Page 14 of The Good Boys Club

Two other people sat tucked against the dean’s desk. Uri George, the dean of sciences, and an unfamiliar woman who I had a feeling was from HR.

Not good. Not good at all.

“Take a seat, Dr Cassidy,” Agnes said, pointing to the only empty chair left, like I couldn’t work out on my own where to sit.

I sat down.

She sat down too. “It’s never pleasant doing this.”

“Ah, fuck.” I pushed the pads of my fingertips onto my eyelids. Maybe once I removed them, I wouldn’t be here in this office, facing down these people.

I knew what was coming—knew my actions would lead to precisely this consequence—but I’d be damned if I could’ve done a thing to stop myself.

I’d fucked around, literally, and now I was finding out.

Over twenty students and, I’d hazard a guess, nearly every woman from the university’s staff who considered herself both an active fan of the male form and single.

My bad.

Agnes continued with no constructive input from me. “I’ve asked Uri and Emma to sit in with us. For everyone’s benefit. If you would prefer, you may choose your own chaperone?”

“Yeah, no, I’m good. Let’s get this over and done with.”

“Very good. In that case, I am to be the bearer of bad news. We have received a complaint. More than one complaint, from more than one person. You’re not stupid, Dr Cassidy, I’m sure you know what these complaints are regarding,” Agnes said.

“Oh, I have a pretty good idea.”

“There’s no easy way to say this, and we’re all grownups here, so . . . the allegations pertain to sexual misconduct—”

“It’s not against the rules, though, is it?” I asked.

“Well, no, it’s not against the rules.” Agnes side-eyed Emma. “Not technically anyway.”

“Right, because they weren’tmystudents, they were like Sonny’s or Monty’s—”

“Good lord, you’ve slept with students as well?!”

Holy shit! “Gods no. No, never. Fuck no.” I was in so much trouble.

Agnes pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a breath. “It doesn’t matter now. In fact, the less I know about your activities, the easier this’ll be for everyone.” I had the feeling she was talking to me, but Emma nodded. And then she definitely turned to me. “As you know, the contracts here run in alignment with the academic year: September to July. The committee has unanimously decided that your last year with Remy University will be the year just gone.”

I nodded, having found nothing else of any importance to say.

“Do you understand what we’re saying, Dr Cassidy?”

I nodded again. “You’re firing me.”

“No, we’re not firing you. We’re simply not renewing your contract for September,” she said. I said nothing. Agnes kept speaking. “It’s better for everyone this way. There’ll be less paperwork for us, and you’ll find it a lot easier to get another job without the red marks against your name. You will still get paid for July and August.”

“Cool.” I got to my feet. “Uh, can I leave now? I have a desk to clear out.”

She sighed. “Yes, you may leave. Would you like some help with your things?”

I shook my head.

“We’ll miss you, Mash.” Mash, not Dr Cassidy. “The biosciences building is going to feel so quiet without you there.”

It took me less than two minutes to pack my belongings. My lab partner Sonny had cleared out his things last month, and in that time I’d realised all the stuff here was his. The non-university issued equipment, the paperwork, the personal touches like photos and books and trinkets—soooomany trinkets. He had entire mushroom farms and forests of houseplants. I had nothing.

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