 911. It took a couple of rings before an answer came on the other line.“911, what’s your emergency?”

“Please help me! M-M-My wife! She’s fallen off the stairs!”

5: The Detective

A particular black 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe arrived at Elliot’s residence, and a woman in her early forties parked and exited the vehicle. She was five feet and five inches tall; her straight brunette hair was tied in a simple ponytail. She had honey-toned skin and light freckles on her beautiful face. The woman looked slightly younger than her actual age since she cared for her appearance, and her body was slim with slightly big hips. The woman wore a simple black shirt that clung to her body with a gray jacket over it, black loose slacks, and black short boots.

Then, she saw a male police officer walking toward her. “Are you Detective Rose?”

“That I am. I was informed that a woman fell from the stairs of the residence. I presume the husband was the one who called?”

“Yes, ma’am. The wife is dead, but some things are a bit off, and as you know, we can’t jump to conclusions. I heard that you had a great reputation of solving many cases.”

Rose got her black clipboard ready with papers and pens. She looked at the residence and couldn’t deny how impressive it was; the owners were of high status. The Detective knew that this case would hit the news like wildfire, depending on who the owners were. She motioned the police officer to walk with her. “So who are the residents of the household?”

“From what we gathered, the actual owner is Elliot Landon, who happens to be a Professor at Yale University. The one who fell down the stairs was his wife, Amanda Landon.” The police officer gave Rose the notes of his interview with Elliot. The Detective looked carefully, and she found it interesting that Elliot was the sole owner of the house. Usually, married couples would have both their names in the house. What was also interesting was that this situation involved a Professor from Yale University.

“Interesting, and how did you view him?”

The police officer was quiet momentarily but eventually spoke. “He looked distraught, and I don’t mean to be biased, but in cases like these, I feel that something is amiss.”

“I understand. I will meet and speak with him. Make sure that when all the pictures and reports are done, they are sent to my unit.” Detective Rose entered the residence; it was slightly chaotic due to the many police officers and the forensic teams taking pictures and reports. When walking toward the staircase, she saw Amanda’s body. Rose noticed how Amanda’s neck was in an abnormal position; her eyes were slightly opened and lifeless. The Detective noticed Amanda’s heels, which interested her. Then, she looked up the staircase and noticed some specks of blood the forensic team was getting. While walking around the living room, she saw a couple of officers talking to a particular man who was crying. That was when she knew that it was Elliot. The Detective walked toward the group and informed the officers who she was, and they let her do her job. “Mr. Landon?”

Elliot slowly looked up; his eyes were tear-stricken. “I am Detective Rose Howard. I understand this must be difficult for you, but I must ask you some questions.”

“You must all keep asking questions!? I have told you all that happened, and you will still keep asking! I lost my wife, for god’s sake!” Elliot covered his face, but deep down, he felt annoyed that he had to pretend to cry. It was tiring for him, and he hated that he had to show weakness in front of others. Detective Rose eyed him while saying nothing but instead wrote notes on his behavior, how he cried, and his words. Elliot heard her writing, which was slightly odd. He wondered why the Detective was writing if he wasn’t being interviewed. He slowly looked up and noticed that Rose would glance at him. That’s when he knew that she suspected something was amiss.

“Mr. Landon, I am sorry that you went through the traumatic experience of losing your wife. I assure you that we don’t want to cause you more pain and stress. We want to know what happened.”

Elliot sighed in frustration as he wiped his fake tears away. “Like I told the other officers, my wife made dinner, and we would have dinner in bed. As I was finishing taking a shower, I heard a loud thumping noise from the staircase. I got out of the shower as fast as I could, and that’s when I saw her and immediately called 911.”

Rose wrote everything Elliot told her. “Thank you, Mr. Landon. I need you to come to the station tomorrow so I can ask you more questions.”

The professor didn’t want to hear that. However, he should have known as much since incidents like this would be investigated thoroughly. Elliot had handled many cases like this and knew husbands would always be the first suspects. Elliot believed he hid his tracks well and made it look like Andrea fell due to a simple mistake. “Of course. What time would you like me to be there?”

“Two officers will pick you up at 10 a.m. I want you to be well-rested.”

“Yes, thank you, Detective. Is it okay if I call the university that I will be off for a while?”

