Page 111 of Teach Me Your Ways

She had started school the week before and so far it had been all fun and games. I hoped we could keep her loving school for as long as possible. I was probably in the tenth grade when I developed a dislike for school. And then Dad got sick. And by my senior year, I was a rebellious terror.

I changed my outfit three times before I finally settled on the black slacks, white blouse, and sensible pumps. I looked like I was going into court. I wanted to look professional. And older. I didn’t want to look like a student. Obviously, the dean knew otherwise, but I was hoping to convey an air of professionalism.

I paced in the hallway outside Dean Carver’s office. It was the oldest trick in the book. She was making me wait to assert dominance. I knew damn well there wasn’t anyone in the office. Finally, she opened the door. Her hair was pulled up in a weird style that was a cross between a messy bun and a ponytail. Whatever she was trying to pull off was not working. She was wearing a black dress suit with a white button-up blouse. The shirt was a size too small, pulling across her belly that was definitely not flat. I didn’t begrudge the belly rolls, because hey, I had no room to talk, but I wasn’t trying to look like a busted can of biscuits.

“Ms. Monroe,” she said. “Take a seat.”

It was an order. No please. No hello. Just sit your ass down.

I nodded and sat down with my hands clasped in my lap. I felt every ounce of my confidence draining.

“Your actions and your involvement with Professor Stone crossed lines. You promised to watch him. Instead you became part of the problem.”

I was glad we weren’t wasting time with small talk. The woman pissed me off. She was rude. Demanding. And she’d seen me naked. I was a scientist… not an actress. There was no way I could pretend to like the woman. I didn’t care if she saw my dislike for her. But I could put that aside and be professional.

I took a breath. “Dean Carver, I want to apologize. I did not intend to mislead you. I accepted the TA position before I knew what I was getting into. I recognize I made mistakes. However, it was inappropriate for you to ask me to spy on anyone.”

She leaned forward. “You enabled rule-breaking. It’s unbecoming behavior for anyone, let alone a TA. A grad student.”

I swallowed, doing my best to control my anger. I knew there was a good chance I would get kicked out of school. And I was prepared to fight her. But before I let my claws pop out, I would try diplomacy. “I understand, and I’ll accept any consequences.” I paused, steadying myself. “But I want to continue my graduate studies, and I truly want to be a credit to this department. Professor Stone is a good teacher and I would like to learn from him.”

She leaned back, looking at me like she was trying to decide if I was worthy of her time. “You were not at fault for Professor Stone’s inability to follow rules. That responsibility is his alone.”

I leaned forward, deciding to try and press her. I wanted to know what it was about Grady that she hated so much. “What other stuff has he done?” I asked, keeping my tone casual, though my heart was pounding. “You said there were concerns. What exactly are we talking about here?”

Dean Carver’s lips thinned, and for a moment, I thought she wouldn’t answer. But then she leaned back in her chair with a smug expression. “It’s not just about breaking the rules,” she said.

I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my face neutral. I needed her to talk to me. “Do tell,” I said. Maybe I could be an actress.

She flashed a calculating smile that reminded me of a tiger. And not a cute one. “You really have no idea who you’re dealing with, do you?”

I held her gaze, refusing to look away. “Enlighten me.”

She flashed another nasty smile that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “Let’s just say Professor Stone has a history of… let’s call it questionable behavior.”

My stomach twisted, but I kept my expression blank. “What kind of behavior?”

Her smile widened, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something dangerous in her eyes. It made me wonder if I’d just stepped into a trap.