by Ivy Smoak
Chapter 19
Tuesday
"I think you might still be addicted to sex." Our wet clothes were in a heap on the floor and our naked bodies were intertwined on his bed.
He laughed and kissed the top of my head. "Maybe it's just because I like using it as a weapon with you?"
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're right. You're...frustrating. Sex is the only way I can seem to control you."
"Control me?" I rolled onto my side and perched my head up on my hand. "Hmm. I could control you in bed."
"No, you couldn't. I'm stronger than you."
"I could tie you down."
"Good luck trying. It'll end up being you tied to my bed. Which doesn't sound bad at all."
"Maybe later. James, did you really blackmail her?" I thought about the phone call I had overheard the other night. He was asking someone for photos and didn't want there to by a cyber footprint.
He sighed and rolled over to face me. "That wasn't much of a segue." He stared at me for a minute. "It's the last thing I could think of to do. I know it was stupid. I wanted to be with you. I didn't want her to control my life anymore. You said you wanted to wait and I had no intention of waiting."
"I like that you're bad."
He laughed. "You do?"
"I've spent my whole life being good. It's fun being bad for a change."
"What, do you think dating a bad boy automatically makes you a bad ass?"
I laughed. "Absolutely...Professor Hunter."
"Touché."
"I don't care if people think this is wrong."
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "We should probably talk about that."
"Isabella's threat? You think she'll really reveal our relationship?"
"I think it would be best if we go to the dean in the morning."
"But..."
"It's better if he hears it from us."
"I don't want you to get fired."
"Yeah, me either. I know you're worried about what will happen. I told you it's not explicitly against the rules. And I don't think that anyone's complained."
"So you think nothing will happen?"
"I hope nothing happens. But I don't want you to worry about it." He kissed my forehead and climbed out of bed. He pulled on a pair of plaid pajama bottoms.
"Where are you going?"
"Get some sleep. I need to make a phone call."
"To who?" It was late. Who could he possibly want to call at this hour?
"My lawyer." He looked down at my naked body. "I won't let anything happen to you. We'll figure this out."
***
When I woke up the bed was empty beside me. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. It was 3 a.m. I climbed out of bed and grabbed one of his shirts out of his closet. It didn't matter what he had just told me. He was clearly different now. I didn't know if it was because of me or what, but I didn't care. He was strong. And I loved him more than ever. If it was going to be a problem, it would be something we'd get through together. Life without him was not a life I was interested in.
He wasn't in the kitchen or living room, so I made my way through the hallway toward his office. The door was open so I walked in. His hands were in his hair and he was staring down at his cell phone on his desk. All he was wearing were his plaid pajama bottoms and his glasses. He looked sexier than ever.
"James?"
He looked up at me. He looked so tired. And upset.
"Why didn't you come to bed?"
"I did," he sighed. "I couldn't sleep."
I walked over to him. "We'll figure it out. Just like you said." I leaned against his desk.
He shook his head. "I was so busy thinking about my feelings for you that I didn't think about all the repercussions..."
"You did think everything through. We talked about that on our first date."
He shook his head again. "I never thought that the dean would find out before I talked to him, though."
"Has he?"
James stood up and walked over to the window. He pulled the curtains to the side and looked down at the street.
I walked over to the window and looked down. Shit. There were three news trucks parked outside of the apartment building. "Maybe it's for something else?"
James shook his head. "No. The story is being printed in the Delaware Post in the morning. I've tried everything." He let go of the curtain. He put his hand through his hair again. "I fucked up, Penny. I should have thought about what Isabella would do if..."
I grabbed his arm so that his hand fell from his hair. "James, you couldn't possibly know what Isabella would do."
"I should have. It's my job to protect you."
"It isn't. I made my own choices. I knew I was breaking the rules. I kept pursuing you. I wanted to be with you. I knew there might be consequences. I can face them."
"It is my job to protect you." He wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on top of my head.
I sighed and leaned into his chest. "The worst that can happen is that you get fired and I get expelled."
"I don't care if I get fired. I just don't want you to get expelled."
"I have good grades. I can get into a different school."
"It's a scandal, Penny. Other universities may not see your grades as valid."
That's what Melissa had said. Melissa had warned me about what would happen. But I hadn't listened. And if I had the choice, I wouldn't listen again. I loved Professor Hunter. I was happier than I had ever been.
