Page 65 of A Discovery: Love and Other Things

Inappropriate relations.He’d said it just as it would be written in my academic file for the rest of my life. Like a sordid affair driven by hormones, not something that we had felt in our hearts—in our souls.

I wanted to cry.

Mr. Emara nodded. “According to the code of conduct, this is a direct violation. You understand that?”

“I do,” James acknowledged plainly.

“The most appropriate course of action would be to strip you of your grant for the remainder of the current season, and you must relinquish all rights to your research on the temple. You are no longer a mentor in this internship program, nor will you be permitted to be one in the future.”

James’s face remained blank, like he had already anticipated this.

Mr. Emara continued, “You will be suspended from excavations in Egypt until further notice. I am certain Oxford will have some words for you as well when you return home.”

My chest squeezed so tight, threatening to cut off the air supply to my lungs. Why was I the only one panicking here?! This was James’s career. They were halting his work on the temple and stripping him of his research, yet he was ready to give it up so easily, without a fight? It didn’t make sense.

I silently pleaded for him to do something—anything—other than stand there like a puppet.

As if reading my thoughts, he shook his head at me, as if to warn me against exploding.

But I couldn’t stay quiet. I’d defend him if he wasn’t going to do it for himself. I couldn’t stand by and let such a brilliant mind to go to waste. His career was everything to him, and one day, when this zombie-like state wore off, he’d regret not fighting for it.

“No! You can’t do that!” I shouted, taking Mr. Emara by surprise.

The rest of the board muttered uneasily.

“You don’t accept our decision, Ms. Taha?” The edge in Mr. Emara’s voice should have frightened me, but I had officially lost all sanity with my outburst.

“James—I mean...Dr. Campbell did nothing wrong.” My hands flailed emphatically, notebook still in my grasp.

Mr. Emara’s voice hardened. “Ms. Taha, you engaged in a lewd relationship with your professor. Both of you were wrong. Your behavior reflects directly on this ministry, and because of this, I have no choice but to recommend to your university that you be expelled from your degree program.”

My stomach dropped. I was getting kicked out of Stanford. A recommendation from the ministry would almost certainly convince the dean to expel me.

Like a knife, James’s voice sliced through the chaos. “No, you won’t.”

“Excuse me?” Mr. Emara’s eyes widened, red capillaries visible from strain.

“You’re not going to say anything to her university.”

Mr. Emara’s body stiffened. He didn’t seem like the type who was used to being ordered around. “I am not debating this with you, James. Thisgirlclearly lacks the judgment needed to represent this ministry and her university.”

I grimaced at the condescension.

James approached the bench, his strides slow and purposeful like a snake ready to strike at the right moment. “You do whatever you want to me, but you’ll leave her alone.” His voice was sinister with warning.

Mr. Emara stood, planting his hands on the table. “I’m afraid we’ve all voted, and this is our decision.”

“Fuck your vote,” James growled.

“James!” I gasped, forgetting all formalities in front of the board.

Mr. Emara huffed out a breath. “Dr. Campbell,” the minister warned, standing over James. “You need to get a hold of yourself. You’re lucky I haven’t thrown you both in jail for indecency yet.”

James ignored him as if he hadn’t spoken at all. “You’re going to let her go home and you won’t say anything to the university.”

Mr. Emara, clearly losing his patience, pinned his white-knuckled fists to his hips. “And why is that?”

James turned to look at me, his face softening. “Because this woman is brilliant.”

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