“Yes, that would be wise. I will see you tomorrow, Mr. Landon.” The Detective turned and walked out of the house. Once out, she walked back into her vehicle and became thoughtful. On the outside, he showed that his wife’s passing affected him terribly, but she had to know more about who he was on the inside. Detective Rose always knew that one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

6: Richard Hart

It was Saturday morning, and Alexandria woke up. She looked at her phone, and it was 7 a.m. The young woman then slowly sat up, opened the curtains, and looked outside; it was cloudy, and she realized it would rain. “Perfect day. I might as well study and do my homework in the library.” Alexandria changed from her pajamas into blue jeans, a plain white shirt, a black jacket, and black shoes. She felt fortunate to live in the university dorms; it allowed her freedom and independence from her overbearing parents.

Alexandria did get along with her parents, but they always tried to dictate what was good for her. Yale was an excellent opportunity to escape control and do what she wanted. Throughout her years at Yale, she faced many challenges due to class difficulties, demanding professors, and classmates. Even with all that, she refused to be deterred. The young woman got her backpack and left her dorm room, where she could hear some men and women snoring. She knew that many of her dorm mates went out partying. Alexandria would always get invited, but she would refuse due to not wanting to stray away from her studies.

The dorms were ten minutes from the university; she decided to walk to enjoy the cold and clear her head. When she got to the university, the gates were open. There were many tour groups and some university students on campus grounds. However, it wasn’t as busy during the week, which suited the young woman. While walking to the farthest building of the university, she noticed that a man was looking around and then at a piece of paper. Alexandria thought the man looked lost; she went to him. “Hey there, are you lost?”

When the man turned to see her, Alexandria’s eyes widened. She felt her heart flutter and almost skip a beat. The man was well over six feet tall and looked like a model; he wore a long black coat with a black buttoned shirt beneath, dark gray slacks, and black dressy shoes. He had short but well-brushed dark blonde hair and a nicely trimmed sark blonde beard that matched his broad face. His eyes were hazel, but his beautiful smile made him stand out to Alexandria. She felt that his smile alone could make any woman melt. “Yeah, I guess you can say that. I’m supposed to have an interview with the law department. I haven’t been in this campus since I graduated.”

“O-Oh! You’re an alumni here?”

“Sure am. By the way I’m Richard Hart,” he said while extending his hand.

Alexandria tried not to blush, but she held his hand; they shook. “I’m Alexandria Graham, it’s nice to meet you. I’m a student here.”

“So you have Saturday classes?”

“N-No. I just came here to study a bit and do some homework to do what I want later in the day. Anyway, I can show you the law department, if you like. I’m actually studying law.”

Richard smiled and sighed in relief. “That would be appreciated.”

Alexandria motioned him to follow her, and the two were quiet momentarily, but when they got up a couple of stairs, Alexandria couldn’t help but look at him once in a while. “I-I know that it’s none of my business but you said you had an interview?”

“I do. You see, I was a Professor at Johns Hopkins University but I found an opening to substitute for a Professor who is going to be out for two weeks due to an emergency.”

“W-Wow. It’s rare that a law Professor asks for that amount of time off. I wonder if it’s any of my Professors. Sorry for asking, but would you happen to know who it is?”

“If I remember, his name is Elliot Landon.”

Alexandria stopped walking, and Richard noticed her surprised look. “Are you okay, Alexandria?”

The young woman got out from her surprise. “S-Sorry, Professor Landon is one of my Professors. I’m just surprised that he is taking time off. It’s not like him.”

Richard shrugged. “Well, it’s the information I have received. It sounds to me that your Professor is a responsible person.”

“He is, but he is tough to deal with. I’ll be honest, no one likes him. I doubt the department likes him either.” Alexandria smiled. My classmates and I won’t have to deal with him for a while. This is like a blessing.” She then motioned Richard to keep on following her.

“Well, it seems this Professor is something else.”

“You have no idea. Anyway, here we are. I hope the interview goes well for you.”

Richard smiled as he looked at the young woman. He couldn’t deny that Alexandria was beautiful and liked her personality. “Well, thank you for your help. Who knows, maybe we’ll see each other again in the classroom.” Richard entered the building while Alexandria continued to the library, feeling happy she could get a break from the most hated Professor.

