1 Jun 2021

The Final Lesson by Alina Sheremeta

- No way will I do that’

-You have to be kidding. Is it really so difficult for you to do?

From the dean's office, the angry screams of a young girl and the calm, confident, but slightly rough voice of an adult man were heard throughout the deserted hallway of a university. Not that these cases were rare, but it seems that over time they have become for granted.

- The fact that I work as a prostitute doesn't mean that I have to sleep with you. Mr. Ratliff. I have all the rights to refuse you. As well as any client who is trying to piss me off.

- So what made you reject my favour. Abby? You don't look like the one who refuses too many clients. - his voice sounded fierce and dominant, which is overkill even for the principal of a prestigious university.

- My job is to seduce and entertain men. Not to sleep with them. Especially with perverted university teachers like you.

A repulsive grin slipped over the man's face, and his huge hardened hands clenched into strong fists.

- Well, maybe this will interest you, then?

Mr. Ratliff rummaged a little in the drawer of his table and took out a bunch of photos, putting them on the table in front of Abby. They depicted a young, pretty girl of 18 years old in different variations of attractive poses, dancing sophisticatedly on a stage or on a pole in front of a crowd of amazed visitors. It took a while for the girl to realize that it's her who was depicted in these photos. For some reason, she felt as if she was about to vomit.

-... Didn’t know that you go to a strip club. Mr. Ratliff. And even more, so I did not know that you were stalking me. Remind me why you haven't been fired yet? - The girl said, barely clenching her teeth in rage, so as not to pour out all her anger ignited.

- Money solves everything. - the man smiled smugly, proud of his permissive status and wealth, as he was intending to impress the beauty in distress.

- Money solves everything.... - whispered Abby listlessly and without initiative, keeping the last vestiges of self-control. She should definitely know because she needed money right now more than ever before.

- Listen. All I need from you is your attention. Just do it once and we are calculated. I will pay you as much as you want. You can try to blow the whistle on me. Go ahead. The police won't believe you. It's a waste of time. And you know that, don't you? So why make it harder for yourself?

The girl's face softened. She remained silent for a while, trying as hard as possible to refute his words and not betray her inner consent.

- Or ... I can upload these lewd photos to the web. And then your reputation is over. Your life is over. The whole university, the whole family, the whole city will find out who you are. Do you really want to pay such a high price for refusing such a small service?

Abby's face froze m an unprecedented horror, trying to comprehend the situation in which she found herself. The girl hesitated, shaking her leg intensively under the table, and stared at her feet with a desperate look, completely speechless.

- It's not a big deal, actually. I don't want to hurt you, believe me. I want to help you. I will help you.

- By blackmailing me? Very, very kind of you. Mr. Ratliff. - the girl replied sarcastically, regaining her self-confidence for a while, though it seemed that her eyes were already empty.

- You left me no choice. - the robust man shrugged. - Money did not work to bribe you at first. Therefore, additional measures were necessary. Sometimes you need to overstep the norms of morality and decency in order to get what you want. It's a part of growing up. You will understand eventually.

Abby deepened m her thoughts again, feeling fleeting shame for the desire to listen to his words, at the same time resisting, struggling to keep all that is left of her dignity.

- So. what do you think?

Abby was still remaining silent, nervously biting her lower lip and looking down not to meet Mr. Ratliff with her look. The dean did not interfere, as he was showing sympathy and giving the girl time for reflection to make the fateful decision, barely holding back a sly mischievous grin. Some time had passed before Abby sighed heavily and. With a trembling in her voice, finally spoke.

- . . .Okay. I agree.

The girl held out her tiny shaking hand, which was clutched immediately in the handshake by a strong hand of Mr. Ratliff, who was keeping a pleasant, but the same repulsive smirk on his face.

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