Page 141 of When Hearts Collide

“Huh?” What on earth?

“I may have paid a visit to Jacob Emery. It seems like you have enough credits to graduate in the fall if it weren’t for the Education Honors Program.”

I nod. Where is he going with this?

“And you’re already accepted into the Cornell PhD program, which is the best in the country. I assume you want to go there?”

“Yes, but they can rescind the acceptance if I don’t finish the honors program. It’s one reason I’ve worked so hard in the program this year.”

He waves me away. “Millie, if I may…the real world is seldom black and white.” Tell me about it. Better yet, tell Ryland about it.

His voice deepens, his tone serious, and he says, “Having power and influence are gifts to be wielded sometimes. It may not be fair, but then again, the world isn’t fair. Use the influence for what’s right and there’s no shame in that.”

My heart thumps rapidly in my rib cage. I stare at the enigmatic man in front of me and want to shrink away from his perceptive gaze. It’s like he knows my ambivalence and avoidance of using my connections when facing the world, and how I’ve attempted to hide my identity as Adrian’s sister to those who know me.

Elias smiles in a self-assured way, a chess master calmly moving the pieces on the board and anticipating his opponent’s next move.

“And we know what’s the greater good here and what’s right. So, finishing the honors program before or after a small little piece of paper is issued…all semantics. The dean has agreed that with your impeccable grades, stellar volunteering and extracurricular activities, exceptions can be made. The exception being…your graduation certificate will be dated December fifteenth of last year.”

“What does this have anything to do with anything?”

Elias leans back and takes another leisurely sip of coffee, his posture relaxed as if he’s talking about the weather and not my future.

“Well, as of your graduation, you’re no longer under the university’s regulations. So, let’s say you have a good relationship with a family acquaintance, a certain man who was your professor in the past. You graduated with honors and over the holidays, you and this professor became acquainted even more so outside the confines of a classroom. Then things sparked, and you entered a relationship in the spring. Even though you had already graduated, you still audited the honors program in the winter and spring quarters because you are voracious about learning. Interesting timing? Perhaps. Breaking any rules? No.”

I blink a few times. Remind myself to take a breath. Blink a few more times.

His words echo in my brain. Is he saying—

“Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too,” Elias answers my unasked question. He adds, “You have a bad poker face. Do us all a favor and don’t gamble.”

“B-But, Cornell? And what about Ryland’s tenure?” My mind struggles to catch up with all this new information and strategies that have never even crossed my mind.

“The dean had a chat with Cornell, and your acceptance will remain standing. Just make sure to finish…or…audit the rest of the class in the honors program. Accumulate the knowledge,” his startling green eyes glint as he stares at me, “for intellectual curiosity’s sake.”

“And Ryland’s tenure?”

“Well, if you’ve already graduated, I don’t see why his honorary PhD and path to tenure will change. Ryland Anderson is an exceptional member of society and, frankly, a damn good man. Also, an excellent professor, from what I’ve heard.” Elias’s voice thickens at the end. “If any of this goes back to him, I’ll deny saying that to my dying breath.”

He stands up, slips on his suit jacket, and pulls out a gold and silver object from his vest pocket. A lighter?

He flicks in on and off. On and off. The clicking sound is loud in the quiet room.

Then he slides it back into his vest and buttons his jacket.

He stares at Maxwell and murmurs, “Don’t worry. You don’t owe me any favors. This one is on the house.”

Then, without another word, he strides out of the room quietly and efficiently, a phantom disappearing into the shadows once more.

“Fuck, of all the things he was going to say, I didn’t expect that,” Maxwell mutters.

“And he found the employee who took the photo of you two as well. That’s been dealt with,” Lana murmurs, her eyes still gazing at the closed door.

She turns back to us. “I swear, we’ve known that guy for a long time and I still can’t ever figure out what he’s going to do next.”

She heaves out a loud sigh and looks toward the ceiling. “Ryland. He’s such a stubborn asshole sometimes. I swear, his biggest enemy is himself. Why can’t he see he doesn’t have to do everything by himself? There’s no challenge too big for us to solve together.”

A burst of warmth seeps through my chest and spreads to my limbs. I stare at the siblings before me, all clearly worried about their brother and love him with all their hearts.

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