7: Interrogation Pt.1

Detective Rose had been in her office since 4 a.m., looking at the paperwork done regarding Amanda’s death. She read the interview questions and then Elliot’s responses. The answers didn’t look suspicious, but Rose felt they were very well-thought-out when reading them carefully. Rose learned about Elliot and discovered he worked at Yale University, was a lawyer, and had many achievements. However, she and her partner did more digging and found that during Elliot’s time as a lawyer, there were many complaints from his clients.

There were reports that clients complained that Elliot charged them too much or that he changed the prices of his services. Detective Rose hadn’t gotten much information about Elliot yet. Still, before ending her shift, she asked her partner to get a warrant regarding any legal and medical information about not only Elliot but also his deceased wife. She also asked for a warrant to scour Elliot’s home; it was accepted, and she received the paperwork at 8:15 a.m. The Detective called other investigators about the go-ahead once Elliot was out of his home. When looking at the folders she received, Rose couldn’t help but be intrigued. Her thoughts were interrupted when there was a knock on her office door. “Come in.”

When the door opened, her partner, Maxwell, entered. The young man was in his early thirties with dark receding hair and dark brown eyes. He had dark tan skin but vitiligo on his arms and parts of his chest. Maxwell stood at five feet and nine inches tall but kept himself in shape due to his profession. “Morning, are you ready for the interrogation today?” He brought a cup of coffee for his partner, which Rose happily took.

“Sure am.” She looked at the time; it was 9:45 a.m. “Mr. Landon will be arriving soon.”

“He arrived, and I came to tell you just that.” Maxwell took a sip from his coffee. “He looked very calm.”

“It makes and based on the information I got about him, I wouldn’t be surprised that this interrogation will be tough.”

Maxwell nodded. “Any sane person who lost a spouse in such a manner would be devastated; this Landon guy looked quite the opposite.”

Rose stood up with a couple of paperwork in hand. “Well, we don’t have enough evidence yet. He is innocent until proven guilty. Well, we need to get a move on.” The duo left the office and walked straight to the waiting room. Upon arrival, Detectives Rose and Maxwell saw Elliot sitting in the waiting room; he wore black clothing. The duo knew Elliot was trying to show the outside world that he was mourning. “Mr. Landon, thank you for arriving. I hope the traffic didn’t give much of an issue.”

Elliot stood up and shook hands with both of the Detectives. “Not at all; it’s the weekend after all. People tend to want to relax.”

Rose took note of how calm Elliot was. He lost his wife last night, but he seemed to be unbothered by it. She studied psychology at thirteen when her mother was a psychologist and her father was an FBI agent. Her parents wanted her to have the best education and always be wary of the people around her. She could quickly tell who individuals were because of her education. It helped her stay away from the wrong individuals; it motivated her to be a Detective. By looking at Elliot, Detective Rose knew that Elliot was trying to put on a mask for the world to see. “Well, I would not want to waste time. This is my partner, Detective Maxwell Adler. Please follow us.”

The three padded toward the interrogation room, and once inside, there was nothing but grayish walls, a table, and two chairs with a window. “Would you like anything to drink?” asked Detective Maxwell.

“No, I had breakfast and drinking too much liquid will make me want to use the restroom even more.”

The three sat in their seats. Rose knew she had to be careful about what questions to ask since Elliot was a lawyer with much law experience. “So, how are you feeling, Mr. Landon? Were you able to sleep well?” asked Rose.

“I’m still in shock. I couldn’t sleep a wink; the image of my wife’s body clouded my mind every second.”

“I can imagine so. Seeing a loved one die in such a way can be traumatizing. How did you and your wife meet?” Rose got her notepad ready and was curious about Elliot’s response.

“My wife was my secretary when I still worked as a lawyer; we fell in love and well, there’s that.”

Rose and Maxwell noted Elliot’s mannerisms, posture, tone, and words in their notes. Elliot sat and spoke confidently. “Thank you, Mr. Landon. I am curious: Isn’t it wise to date someone in the workplace, especially in law? It could create trouble, could it not?”

Elliot merely nodded. “Indeed, but my wife and I fell for each other and still took the risk; we married.”

Detective Rose then looked down at some of the folders she had. “How was your relationship Amanda, Mr. Landon?”

“We had our ups and downs, like any married couple. However, we always worked them through.”

Maxwell and Rose glanced at one another while writing notes; they noticed Elliot’s short answers. “Okay, is it true that your wife was married before?” asked Rose.

Elliot then crossed his arms and put his right leg on his left leg. “Yes, it’s true.”

