But what existed between us didn’t feel like something cheap or tawdry, an autumn fling that would only last as long as the heat did. No, whatever this was, felt real. Which only amplified the confusion I was grappling with. But that I could deal with later. I had a singular goal right now.
“Ah, it appears I’m the last to arrive!” An unfamiliar voice drew all of our attention and I was startled to see William Johnson approach the table. He was another professor at NEU who I knew vaguely, but I had never had any classes with him. I also had no idea that he was the friend Oren had spoken of who had contacts with the recruitment board affiliated with Muller & Co.
“Good to see you, Will,” Oren said, standing to extend his hand in greeting.
Ronan and Lucas also greeted him in turn, and then it was finally mine. Residual nerves were still scattered throughout mybody, but I did my best to pull myself together. This was what I’d been wanting since the very beginning, my one shot to get my foot in the door. I needed to make the most of it.
“I’m June Price,” I said, nodding my head. “It’s good to meet you, Professor Johnson.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” he replied, shaking my hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Oren, Miss Price. I’m told that there are no students with more potential than you have for being a trailblazer in your field.”
A surge of imposter syndrome hit me out of nowhere. “That’s a lot to live up to. I don’t know if I would’ve gone that far.”
I caught Lucas’s eye and suddenly his words from that very first meeting we had came back to memory. What was it that he’d said? Confidence, borderline arrogance was what would help carve out my path to success.
“But I do intend on doing his assessment justice,” I added.
In the corner of my eye, I saw Lucas’s smile widen. The meeting began as we all sat down and ordered a light lunch. It was very standard, with the same sort of questions Oren had thoroughly prepared me for being passed my way. I went through the usual ringers; I spoke about what got me into urban development, how my passion for the field developed, walked him through the volunteer experience I’d picked up in my second year.
“Tell me, you come very highly recommended by Professor Blackwell as well. I’d love to know what specific research subject you’ve enjoyed most in your course?” Professor Johnson asked.
The smile on my face was sincere. “Definitely the housing and social equity section, but specifically the interaction with technological accessibility. What I hope to work towards one day is the redirecting of tech innovation to help enrich existing communities instead of eradicating them for the sake of tech.”
“That’s a rather ambitious goal,” Professor Johnson mused.
“It is,” I admitted. “But I think by using a bottom-up approach and prioritizing local contexts instead of favoring high-tech, generic solutions to aging infrastructure, we can build a bridge between urban developers and residents. I don’t think the link between accessibility and long-term sustainability has been focused on enough.”
“Fascinating,” he said, a look of genuine interest on his face.
He continued to ask me a few more questions about my plans post Masters, and how I’d tailor my approach to a potential business model. We went through my portfolio as well, with Oren, Lucas and Ronan chipping in here and there.
It reminded me of the first dinner we had together, how easily conversation flowed. I’d missed this, the ability to engage with them on an intellectual basis and share my inner thoughts with them in a way that so few people truly understood. By the end of the meeting, Professor Johnson clapped his hands once.
“Well, Miss Price, consider me very impressed. I’ll remind you that I am not on the recruitment board for Muller & Co., but my opinion does hold some sway. I see why these three hold you in such high esteem,” he said, gesturing to Lucas, Oren and Ronan. “Fine academics and men in general, all of them.”
Guilt reared its ugly head once more at his words. He was right of course. I snuck a quick glance at the professors and saw that each of them looked pleased. Happy, actually. I forced my eyes back to Mr. Johnson.
“And after meeting you, I understand why you left the impression you did. I’ll certainly put in a good word with the recruitment board,” he finished.
“Thank you, Professor Johnson,” I said.
After we said our goodbyes, the four of us were left alone. Oren turned to me immediately.
“You did amazingly well,” he reassured me with a warm smile. “If I know anything about William Johnson, it’s that he’s a man whose words hold weight. He’s not particularly forthcoming with his compliments.”
One bullet straight to the heart.
“I’m proud of you, June,” said Lucas. “If that doesn’t get you into Muller & Co. then I don’t know what will. They’d be foolish not to come pounding at your door to offer you a job after you get your Masters.”
Another shot.
“Magnificent, isn’t she?” said Ronan.
And that was the coup de grâce. I sighed, putting my elbows on the table and dropping my head into my hands. This was the final straw… I needed to come clean. I’d already established that I wanted them all, and that I didn’t truly regret anything that I did. But I needed to let them know where I stood on this.
Even if there'd been no establishment of commitment and technically no rules to break—except for, of course, the whole sleeping with my professors thing in the first place— they did deserve to know and choose if they wanted any part of what I wanted to suggest.
Because I had a few suggestions, alright. And I was tired of feeling ashamed over them.
