Chapter Four -- In This Corner . . .
It was shortly after her last class of the day on Thursday, two weeks since she surrendered herself to Brian Bitner, a student in her last period English Lit class. Miss Cori Goodman had made her way to Ms. Lee's office where the two women were sitting around the Principal's desk and discussing school matters. Without warning, Ms. Lee placed both hands on her desk, leaned forward and looked Cori in the eyes.
"You know," she whispered so she wouldn't be overheard by the secretaries in the outer office. "I can't tell you how happy I am that you were so hard on the wrestlers in your classes."
"What are you talking about?" Cori asked, a bemused look on her face.
Virginia smiled, reaching her hand out to rest on Cori's atop the desk. "I mean, if you hadn't been so hard on them, Brian wouldn't have complained to me and our relationship might never have happened."
There was a moment of silence before Cori withdrew her hand and leaned back in her chair. She looked Virginia straight in the eye before responding. "So you're saying that you set this whole affair up because Brian -- your Master -- complained that I was being unfair on the wrestlers?"
"Of course," Virginia responded. "Didn't you know that?"
Cori rose to her feet and slowly paced across the floor, thinking as she circled the office. She'd always assumed Brian had made her do it. But now that she thought about it, that didn't make any sense. How would he have known about her feelings for the Principal? Ms. Lee, on the other hand, had to have known. After all, she had been pretty obvious, hadn't she?
Cori stopped suddenly, placed both hands on the desk and glared at Ms. Lee, speaking just a little louder than was wise. "So you sold me out! I mean Brian I can understand, but you? How could you?"
"Wait a minute!" Virginia shot back, reaching over and pushing the door closed. "Where do you get off with this holier than thou shit? You've loved every minute of it! And if I hadn't said anything just now, you'd be at my house tonight letting him fuck your brains out again!"
"What does that matter!" the teacher shot back. "It was never your decision to make. You knew how I felt about you, and you knew you could do damn near anything to me and I'd take it willingly, just to be with you. You sold me out and put everything I've ever worked for in jeopardy."
"Oh, give me a break," Virginia retorted. "You gave yourself to him willingly. You were free to turn around and walk out at any time, but you chose to stay."
She paused a moment to catch her breath before continuing. "I may have dealt the cards, Cori, but it was your decision to play."
"That's bullshit and you know it," Cori shot back as she pulled the door open and started through. A moment later she disappeared around the corner, leaving an exasperated Ms. Lee to ponder what had just happened.
* * *
For the next week, Cori Goodman was in a constant state of anger. Unless absolutely necessary, she completely avoided Virginia Lee. In class, she not only didn't avoid Brian Bitner, she laid it on him extra thick -- singling him out in class and pouring on the homework. Even when young Mr. Bitner showed up at her home and demanded that his slave shape up, she challenged him, refusing to submit herself to his will. Finally, he'd had enough.
* * *
It was Friday, just after his last hour class with Miss Goodman ended. A couple of students had questions for the teacher, so the young man hung back and waited. Finally, after everyone had left, he rose to his feet and approached her desk.
"Yes, Mr. Bitner," she said icily. "What can I do for you?"
He looked around quickly, reassuring himself that they were alone, and began. "Miss Goodman. For the last week, you have been an absolute bitch."
At this point, Cori started to interrupt, but Brian slammed his hand firmly on the desk, startling the older woman.
"As I was saying," he continued. "You've been an absolute bitch. You've made my life miserable and you've pissed off Ms. Lee, who in turn has also made my life miserable. It's going to stop, and it's going to stop now!"
He paused, almost as if waiting for her objection. But it didn't come.
"I've already talked to Ms. Lee. You two are to be at my house tomorrow at 2:30 PM. And," he paused, looking her coldly in the eyes, "if either of you doesn't show up, your special pictures will be in the school superintendent's hands first thing Monday morning. Are there any questions?"
The teacher opened her mouth to protest but, upon seeing the glare in her student's eyes, thought better of it. She bit her tongue in an attempt control her anger and took a deep breath. Finally, her rage at least partially under control, she was able to respond.
"No, sir. There are no questions."
"Good. Then I'll see you tomorrow."
* * *
The Bitner family lived in a remote corner of a ritzy Southern California suburb. The house sat on almost three acres of land, two sides of which bordered a canyon. The nearest house was several hundred yards away. The fence-enclosed backyard, complete with swimming pool, hot tub and plenty of open lawn, was completely secluded. That and the fact that Brian's parents had just left on a 10 day Caribbean cruise made it a perfect setting for what Brian -- an only child -- had in mind.
Cori pulled up in front of the house at 2:25 PM. Ms. Lee's car was already there. She tried to control her anger as she climbed out of her car and made her way to the front door, but somehow the words 'unfair' and 'conniving little bitch' kept falling from her lips.
As she approached the front door, it swung open to reveal Brian, clad only in a pair of gym shorts and a tee-shirt. "Please come in," he said simply.