“Is it also true that she was married while she was your secretary?”

Elliot did not once blink at the Detective’s questions. He shouldn’t have been too surprised they had that information. A part of him hoped they would be slow enough to get the information so he could make a good story. He knew they would pressure him to say the wrong thing. “Yes.”

“So, you two technically had an affair while she was married?” asked Maxwell.

“Yes. I didn’t want to say anything because of the embarrassment.”

The Detectives were quiet while looking at the notes and folders; it irked Elliot even though he was calm outside. “From the dates and information gathered, your wife divorced her first husband, and it seemed that she got pregnant during the affair and before your marriage.”

“Yes, it wasn’t fair for her husband, and we wanted to own up for our responsibilities.”

“You say that it wasn’t fair for her husband, but you knew she was married, and it wasn’t professional, but you still had an affair?” asked Maxwell.

Elliot let out a quick, deep breath. “Yes, we are human, and humans make mistakes.”

Rose cleared her throat. “Maxwell, it’s best that we move on. Mr. Landon, what happened with Amanda’s pregnancy? I see that you both have no children?”

“She had a miscarriage.”

“I am sorry. I must imagine it must have been difficult for you both.”

“Yes, especially on Amanda. However, we went through and overcame the hardships together.”

Detective Rose nodded. “After the miscarriage how was your relationship after?”

Elliot glanced at the clock, and half an hour had passed. “I lost my wife in an accident. It seems that you are accusing me of something.”

“Not at all. When an incident occurs, we must rule out any other possibilities. We don’t want others to get the wrong idea.” Rose could tell Elliot was getting annoyed and knew he was getting suspected.

“Wrong idea how?”

“I am not going to beat around the bush, Mr. Landon. This incident will reach the news since you have a reputation as a Professor at Yale University. People will ask questions and might get suspicious. Since you practiced law, isn’t it obvious that people will immediately get suspicious? Wouldn’t a spouse or partner of the deceased want to get rid of rumors and suspicions to prove that it was an accident?”

Elliot focused on Rose, who looked back at him; her eyes never faltered. Rose held confidence and was careful with her words. He knew right then and then that Rose was going to pose a problem. “Indeed, you are right, Detective. I assume you will get a warrant to search my home?”

“We already got the approved warrant,” Rose told him, handing him the paperwork. The investigators also received a copy of the warrant and are at your home. Once they have what they need, you will be free to go home.”

The Professor looked at the warrant; he knew Rose planned it thoroughly.“This bitch! Well, they can look all they want; there is nothing that leads me to Amanda’s death. I ensured to flush down the gloves.”Elliot nodded. “That’s fine, Detective. I just don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. Do what you must; this is just a hard time for me.”

“Yes, Mr. Landon. I’m so sorry that you have to go through this. I don’t want any misunderstandings and want to put my wife to rest.”

The Detectives stood up. “We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please let us know if you want anything to drink or eat.” They left the room far enough so Elliot couldn’t hear them. “He was too calm, Rose.”

“He was; his eyes were emotionless, and his answers were short. It was as if he was being careful what to say. Maxwell, I want you to also get other investigators to interview his former clients and his former workplaces. Most of all, I want to interview people from the University. Mr. Landon did state that he called the University for some time off and I want to use that time off to our advantage. There’s something off with Mr. Landon, and I want to know what.”

8: Intrigue

Rose was in her office reviewing some paperwork regarding Andrea London’s case. After her interrogation with Elliot, there were folders of written interview details, what was seen in the house, and pictures. Rose looked at the photos carefully and wrote notes on every detail she saw in the picture. What intrigued her the most were the heels she wore; they were stringless platform heels. Walking up the stairs with those kinds of heels would be dangerous. What Rose thought was odd was that the heels were still on her feet so perfectly. When a person falls with loose heels, surely the impact would break parts of the heels, or they would fall off from the force. “Is there a possibility that they were put on?”

It would make sense since the heels were still intact on Andrea’s feet, and there seemed to be no imperfections. A smile crept through Rose’s lips as she felt that her suspicions were correct. She couldn’t forget how Elliot acted throughout the interrogation. He was calm and confident, but she thought it was his arrogance and pride. Elliot’s eyes were what intrigued Rose. From her experience and studies, his eyes were calculating, cold, and emotionless; he hardly blinked. She believed that Elliot was a psychopath, which she considered to be the most challenging and dangerous person to interrogate and persecute.

