The next morning, Gustavus was gone before she woke up. The driver dropped her at the campus gate.

Heda met Roxy in the back of the lecture hall.

"Jesus, Heda," Roxy whispered, staring at Heda's neck. "Is that concealer?"

Heda pulled her hoodie up. "Don't ask. It's a disaster."

"Well, distract yourself," Roxy said, leaning in. "We have a guest lecturer today. Rumor is he's big finance. And hot."

The heavy oak doors opened.

Caspian English walked in.

He wasn't wearing a suit today. He wore a cashmere sweater and slacks, looking approachable and deadly.

Heda dropped her pen. It clattered loudly on the floor.

Caspian scanned the room. His eyes locked on hers. He held the gaze for a fraction of a second too long, his smile widening.

He turned to the chalkboard. Caspian English. Business Ethics.

"Ethics," Heda muttered. "That's rich."

"Today," Caspian said, his voice smooth like velvet, "we are going to discuss the ethics of land development. Specifically, the displacement of non-profit organizations for commercial gain."

Heda stopped breathing.

"Let's say," Caspian continued, walking up the aisle, "there is an orphanage on prime real estate. The developer wants to build a mall. What is the ethical move?"

He stopped right in front of her row.

"You. The girl hiding in the hoodie. Miss... Roman, is it?"

Every head turned.

Heda stood up. Her legs felt like jelly.

"I would..." She cleared her throat. "I would prioritize the children. Human life is worth more than profit."

Caspian chuckled. It was a dark sound.

"How naive, Miss Roman. That is why you will always be... a victim."

The bell rang.

Heda grabbed her bag and bolted. She needed air. She needed to get away from him.

She turned the corner near the lockers and slammed into a solid wall of chest.

Caspian.

He boxed her in, his hands resting on the lockers on either side of her head.

"Long time no see, 'Wildcat'," he whispered. "Or should I call you 'Sister-in-Law'?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Professor," Heda said, her voice shaking.

Caspian reached out, twirling a lock of her hair around his finger. "I remember a girl from that trailer park... one who was remarkably good at picking locks. Does Gustavus know about your... special talents?"

Heda slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me."

Caspian's eyes went cold. "Drop the act. I know you married him for the money. Work with me, Heda. I can give you more than he can."

"I am loyal to my husband," she spat.

"Loyalty?" Caspian laughed. "In the English family, loyalty is the cheapest commodity."

Heda's phone rang. It was the special ringtone for Gustavus.

Caspian glanced at the screen. He stepped back, straightening his sweater.

"Answer it. Tell him I'm looking forward to the family dinner tonight."

Heda answered.

"Wait at the gate," Gustavus ordered. "I want to check on your 'studies'."

Heda hung up. She watched Caspian walk away, whistling. She was trapped between a monster who wanted to own her and a monster who wanted to destroy her.

The Maybach was waiting at the curb. Passersby stopped to stare at the gleaming black metal.

Heda climbed in. Before the door even clicked shut, Gustavus threw a paper bag into her lap.

Grease stains were already seeping through the bottom. The smell of old fryer oil and cheap meat filled the luxury cabin.

"Hungry?" Gustavus asked, not looking up from his tablet. "I remember your kind loves this garbage."

Heda's stomach churned. She had eaten at Le Bernardin last week with a client under her alias. This smell was revolting.

But she had a role to play.

Her eyes lit up. She ripped the bag open. "Double Cheese! Oh my god, thank you, honey!"

She unwrapped the burger. The cheese was congealed. She took a massive bite, forcing herself to chew. Grease smeared on her lip.

"Mmm," she moaned. "So good."

Gustavus watched her from the corner of his eye. His lip curled in disgust, but his shoulders relaxed.

She was gross. She was simple. She was safe.

Bzzt.

The burner phone in her tote bag vibrated against her leg.

Gustavus's head snapped up. "What was that?"

Heda swallowed a lump of barely chewed bun. "Alarm," she mumbled. "Reminding me of my shift."

"Shift?" Gustavus frowned.

"At the diner," she lied.

"I gave you a card. Is it not enough?"

"It is!" Heda said quickly. "But... you see every transaction. I wanted to send some money to the orphanage fund. I didn't want you to think I was wasting your money."

Gustavus stared at her. The mention of charity seemed to pacify him. It fit the narrative. The poor girl trying to be good.

"Fine," he said. "Just don't let anyone know Mrs. English is scrubbing tables."

Heda wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She checked the phone under the table.

Text from Caspian: See you tonight, Wildcat.

She felt sick.

"How was class?" Gustavus asked suddenly. "Meet anyone... interesting?"

Heda froze. He was testing her.

"There was a new professor," she said, keeping her voice light. "He was mean. Picked on me."

"Oh? What was his name?"

"Professor... French? Or English? Something like that." She blinked, looking at him with wide, vacant eyes.

Gustavus searched her face. He saw nothing but grease and stupidity.

"If it's English," he said, his voice dropping an octave, "stay away from him. He's a snake."

"Okay, Gustavus."

He handed her a silk handkerchief. "Wipe your face. I don't want my car smelling like poverty."

Heda took the silk. She wiped the grease away. Tonight, she would short his stock again. The profit would buy a thousand of these cars.

The car slowed as it approached the estate.

"Stop," Gustavus ordered the driver.

He pointed out the window. "See that glint in the bushes?"

Heda squinted. A lens reflected the dying sunlight.

"Paparazzi," Gustavus said. "The stock is wobbly. Rumors say I'm dying or we're divorcing. We need a show."

He unbuckled his seatbelt. He turned his body, looming over her.

Heda pressed her back against the door. "Here?"

"Don't move," he commanded. "Smile. Like you love me."

He leaned in. He didn't kiss her lips. He pressed his cheek against hers, his nose brushing her ear. From the outside, through the tinted glass, it would look like a passionate embrace.

Flashes erupted from the bushes like lightning.

"Remember," Gustavus whispered, his voice ice cold against her skin, "that smile is worth ten million dollars. Screw this up, and I send you back to the trailer park."

Heda felt humiliation burn in her chest. She raised her hand, wrapping it around his neck. Her nails dug into the expensive fabric of his suit jacket.

"I'm a great actress, darling," she whispered back.

Gustavus pulled away. He straightened his tie. The intimacy evaporated instantly.

"Let's go."

They stepped out of the car. Heda took his arm. His bicep was hard as rock under her hand.

They walked to the door, the picture of marital bliss.

The door opened. Caspian stood there, holding a glass of red wine.

"Bravo," Caspian clapped slowly. "I'm moved to tears. Truly."

"Jealous, brother?" Gustavus asked, his voice smooth.

Caspian stepped forward. He looked Heda up and down, his eyes stripping her bare.

"You look ravishing tonight, sister-in-law. That dress... it looks very tearable."

Heda felt a shiver of revulsion.

Gustavus stepped in front of her. He placed a hand on the small of her back-possessive, heavy.

"Put your teeth away, Caspian. She's mine."

Caspian shrugged, stepping aside. "Mother is waiting."

They walked into the living room. Heda realized with a sinking feeling that Gustavus wasn't protecting her. He was protecting his property. But right now, she had to hide behind the monster she knew to escape the monster she feared.