"James," I said and leaned back so I could look up at him. "If I could go back, I'd do it all over again. Even if I knew I'd be expelled. You make me so happy. I want to be with you. That's all that matters. If anything, I should be apologizing to you. You told me to forget about you. On multiple occasions. I didn't listen..."
"Stop, Penny. I couldn't leave you alone either. And I didn't want you to leave me alone. I never meant it. I can't even imagine not being with you."
"So we'll face it together."
"Mhm." He looked down at me and smiled. "I'm not used to having a partner in crime."
"Well get used to it. You're getting me kicked out of school, so you should probably stick with me for awhile. It's the right thing to do."
He laughed and looked down at me. "You should probably call your parents." I must have made a face, because he added, "I'm sorry, Penny."
"I think I'm dreading that discussion more than talking to the dean."
"I'm sorry."
"Please stop apologizing. James." I put my hands on the side of his face. "I love you. That's all that matters."
He smiled down at me. "I love you too."
"So will you please come to bed now?"
"Mhm." He leaned down and kissed me.
Chapter 20
Wednesday
The alarm woke us up at 6 a.m. We had a meeting with the dean in an hour. And I had a terrible sinking feeling in my stomach. I had tried to be the positive one last night. But now I needed to call my parents. And I was terrified. I needed to do it before they saw the paper, though. I didn't know what the article said, but James had made it seem like we were screwed.
James turned off the alarm and rolled over to face me. He eyed me curiously. "You're still here."
I didn't know what he was expecting. Maybe he thought I was going to abandon him. "Of course I'm still here." I propped my head up on my hand. "I need you to promise me something," I said.
"Name it."
"No matter what happens, please don't resent me."
"Penny..."
"Promise me."
"I don't resent you. Please don't think that I'm mad at you about any of this. This is everything I ever wanted. Actually, it is tempting to just run away with you. For you, I'd leave it all. I need you to know that."
I do know. I wasn't sure if he wanted me to say the same thing back. I needed to finish school. I needed to think about my future. But he was laying there telling me that I was his future. I wanted him to be mine
. "I'd leave it all for you too. But I'd be uneducated."
He laughed. "You're very intelligent. A diploma doesn't change that."
"I forgot that you just want me to be a housewife anyway."
He smiled and ran his fingers through my hair. "Well today can't go all that poorly because you just told me you want to be my wife. I'm certainly in a good mood."
"I..." I was suddenly embarrassed. I hadn't meant it in any way. We had talked about our future but we had never actually discussed getting married.
"Don't be flustered." He put his hand on my cheek. "I'm 27 years old. You're the love of my life. I know you feel the same way. You risked everything to be with me. So you must realize that I have every intention of marrying you, Penny Taylor."
I gulped. "But we..."
"Are you going to fight me on this too?" He gave me a mischievous smile.
He wanted to marry me. He wasn't proposing but he was telling me that he eventually would. It was fast and crazy and just like our whole relationship had been like. And I couldn't have been more excited. "No." My voice sounded airy.
He smiled and climbed out of bed. He disappeared into his closet. I was only 20 years old. He was my first boyfriend. But everything felt right. This is how I imagined love would feel. The rest of the day suddenly seemed easier to face. I wasn't just in love with him. I was going to marry this man. I shouldn't be ashamed of telling my parents or the dean. This was my choice. I needed to own it. Just like Melissa had told me.
I quickly brushed my teeth and washed my face. When he reappeared in the bedroom he was wearing a pair of navy blue pants and a gray dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked handsome and sophisticated.
He looked at his watch. "Ellen's already here. So unfortunately you'll need to get dressed."
I was wearing one of his shirts. I was excited to meet his chef or maid or whatever her title was. I'd just call her Ellen I guess. I went into the closet as he went into the bathroom.
I had never met the dean before. And this would probably be the only time I did. Professor Hunter was dressed in business casual clothes because that's what he usually wore. I pulled on a pair of jeans, a tank top, and a light cardigan. I slid on a pair of flats and walked out of the closet. He was standing by the window, looking out at the street below. Another news truck had arrived on the scene and there were about a dozen people standing outside. I wasn't sure if they were reporters or paparazzi or what. This situation was surreal. I didn't want to think about them. We'd know our fate soon enough.