With Elliot’s impressive winning streak as a former lawyer, he knew the judicial system. “He thinks he’s smart but he made a single flaw.” Suddenly, her phone vibrated, and she knew it was one of the investigators in Elliot’s home. “Hello, were able to get anything useful?”

“Yes, we got the victim’s cellphone, the husband’s laptop, paperwork, receipts, and more.”

“Great, try to bring them in as fast as you can. I will inform Mr. Landon that he could be sent home.” Both sides hung up, and the Detective left her office to inform her suspect that he could return home. She didn’t want to let him go, but there wasn’t substantial evidence yet. The Detective suspected that Elliot would not speak more and would represent himself since he knew all his rights. Rose eventually arrived at the waiting room, where Elliot sat reading a newspaper.

Elliot looked at her with an emotionless expression. “Yes, Detective?”

“Mr. Landon, you can go to your home since the warrant has been issued. You mentioned that you informed your workplace of your absence?”

“Yes, I have. I need time for myself and plan for my wife’s funeral.”

Rose nodded and motioned him to walk out of the waiting room, and before he could get to the exit, she called to him. “One more thing, Mr. Landon. There will be a possibility that we might call you again if something arises. Take care.”

The Professor was momentarily silent and slowly turned to look at the Detective. “Of course, Detective. I will make sure of it.” Elliot gave her a small smile as he walked out of the building.

Rose bit her lower lip and let out a long sigh. “He’s more dangerous than I thought.”

Meanwhile, Elliot got in his car and drove away from the building. He drove within the speed limit and looked calm and collected outside, but he was fuming on the inside. To soothe his emotions, Elliot put on one of his favorite CDs, Haggard, a symphonic metal band.

The song was soft initially, but it eventually played the metal part. That was why he loved the music very much since he found similarities in the genre. While driving, he thought about the interrogation and knew that the Detectives suspected him. Elliot had previous cases where spouses had supposed accidents; some were accidental, while others were not. He knew he would be interrogated and had to be careful about his words. The Detective tried to act innocent, but Elliot knew better and gave short answers.

He made a left turn, which would lead him to where his residence was. What also troubled him was that the neighborhood would soon discover the situation. If the situation worsened, it would be on the news; everyone would know what happened. It was something that he didn’t want to happen. More importantly, he didn’t want Alexandria to learn of his predicament, which would have made her want to leave his presence. He eventually arrived home, where he parked his car. When he exited the car, neighbors who walked by or were in front of their homes looked at him.

Elliot pretended to look sad; he wanted to look as innocent as possible. Once inside his home and closing the door, Elliot sighed while looking around. The house was quiet, just how he liked it. He remembered that investigators had entered his home previously due to the warrant, and he suspected that his laptop had been taken and other things that would be useful for the detectives. A smirk formed on his lips as he walked to his study, which was downstairs. He walked past the stairs as the memory of his wife falling came to him. A chuckle escaped his lips when he saw his wife’s lifeless body.

It was thrilling when he had her life in his hands. He believed that he gave his wife a chance to walk out of the house alive, but after threatening him, she blew that chance and paid for it. Joy filled him for the first time in years, and he was finally free to live the life he wanted without his wife nagging him. When he finally arrived at his study, he closed the door and looked at his desk; his laptop was gone, as he had expected. “Those fools, they think they have me at their fingertips.” Elliot then walked toward his bookshelf and opened it like a door. On the other side, there was a black safe, the lock of which he had uncoded. Once the safe was opened, there was a black laptop and other essential documents. Elliot took out his black laptop and sat by his desk; he smirked when he turned it on.

Once on, the laptop desktop had many files he didn’t want anyone to know. “Those idiots think they are on top of things, but little do they know I am always one step ahead of them.”

9: Quinn

It was 7 am on a Monday, and it was the first time for Alexandria to be awake later in the morning. She usually woke two hours earlier to prepare breakfast and study hard before going to Elliot’s classroom. Alexandria would dread going to Professor Elliot’s classroom since he would pick on other students. He tried it with her, but she refused to back down. It was noticeable that he tried picking on and putting her on the spot. Alexandria was always there to fight back and show the knowledge she knew and studied henceforth, so she was always up every morning so he wouldn’t get the best of her. 

