As Eliane turned to leave, Matteo moved swiftly. Before she could react, his hand gripped her wrist, yanking her back toward the pole in the center of the room.
"What the hell are you...." Her words cut off as he twisted her arms behind her back, forcing her spine against the cold metal.
She struggled, jerking against his grip, but Matteo was stronger. With practiced ease, he looped a thick rope around her wrists, tightening it securely against the pole. He pulled the knot taut, ensuring she had no room to slip free.
"Let me go!" she spat, thrashing, but Matteo ignored her.
He worked methodically, wrapping another length of rope just above her elbows, further restricting her movement. Her breath hitched as she realized the extent of her restraint...her hands bound behind her, the pole pressing against her back, limiting any chance of escape.
Satisfied with his work, Matteo stepped back, admiring the sight of Eliane trapped, helpless.
Eliane stood rigid, her breath uneven as she glared at Matteo. Her hands balled into fists, nails pressing into her palms.
"You think this little game will scare me?" she spat, her voice sharp, carrying the arrogance of a woman who had always been in control. "I'm not some weakling who will crumble under pressure. You're nothing but a pathetic little boy trying to act like a man."
Matteo remained seated, unbothered. He swirled the wine in his glass, watching the crimson liquid dance. A slow smirk crept onto his lips as he lifted his gaze to her.
"Oh, professor," he murmured. "You're starting to sound nervous."
Eliane scoffed. "You think this will break me? Blackmail? Tying me up? You must have really lost your mind, boy ."
Matteo chuckled, standing up slowly. He walked towards her, each step deliberate, measured. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek, black collar with a silver ring attached.
Eliane's eyes narrowed. "What is that?"
"A symbol," Matteo said, twirling the collar between his fingers. "Of your sins. Of your fall."
She tried to step back, but there was nowhere to go. The cold steel pole behind her was as unyielding as the trap Matteo had laid for her. She had thought she could manipulate him, but the way his eyes bore into her now….... they held something she hadn't anticipated. Power.
"You're insane," she hissed. "Let me go now, and maybe I won't press charges for this lunacy."
Matteo exhaled dramatically. "Oh, professor, always trying to keep the upper hand." He reached for her wrist, but she screamed" No". He let out a soft laugh. "Fine, let's make this interesting."
He pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen. The bar video popped up. With a single swipe, it could be sent to the faculty, her students, her mother…..... everyone.
Eliane's blood turned ice cold.
"If you don't put this on," Matteo said, tossing the collar at her feet, "I press send."
She hesitated. "This is a joke. You're bluffing."
Matteo didn't answer. He simply placed his thumb over the send button. The air grew thick with tension. Eliane's fingers twitched at her sides.
Her pride screamed at her to refuse. But her survival instincts knew better.
"How do you expect me to wear it when my hands are tied?" Eliane's voice trembled, a mix of distress and disbelief flashing across her face.
Matteo's gaze lingered on her, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slow smile, he murmured, "I've never seen you like this before, Professor. You look.... breathtaking."
He stepped toward the pole, his fingers deftly adjusting the rope. Eliane flinched, instinctively trying to resist, but Matteo was faster. He forced her down onto the cold floor, his grip firm yet deliberate. The moment the metal of the handcuffs clinked around her wrists, a shudder ran through her.
"Matteo, stop this. Have you lost your mind?" Her voice wavered between authority and something else...something dangerously close to fear. "Listen to me. You're just a kid. I am your professor. How can you even imagine...."
Her words caught in her throat as he secured an additional chain, threading it through the handcuffs before fastening it to the pole. The cold steel pressed against her skin, tightening like a collar, leaving her bound in place.
Matteo didn't respond, didn't offer a single explanation. He simply walked back to his seat, sinking into it with an eerie sense of calm.
Then, in a voice as soft as it was chilling, he uttered a single word.
"Quick."
With a slow, measured movement, she reached down and picked up the collar.
"Good girl," Matteo said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Now, let me help you."
She flinched as he took the collar from her hands and stepped closer. He was too near, his presence suffocating. His fingers brushed against her skin as he fastened the collar around her throat. The leather was tight, uncomfortably so.
"There," he murmured, admiring his work. "Fits perfectly."
Eliane clenched her jaw. "Untie me. Now."
Matteo stepped back and leaned against the chair. He pulled out his phone once more, set a timer, and placed it on a small table...just out of her reach.
"Thirty minutes," he mused. "If the timer reaches zero, the video goes public."
Eliane's breath hitched. Her pride was already taking blows, but this? This was humiliating. She jerked against the restraints, trying to reach the phone, but the leash attached to the pole yanked her back.
Matteo watched, completely at ease, sipping his wine. "You're wasting your energy, professor."
Eliane turned her burning gaze to him. "You bastard! What do you even want from me?!"
Matteo sighed and tilted his head. "Revenge? Justice? Maybe I just want to watch you break."
Her heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't believe this was happening. Just yesterday, she was the one in control, the one who belittled him, who made his life miserable. Now, the tables had turned in a way she never imagined.
The seconds ticked by. She struggled, pulled, cursed...but the restraints held firm. The timer kept counting down.
When it reached fifteen minutes, she stopped. Her arms hung limply, her head dropping. Sweat beaded her forehead. She had never felt so powerless.
"Please," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let me go."
Matteo set his glass down. "Begging already? I thought you were stronger than this."
Eliane swallowed, her throat dry. "I..." She clenched her fists. "I admit it, alright?! I was cruel to you. I made your life hell. But I...."
Matteo held up a finger. "Was cruel? You still are, professor."
She had no words. Her body trembled. She remeberd the trauma, she truly understood the despair Matteo must have felt when she tore him down.
The timer ticked down to ten minutes.
Eliane fell to her knees. Her pride shattered like glass. "I'll change," she whispered. "I swear. I'll be better. Just….... don't ruin me."
Matteo crouched in front of her, holding up a small silver key. "And what makes you think you deserve this?"
Tears slipped down her cheeks. "I don't. But I'm asking anyway."
He twirled the key between his fingers, watching her with a detached curiosity. Then, finally, he smiled.
"I have a condition, professor."