Page 70 of Toy for the Teachers (Forbidden Fantasies)

MILLIE

It didn’t matter who reported us, whether it was Jan, another student, or one of Caleb’s colleagues. After two weeks, it almost felt relieving to be called in by human resources. I could finally stop walking on pins and needles around the office and averting my eyes when anybody walked by me in a hall. It felt like if they could see my eyes, they might know my guilt.

Those people had been our jury, and now, it was time to face the judge.

Tapping my boots against the gray carpet, I listened to frozen November rain wash over the lobby’s large picture window. I counted my own measured breaths, and I waited.

“Miss Jackson?” the woman called out to me.

I looked up to see her, a woman with black braids piled high in a bun. Her eyes were round and serious, but they weren’t unkind. I offered my hand diplomatically.

“You must be Simone Martin,” I greeted her.

Shaking my hand, she nodded. “Yes, well, why don’t we go talk in my office?”

I agreed and followed her down a narrow hall to the last door on the left. She seemed to be a prim sort of person with lucky bamboo growing in her small window. As we settled ourselves in our respective places, Simone cleared her throat.

“So, as you know, Miss Jackson, it was reported to us that you were seen having an intimate moment with your supervising professor, Caleb Harrow.”

“An intimate moment?” I repeated.

The first rule of interrogations was never admitting what they didn’t already know. Crossing my legs, I felt like a thief trying to get away with something. I kept my features schooled, hoping I could pass the lie-detector tests that excited behind Simone Martin’s eyes.

“It was reported that you and Dr. Harrow were caught kissing.”

I sighed, letting my smile mask my innocent guilt. There was no further need to elaborate, and the full truth could remain a secret.

“Oh, well, yes,” I confessed. “I believe the office attendant, Janet, accidentally walked in on us. I think we were all a little embarrassed to say the least.”

Simone folded her hands over her glass desk. “I’m sure, but this incident presents a… gray area, so to speak. As an independent contractor, you don’t technically report to the astronomy office or Dr. Harrow, but he is currently your assigned researching professor. You are, in a way, his subordinate, and we have a zero-tolerance policy regarding professional misconduct here at the university. If Dr. Harrow was in any way pressuring you or using the influence of his position, it needs to be acknowledged, and this would be the place to do it.”

My head jerked back in confusion. I didn’t understand at first. She was trying so hard to sound diplomatic and removed from the conversation, but it only made it harder for me to understand what exactly she was implying.

“Are you asking if Caleb Harrow tried it on with me?” I finally had to ask.

Simone cleared her throat again. “In a manner of speaking, yes.”

I hadn’t prepared for this question. Knowing Caleb, I would never have once considered painting him as a wanton seducer or some bastard who couldn’t help but using his power to attract women. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, he was an astronomy professor. It wasn’t the kind of role that elicited unearned bravado, but I didn’t know if saying the kiss was consensual would be enough to save him. Uncrossing and recrossing my legs, it felt like there was only one way out for Caleb to unscathed and his reputation untarnished.

“Dr. Harrow has been nothing but a consummate professional with me,” I declared. “I was the one who initiated the moment. I was the one who was trying to seduce him.”

It felt strange to say, but I already had an ace up my sleeve. With Simone straightened her shoulders, it was clear I had gained some ground in Caleb’s favor.

“Is that so?”

“To be perfectly candid, yes,” I continued to lie. “After a recent personal tragedy in Dr. Harrow’s family, we had an… emotional conversation, nothing inappropriate. He just shared some personal details. He’s also been kind enough to share his coffee with me. Looking back, I realize how I mistook those moments for something more. Dr. Harrow, being a single and attractive man, I can see how I might have formed a schoolgirl crush on him, but after I propositioned him, Dr. Harrow quickly defused the situation. I recognized my mistake, and we’ve moved forward.”

There was nobody who could refute the argument I present. This was all hearsay, and without me pointing a finger against him, Caleb was safe. All I needed to do was share my story with him, and nobody would ever be the wiser.

“Well, I appreciate your candor, Miss Jackson,” Simone replied. “However, it might be for the best if you were reassigned to another department.”

“I respectfully disagree.”

“Excuse me?”

I wasn’t going to be sheepish or shy about this. Even if I declared my guilt, I wasn’t going to feel ashamed about what I’d done, and I certainly wasn’t going to let somebody else decide my fate.

“Dr. Harrow and I are due to complete our project together by the end of December,” I explained. “Having a new assistant assigned to him will delay his project by weeks, if not months. It was at the department’s urging that he publish this research, and I believe if you reach out to the department chair, she will gladly advocate for me to stay. As soon as the paper is complete, I will be leaving the university, so this matter, I believe, is null and void.”

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