She sat up from her bed while stretching and felt content for the upcoming weeks. She and her classmates were going to get a reprieve from Professor Elliot. Alexandria went to her kitchen to make some dinner, and while she was cooking, there was a knock on the door. “Alexandria, it’s me!” The voice was recognizable; Alexandria rolled her eyes playfully as she went to open the door. Once the door was opened, a young woman stood in her pajamas. The young woman was five feet and eight inches tall; her dark brunette hair was messy. Her eyes were light brown with slight dark circles beneath. Her skin was pale, with freckles on her face, chest, and arms; she had an average body. “Quinn, you’re up and early.”

Quinn didn’t wait for Alexandria to invite her in; she entered the apartment with her laptop. “Hey Alexandria, sorry for barging in like this, but I couldn’t wait to show you this.” She motioned Alexandria to the laptop, which showed certain news. When looking, Alexandria’s eyes widened as she saw in the headline news that the wife of a Yale Professor died from a tragic accident. “I know it didn’t say the name of the Professor who lost his wife, but people say that Professor Landon lives in that area. Do you think that it was his wife who passed away?”

Alexandria slowly sat down on the sofa with the laptop in hand. Then she remembered meeting Richard, who told her about interviewing for a substitute position. “So the Professor lives in the area? How do you know?”

“Some students I’ve spoken with wanted to get revenge on him by doing a prank; some followed him to his house. However, the pranksters couldn’t go through with it due to being caught by the house’s security cameras. I heard that the pranksters were expelled due to the Professor’s insistence and the threat of legal action.”

“If the Professor lives there and there was an accident, then it probably is Professor Landon. Yesterday, I went to the university to study until I met a Professor who went to do an interview. He did say that the Professor out was Landon himself due to an emergency.” Alexandria gave Quinn the laptop back. “So that was the supposed accident. I didn’t know that he was married. I mean, who would marry a narcissistic jerk?”

Quinn closed her laptop as she sat next to Alexandria. “Well, he is good-looking, Alexandria. I know he is a narcissistic jerk, but I mean, look at him. He is handsome and probably rich. I wouldn’t have a problem hooking up with him.”

Alexandria rolled her eyes as she stood and returned to the question to finish cooking her breakfast. “That’s always been your problem, Quinn. You always fall for looks. Good looks don’t make good people; ugly looks don’t make ugly people.” She finished making a pancake. “You should know since he caused you so much stress that you switched majors.”

Quinn looked slightly offended. “Hey, he just had high expectations, that’s all.”

“Sure, you can say that. Remember how much you came to me crying and stressed that you couldn’t pass his class and that he enjoyed putting you on the spot? I remember times you hadn’t eaten for days; you looked gaunt.” Quinn was quiet, and Alexandria knew she hit a nerve. She had known Quinn since middle school, and they were friends at first, but when high school arrived, Quinn hung out with the popular kids while Alexandria was still with her old friend group. It was noticeable that Quinn cared a lot about appearance and popularity. Although Quinn grew up wealthy, her parents divorced and gave her what she wanted so they could live peacefully.

When high school was over, the two were accepted to Yale University, but everyone, including Alexandria, knew that Quinn’s father paid Yale to accept her. Quinn was still popular since she came from a wealthy family and ignored Alexandria even when they had Professor Elliot’s class. However, everything changed when Elliot began to break the resolve of his many students. Quinn believed that she could seduce Elliot and ask her father and mother to pay him off. When Quinn failed the class due to the stress and inability to keep up, she went to Alexandria for help. Alexandria did try to help, but not to the full extent since she had her classes to worry about and knew that Quinn was only using her.

When Quinn officially failed the class, her parents surprisingly refused to help, so she switched out. Alexandria couldn’t help but feel some satisfaction that Quinn’s pride faltered. Alexandria decided to be on friendly terms with her not to cause drama, but she didn’t view Quinn as a friend anymore. What amused her was that Quinn still had an attraction toward Elliot.

Quinn huffed. “Well, he’s still hot. Men like that may be jerks, which makes them enticing.”

“I see, so you just like the challenge. Whatever makes you happy.”

“Well, I see that you’re preparing for the new day, so tell me how your class goes and see who the substitute is. Probably someone ugly. See you later.” Quinn got her laptop and left.

When the door closed, Alexandria sighed in relief. “I can’t help but feel that Quinn’s unhealthy attraction to toxic men will be the end of her.”

