AllFreeNovel
Share Us
JULIAN
Ispend most of the lecture avoiding eye contact with Meghan. I cannot believe Stephanie sent her to be my teaching assistant. Not only did I explicitly say I did not need one, but Meghan told me she was a professor here, not a student. Shame on me for being fooled.
No matter how much I want her, it’s impossible now. Being in a relationship with a student is the fastest way to tank my entire career.
“Read Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 and be prepared to discuss it during the next lecture.” I immediately place my copy of the sonnets on the podium as the class files quickly out of the lecture hall.
I pinch the bridge of my nose to keep my composure; there is no doubt Meghan will want to speak with me at the end of class. As if on cue, I feel her before I hear the melody of her voice calling my name.
“Julian?”
“It’s Dr. Armstrong,” I snap as I release my nose.
I have to grip the podium to stop myself from falling. She is even more beautiful than I remember. The scent of roses and honey wafts through the air as she steps closer.
“Jul…Dr. Armstrong, how have you been doing? It’s been a while since we last talked.”
“Do you really think we can just pick up where we left off?”
Meghan flinches as if I’ve hit her.
“What are you playing at, Meghan? You lied to me. Clearly, you’re not a professor here, like you said. So, you’re what, a student? And you want to be my TA?”
“I’m sorry. I know there isn’t anything I can do to apologize for lying to you, but would you have even given me a chance if you knew I was twenty-one?”
She places her hand on top of mine, but I snatch it away.
“I’m sorry.” Meghan bows her head, but not before I notice a single tear traveling down her cheek.
“I’m sorry, too. No matter how much I want this, nothing can happen between us. I came here for you, but I have a reputation to protect.”
Her head snaps up. “You came all the way here for me?”
A glimmer of hope shows in her eyes, but no matter how much I want her, it’s just not possible.
“Did. Past tense. Like I said, Meghan, there is no longer anything between us.” I sigh. “I’ll talk to Dr. Francis and figure out another class for you to TA. I neither want nor need a TA in this class. I could teach it with my eyes closed.”
“Please don’t. This is my only chance to graduate on time.”
“That doesn’t seem to be my problem. Maybe you should have worked harder at Cambridge instead of lying to me.”
I don’t wait for her response and head directly for the door. Stephanie and I need to talk.
My harsh words replay in my mind as I head toward Stephanie’s office. No matter what happened between Meghan and me, I shouldn’t have lashed out at her. No matter how much her lies hurt me, she deserves to be heard. Maybe after I calm down, we can have a rational conversation that doesn’t end with the two of us in bed together.
I stop in front of Stephanie’s office, knocking gently on the door. Hopefully, this meeting with her will be productive, and then I can be rid of Meghan and move on.
“Come in,” she calls from the other side of the door.
She’s sitting behind her desk, waiting as if she knew what my response would be to her assigning Meghan to be my TA.
“I thought I made myself explicitly clear during our negotiations. I was not to have a TA, but perhaps you forgot.” My words are terse as I slowly sink into the chair across from Stephanie’s desk.
“I sincerely apologize, Julian, but a situation arose with Meghan’s credits, and this was the only option I could think of.” She leans forward, causing her blouse to dip just enough to show her breasts.
She smiles pleasantly, her red lips revealing perfectly white teeth. I roll my eyes. Why do some women find it necessary to use sex to manipulate men? I’m thinking I should’ve stayed in Cambridge.
“There has to be some other way to help her. I absolutely refuse to have a TA. They’re nothing but trouble, and I don’t have the time to properly train one.”
