Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Pushing every thought aside but economics, I draw a deep breath and settle in to work.
* * *
Shane
I pace the hall outside the dean’s office, waiting to be called in. Yesterday, after being caught by Dan, instead of letting the kid go and having yet another student make a mess of my life, I took control of the situation. I marched Dan and his damned cell phone and the recording of me holding Amber in my arms straight to the dean’s office.
“Show him,” I said to a shocked Dan. “Show Dean Frost what you have on your phone.”
Sputtering and unsure what my end game was, Dan hit the play button and the video of Shane and Amber came up.
Dean Frost watched, an unhappy expression on his face, and my gut twisted hard.
“I see,” the man said, then turned his gaze on Dan. “And why did you film this?”
“Because she obviously slept her way to a good grade! It’s not fair. The rest of us have to work for what we get,” Dan said, his cheeks red with anger and frustration.
The dean stared at him. “You do realize this isn’t the first time you’ve come to me with accusations about a student cheating.”
That was news to me. I had issues with Dan’s unhappiness with bad grades, but I hadn’t known others did, too.
“But … this time I have proof.” Dan gestured to the phone on the dean’s desk.
“That remains to be seen.” The older man folded his hands across his chest as he stared Dan down. “You, however, have issues with everyone but yourself. After the last time you accused Jeanne Clark of cheating, which she hadn’t done—there were cameras in the classroom—I kept an eye on grades. You’re struggling, young man. And you blame everyone but yourself. One more incident and I’ll have no choice but to expel you. You can’t go on accusing others with no consequences.”
Fury lit Dan’s features, and he stormed out of the room.
The dean then turned his gaze to me. “I know the boy’s father. I suppose it’s time we have a talk,” he said on a sigh. “As for you, would you care to explain?” He gestured to the phone, which remained on his desk.
I blew out a long breath, gathering my thoughts. The dean knew my history and he understood this video looked bad. But I hadn’t broken any school rules. And I covered myself regarding the test and grades.
I went on to explain that Amber had a frightening situation with her son and I’d merely been comforting her. However, I admitted to having a relationship with her. One that I put on hold until class was over. I gave the dean the name of Amber’s tutor and asked the man to talk to the woman and find out how long she’d been working with Amber. Then I listed everything I did to keep the final exam fair and impartial.
“I can understand why you’d be careful, given your history,” the man said. “What exactly is going on with you and this student?”
“Woman,” I corrected him. “She’s a full-grown adult who decided to go back to school.”
“Aah. I hadn’t realized.”
I nodded. “But you need to know I intend to pursue a serious relationship with her now that class is over. And if you have a problem with that, if I need to choose between my job and Amber…” My heart nearly beat out of my chest as I drew a deep breath.
I’d been up most of the night contemplating this conversation and what was more important to me. And no matter how much I want tenure, no matter that I knew if I blew it at another school, my fault or not, I wouldn’t get a third chance, I came to the same conclusion.
“I choose Amber.”
The man’s expression was bland, his eyes not giving away a damned thing as he said, “I’d like the night to consider the situation.”
So I went home alone. Not wanting Amber to worry about the fact that a decision would be made about my career, I didn’t call her. If I spoke to her, I don’t trust myself not to tell her everything, and she needs to focus on passing the test. So I texted her back, told her everything would be okay, and left the details until today.
Right now she is taking the exam.
And I am awaiting my fate.
“I was up much of the night,” Dean Frost says.
Join the club, I think.
“As you know, you haven’t broken school rules, but I do have to look at the ethical considerations of you dating a student.”
“A former student of mine as of yesterday,” I feel compelled to remind the older man.
Dean Frost nods. “Yes. And she is an adult, as you said. Although there is the argument to be made that any of our students over eighteen are adults. I’d be setting precedent.”