Chapter 3The Sadist

Liam called his cousin. Her phone was off. "You can go home," he said. "I don't need a tutor."

"I can't," I replied. "I've already been paid."

He pulled out his phone. "How much did she give you?"

"Thirty grand."

He immediately tried to Venmo me. "I'll give you a hundred grand to get out of my house right now."

I declined the payment and confiscated his phone. I took the leather belt from my waist, tied his hands behind his back, and pushed him into the chair. I opened a textbook and started the lesson.

He refused to cooperate, standing up to leave. I pushed him back down. He stood up again. I slapped him, hard. "Sit down," I said, my voice ice cold.

He let out a soft gasp. Still, he wouldn't sit.

I grabbed the riding crop. "Do I have to hurt you to make you happy?" I snapped it against his legs. "Does this feel good? Huh? You're just asking for it!"

One of the hits must have stung because he actually tried to fight back, raising his fists in a weak imitation of a boxer. "Meow meow combo punch!"

He was definitely trying to provoke me, wanting me to hit harder. So I did. The crop whistled through the air. CRACK!

"Ow! I was just kidding!" he yelped, clutching his head.

Finally, blushing, he sat down.

When I opened the door three hours later, a middle-aged woman was standing there. Liam, still tied up, looked mortified. "Mom..."

His mom looked from him to me, a little flustered. "Are you two... playing?"

"No," I said. "I'm the tutor Tiffany sent."

She was shocked. "He's actually studying?"

"For three hours straight," I confirmed.

She handed me a set of keys. "Then you're in charge now, Miss Chloe."

Liam was still defiant. "Who said I wanted to study?!"

His mom pulled out her phone and showed us his April Fool's Day post: [Hiring a hitman to hold a knife to my throat and make me study. Must not actually kill me.]

She gave him a knowing look. "Don't be difficult, Liam. Tiffany's terrified of you. She would never do this unless you told her to."

Liam: "!!"