Page 11 of RAKEish

“Not harassment,” Lux said defensively. “I simply read his article and then point out its flaws to my listeners.”

“The magazine believes you have caused irrevocable damage to their magazine by insinuating Prince Landshire’s advice is bogus,” another of the committee said.

“It is bogus.” Lux laid a hand on her stomach where a bubble of acid had decided to frolic. “He spouts off nonsensical ways for a woman to land a rake, and he does so as if that would be a good thing. His methods aside, winning the heart of a promiscuous man is not a logical goal for a woman in this century.”

Dr. Marshall cleared his throat. “I believe the tipping point for the magazine was when you made a threat of bodily mutilation to their reporter on this morning’s episode.”

The bubble in her stomach exploded and bile threatened to roll up her throat. She’d bet her planner collection Landshire had gone running to his editor after getting off the phone with her demanding they do something about her. “I told him about a superstition I believe to be true.” What a crybaby. “And this only after he relentlessly pushed for me to tell him the contents of a nightmare I’d had in which he’d been present.”

There was more laughter from Ms. Birdie.

“Did you have something you wanted to add to this conversation?” Dr. Marshall asked Ms. Birdie in a tone not quite approving.

The professor sitting next to Dr. Marshall laid a hand on his arm as if to remind him of Ms. Birdie’s clout.

“Don’t mind me,” Ms. Birdie said, a smile playing havoc with her lips. “My sense of humor seems to be cavorting with my vocal cords today.”

Luxury grinned. She liked the woman.

Dr. Marshall pursed his lips and turned his attention back to Lux. “Your dismissal was mentioned as a possible solution to avoid a lawsuit.”

Lux’s smile disappeared. “This over nothing more than my challenging the content of RAKEish?”

Dr. James, a woman sitting at the far end of the table, sighed. “Lux, you’ve made a habit of hating on his column and then doubled down and predicted the demise of a man’s penis. That is not nothing.” The woman had kind eyes.

“Not demise,” Lux hedged. “I’ve read they can be reattached, and if done quickly, they have a decent chance of once again rising to the occasion.”

Eyebrows went up on every single member of the committee.

Lux bit down on her tongue. The damn thing had to be exhausted from all its untethered frolicking. Should she try and explain to the committee that sleep was her superpower? She’d always been able to crawl into bed and fall into a deep slumber within five minutes only to awaken exactly eight hours later feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the world. As such, she’d had no idea her brain was prone to misfiring when sleep deprived. “I—

“Darling,” Ms. Birdie interrupted, “I will be honest with you. I find this whole situation hilarious. And you remain my choice for the position at hand. Your students can’t stop raving about you.”

“Thank you,” Lux said.

Ms. Birdie held up a finger. “That being said, if hiring you will cause damage to the university’s stellar reputation, I cannot in good faith propose we do so.”

“Exactly,” Dr. Marshall said gruffly.

“In my defense,” Lux said to Ms. Birdie, not daring to look at anyone else sitting around the table, “Scott insisted I tell him the contents of my nightmare even though I warned him of my belief.”

“I see. I was not told of your warning.” Ms. Birdie dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief. “Even so, I do not believe that is enough to change the course of action we have decided upon.”

“And that is?” Lux asked.

“Immediate termination,” Dr. Marshall said.

Lux gasped and placed her hand on her chest. How would she explain getting fired on her resume? Never in her life had she been dismissed. Not even as a result of the panty debacle. Was she too young to have a massive coronary? “As in today?”

Dr. Marshal nodded. “That’s what immediate means.”

“I’ll not be allowed to finish out the semester?” How had she’d gone from probable new hire to latest fire? “There are only three weeks left. Surely I could be allowed to finish out my contract and leave it at that.”

Dr. Marshall shook his head sharply. “A grad assistant will administer the final and grade the projects. One of us will finish out your lectures.”

A sob broke free from Lux’s lips. She slapped her hand over her mouth to keep anymore from escaping. Too much had happened too fast. She’d been so busy planning how to use the dating information for the better of the greater good, she’d taken no time to grieve over the dating app discovery. And now she would have to add loss of job to the mix of bad news. “I can’t believe this is happening. Am I allowed to fight your decision? I one hundred percent stand behind my view of RAKEish.”

“Is it truly that bad?” Ms. Birdie asked.

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