Page 41 of One Rule

My outburst doesn’t upset him, he merely waves it off. “Don’t worry about the hours, I know you’re responsible and we can always adjust it before the end of the semester. Matter of fact, do you have the company printout with your information?”

“I do.”

“Then hand it over and I’ll have the new teaching assistant handle it. She’ll be starting next week…I think you know her. Ms. Samantha Cintek will be stepping in to help me for now.”

“Doesn’t she work for—”

“She’s worked out a deal similar to Jeremy’s. She has the right to divide her sixteen-hour work week as she pleases, but must hold office hours on Fridays for students.” Looking over at a letter on his desk, Mr. Duval reads through the subject almost forgetting I’m here for a few minutes, but then looks up. “I’m actually surprised to see you, Liliana. How did you not know?”

My brows furrow. “Know what?”

“Jeremy quit because he sold his firewall hardware to Royce Cruise Lines and decided to—”

“What do you just say? Firewall hardware?” Oh, God. Please tell me I’m wrong in my assumptions. I’d shown him my work. He was interested, and thought it was good, but…

“You’re brilliant, Lili,” Jeremy spoke from beside me, his eyes on the screen as I showed him my developments. So far, my program is in a software format, but could easily be adapted to hardware installed on company servers. It’s meant to be for grand scale work, not personal, and yet I can’t get his approval to show my work as a final project. “How did you—”

“Then can I show it? Would Professor Duval be as impressed?”

“Please don’t take offense to this, Liliana, but I’m trying to save you from yourself.” Before I could ask him what that means, Jeremy was leaning back in his seat and rubbing a hand across his sparse facial hair. For a man in his late twenties, he looks a little tired. Always stressed and is fidgety, but everyone treats it like a quirk. He’s of average build and average looks but has always been polite. He’s a team leader now, and using his TA knowledge to lead our department alongside another man, I’ve yet to meet. The latter started to work at Micah’s company in February. “Duval likes his students to keep it simple. I can give you a list if you’d like, they’re based on basic commands a graduate must excel at to find a job in this field.”

“But, I’m sure we can work around that. I’m implementing—”

“Do you trust me, Liliana? I’ve never lied to you.” His question catches me off guard, simply because I don’t know him outside of a working relationship. Sure, he’s been helpful in the past when I’ve had questions and then appreciative when I gave him an un-asked-for recommendation with Royce Cruise Line, but that’s as far as it goes. “After graduation, you have one hell of a future ahead of you, but don’t try to run before you can really walk. People like Duval don’t like their toes to be stepped on.”

To that, all I can do is nod and smile. It’s a bit forced, but he didn’t notice. Jeremy had been too preoccupied with my firewall work.

“I’m going to show you something and I need your complete honesty, Professor.” It’s his turn to look confused, especially by my change in tone, but I take out my laptop and pull up the folder with my program’s coding. One by one, I show him the inception, my configurations—everything including the two emails Jeremy sent me asking questions.

One of which was my plans for availability after graduation.

“Fuck.” One word from Duval after, but it showed every bit of the anger I felt. “He stole from you!”

“Is this what you saw? Exact copy?

“Yes. I’m sure of this.” Rubbing a hand down his face, Professor Duval exhales roughly. “I need to report this, Ms. Armas. The school was going to award him a special recognition for his work while here, and now at Royce. This can’t happen anymore. I’m under a moral obligation, if nothing else, to stop this.”

“Understood.” I’m defeated by this. Hurt. “Please do what you must, I’ll return to the drawing board for my final project. Maybe Samantha can—”

“Why are you not making this the subject of your work? Liliana, this is brilliant work.” Pointing at my laptop, he tilts his head in a silent question. My response is a nod, and he dives right in. Reading through my notes, and equations for the physical prototype and then looks at me. “How soon can you have a model ready? How far along are you in the trial stages?”

“I’ve implemented the basics on a grand scale already, but I feel something is missing. It did what I wanted it to do, but—” I’m cut off by the ringing of my cell and frown. “My apologies. Please ignore it, I’ll call whoever it is back.”

Yet they call again. And again.

On the fourth call, Professor Duval waves toward my bag where the phone is. “Could be urgent.”

“So it seems.” Pulling the device from my bag, press redial on a number I’m not familiar with, but the person who answers doesn’t give me a chance to talk.

“Ms. Armas, I’m sorry to interrupt, but we need to go. They’re waiting on us.”

Chapter15

Liliana

Professor Duval was understanding as I rushed to end our meeting, letting me go with a promise to keep him posted on my progress. He’s impressed it seems—offered to grade me based on what he’s seen—but I’d rather show him the finished product.

Mentally, I’ve been going through the time frame needed to complete my work and the materials I’ll need to rush order for our presentation next month, but then I realize we’re not heading to the office.

---