10: Relief

Alexandria finished brushing the last strands of her hair and packed everything she needed for her day of class. Usually, Alexandria would go to school thoroughly studied and thoughtfully about responding to possible questions Professor Landon might ask. However, since Quinn told her the news of having a possible substitute, it made her feel at ease and look forward to learning peacefully. The young woman walked out of her apartment and walked toward campus. Upon arrival, there were more students on campus than usual. Alexandria couldn’t help but be curious about the many students on the campus. 

When many students were on campus, it was because of significant events such as festivals, concerts, or major news. While walking, she noticed people looking at their phones by the staircases. “Hey, Max, Jenny!”

Max and Jenny looked up at Alexandria and smiled. “Hey, Alexandria! Early like always!” said Jenny. Jenny stood five feet and seven inches tall, with short, curly brown hair, light blue eyes, and beige skin. Her lips were plump, as was her face, giving her a baby-like face. She had a chubby appearance but held high confidence. She had a rose tattoo on her left shoulder. Jenny was studying journalism,

Beside her was her boyfriend, Max; they had been together since middle school. Max was two inches taller than his girlfriend. He was biracial, half white and black. He had short, curly, dark blondish hair with hazel eyes. He had a slightly muscular build with a few tattoos on his arms and upper chest. He wore glasses that gave him a mature look with a hint of a bad-boy persona. Max also had a lower lip piercing; he was studying computer science and mathematics.

Alexandria hugged them. She met them in their first year at Yale at the university’s bar. A drunk male student was giving Alexandria a hard time; the couple put a stop to it. They met a couple of times and became good friends. The group sat on the stairs; Alexandria looked at her phone and had thirty minutes to spare. “You guys are almost heading out to class?”

“Yeah, Max was helping me look over some of my essays. However, we came out to chill until news reached out to us. It’s about that dick-headed Professor of yours.”

“Quinn told me about it; I was shocked, to say the least. There is a possibility that we might have a substitute for a while.”

Max got out a cigarette and lit it up. “You must be happy about that. You’ve told us that Professor Landon loves to make his students suffer. I didn’t think he was married.”

“Me either, but I guess there are some women who are attracted to toxic men. Anyway, the campus is packed. Is there something going on?” asked Alexandria.

The group looked at everyone in the campus’s main square on their phone or conversing differently. “Well, from some of the conversations, many people in Professor Landon’s class heard about the news that the Professor may be out for a while. I hear that the students are planning celebrations to get a reprieve from him. There will be different parties tonight, and we’ve been invited by someone we don’t know. Max and I are thinking of going; want to come along?”

Alexandria sighed. “Nah, I’m okay. I have lots of things to do since Professor Landon will be out. I want to use this time to have for myself.”

“Come on, Alex. You’re so introverted and need some spice in your life.” Jenny wiggled her eyebrows. “When was the last time you got laid?”

A blush came across Alexandria’s face. She tried her best to conceal it, but it was impossible. Max noticed as he shook his head at his girlfriend’s antics. “Knock it off, Jenny. Look, Alexandria, think about it. You can come with us for a little while. Once you’re done with class, we’ll wait for you at the food court.”

Alexandria stood and nodded. “I’ll think about it. See you two later.” The young woman left her friends and went toward her class. Once inside, the classroom that once felt cold and silent was bustling with life. The students smiled and were able to roam freely. Everyone spoke about the news and parties occurring in different dorms and bars. When Alexandria sat on her seat, many of her classmates went to her and invited her. She discovered that many would happen tonight, although it was a Monday. Everyone was so preoccupied that they didn’t notice the visitor. “My, my, it seems everyone here is lively today.” The students were still and looked at the newcomer. When Alexandria caught a glimpse, her eyes widened. She couldn’t believe who she saw. “Alright, everyone. Please sit on your seats so we can begin class.”

Soon, the students sat back in their seats, getting their laptops or notebooks ready.

“Thank you everyone. I am certain that you all heard about the news of what happened with Professor Elliot Landon, and he will be out for some time. So I will be your substitute until he returns. I am Professor Richard Hart. I hope that you all enjoy the lessons I give you. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask.” Murmurs echoed throughout the class, but it died down as Professor Richard passed papers. When he got to Alexandria, they looked at one another.

The Professor smiled as he gave her a paper and began his lecture. For the first time, Alexandria wasn’t paying attention to the lecture but to the handsome Professor.

A single heartbeat skipped.