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“We’ll be late,” she tells me once we’re in the car.
“I know a back way, we won’t be late,” I laugh, taking the back road down the opposite side of the hill, which takes us straight to campus and Masters’ office in half the time then if we went the other way.
I haven’t told her, but I asked my attorney to meet us here, Simon Greer. I can’t see him once we pull up, but assume he’s already inside which turns out to be the case.
Dean Masters’ secretary ushers us in and straight away I can see him and the Professor on his side of his huge oak desk, with Simon on what I guess is our side for this meeting.
He stands to greet me and introduces himself to Katelyn.
Masters and Professor Bernstein stay seated, frowning.
“We didn’t expect to see either of you here this morning,” The Dean says in his best schoolmaster voice. Talking down to me already, knowing my hand before I’ve even picked up any cards.
If there’s one man who knows me through and through, it’s Masters.
“I was in the area, and Mr. Heart suggested I stop by,” my attorney announces, saving me the trouble of making my own wiseass remark.
I’m done with Masters’s and his school.
If only he could have been happy for me. Happy for both me and Katelyn. Would’ve meant a lot.
Masters turns his attention to Katelyn, the Professor clearing his throat, signaling the start of their rehearsed speech.
It’s all a ‘terrible misunderstanding’, the whole business between her and me, according to them that is.
“If you’ll agree to stop… seeing Mr. Heart in a personal capacity, we and the board of scholarship directors can draw a line under your name instead of through it. We can guarantee your place within the post-graduate research program, and assure you of the best chance at a long and… healthy career,” The Professor says, with all the attention and care of a caring grandfather.
“And if I don’t?” Katelyn asks. Not a silly question, given the circumstances.
“Then we draw a line through your name,” Masters says gruffly, looking at his watch before scowling at me and then Simon in turn.
I hold my hand up, smiling politely at Masters.
“Sir? With all due respect. If I was no longer on the faculty if I was no longer at the college. It wouldn’t put you, the college, or Katelyn in a negative situation, would it?” I ask.
“What do you mean, Heart? Are you offering to resign?” he scoffs. “Throwing yourself into the fire to save the girl? I don’t think so, it won’t work like that, and it’s gone way beyond that,” he bellows, jumping up and waving his hands in the air, furious.
Simon looks at me intently, trying not to smile.
I shrug and have to admit to him. “Worth a try.”
But it’s Katelyn’s interruption that surprises everyone.
“You can’t quit, Wes. I won’t let you. And you,” she says, standing up herself and pointing at the two older men opposite. “The pair of you are nothing but bullies, manipulative mean old bastards who’ve done nothing but try and frighten me since I started to think for myself.”
Masters’ jaw drops and Professor Bernstein is reaching for his own medication.
“I won’t let you quit, Wes because, I quit! The scholarship, the research grant. Boston, everything! You can shove it. I’m a person, not a lap dog, and if you think you’re the only research grant on offer in the country – in the whole world, you really should pay more attention.”
I feel myself swell with pride again, she’s amazing. And so cute when she’s genuinely angry.
But I can’t let her quit.
I’m quitting so she can stay, that’s the plan.
Simon frowns, checking his own watch and when Masters, Bernstein, and Katelyn all start to try and shout over each other, he stands up.
“Gentlemen, Katelyn. Please,” he insists, holding up a sheaf of papers.
“I’ll make this brief,” he says, lowering his voice and passing the papers over to Masters.
“This is Mr. Heart’s formal resignation, effective at the time of writing and signing, beating you to it I’m afraid kiddo,” he says to Katelyn with a wink.
Masters looks stunned, his mouth pumping air like a fish.
“And these,” Simon continues, “Are preliminary notices of intent to commence civil cases against you both individually, and the college itself.”
“Ridiculous!” Masters cries. “You’ll find yourself served with papers if you keep on this line Heart. I think it’s high time this meeting was adjourned,” he huffs.
I stand up, and leaning over so my face is an inch from Masters, I spell it out for him.
“Listen. I quit you piece of shit, and I’ll sue your ass for harassment, defamation and blackmail, and anything else legal eagle here can come up with, as well as taking the time to come back when it’s done to finish things properly myself,” I tell him.