"Do you think this is okay?"
James turned his attention to me and smiled. "I'm not sure if he's going to be paying attention to what you're wearing. But you look beautiful." He gave me a chaste kiss, grabbed my hand, and led me out to the kitchen.
A woman was standing at the stove. She had short brunette hair and looked a little older than my mother. She was wearing an apron. As soon as she heard the door open, she turned toward us. She had a huge smile on her face. I instantly liked her.
"You must be Penny. Oh dear, aren't you pretty. James didn't exaggerate."
I could feel my cheeks turning pink.
"Penny, this is Ellen," James said.
I smiled at her. "It's so nice to meet you."
"I've heard so much about you, dear."
I smiled up at James. He shrugged his shoulders. It was cute that he talked to her about me.
"And how do you prefer your eggs?" Ellen asked and turned back to the stove.
"Scrambled." This was weird. I wasn't used to someone making breakfast for me. "Do you need help with anything?"
Ellen laughed. "I like you already. But no. Sit, sit."
I sat down in a stool next James. He put his elbow on the counter and rested his chin in his palm. He was still wearing his glasses. He was smiling at me.
"You look sexy in glasses," I whispered to him.
"Is that why you're looking at me like that?" he whispered back.
"Like what?"
He leaned forward until his lips were against my ear. "Like you want me right here, right now."
His words sent a chill down my spine.
He pecked my cheek and pulled away from me. There were two newspapers on the counter. The Wall Street Journal and the Delaware Post. I assumed he always got The Wall Street Journal, but he had asked for the local paper because of the article it contained.
"Have you read it?" he asked Ellen.
Ellen sighed. "The things people say. If they could see how happy you are, you'd think they'd leave well enough alone. My husband is ten years older than me and no one ever gave me a hard time for it. Love is love. Circumstances be damned."
James laughed. "I'm guessing it's bad then?"
"It's not good." Ellen continued cooking.
James picked up the paper and unfolded it. At the bottom of the first page there was an article titled, "University of New Castle Conceals Student, Professor Affair. See more page B9." James sighed and turned to B9. He put his hand on my knee and we both began reading.
Student-Professor Affair Uncovered at the University of New Castle
Bill Raffer, The Delaware Post 10:12 p.m. EST October 21, 2015
An investigation is underway involving adjunct professor, James Hunter, and a student from one of his classes at the University of New Castle.
Hunter, Blive Tech International founder and board member, started teaching at the university last semester. Although Hunter does not have a PhD, he was given a teaching position due to his experience starting Blive Tech International. His loose credentials have led him to a loose interpretation of the University of New Castle's code of ethics. Two months ago he began engaging in a sexual relationship with Penny Taylor, a sophomore in his communications class. Taylor, age 19, is an exemplary student on a First State scholarship. Although there have been no sexual harassment complaints as of yet, Taylor is unavailable for comment. Allegations of sexual harassment as well as other instances of sexual misconduct are imminent.
Hunter was fired from his last teaching position in New York City for physically threatening the dean of admissions, Jared Halloway. All charges were dropped in the matter, but Halloway commented that, "Hunter attacked him, completely unprovoked." Dean of students at the University of New Castle, Joseph Vespelli, hired Hunter despite known allegations of violence and Hunter's lack of credentials.
Hunter has also engaged in misconduct during his own days in college at Harvard University. He was arrested for underage drinking as well as vandalism.
The University of New Castle has never needed explicit rules against student-professor relationships. An unnamed source from the university says that their code of ethics skirts around the idea of something happening because it shouldn't have to state common morals, but that these events will make the university reevaluate the core values of the institution.
Hunter's wife, Isabella, was distraught when she found out about the affair. She filed for divorce as soon as she uncovered the truth, but their marriage had already begun to unravel before that when Hunter had sold his shares of Blive Tech International and declared he wanted to become a professor. "I should have realized his motivations," said Mrs. Hunter. "I should have warned the college. I feel like part of the blame should be on me. I can only imagine what this poor girl is going through."
Mrs. Hunter was almost in tears during her interview. The separation only became final yesterday afternoon. She went to the press and to the college immediately to request that Hunter resign from his teaching position. She believed he was doing more harm than good in the classroom, emphasizing that there needs to be a mutual trust between students and their professors.
In response to the allegations of having a sexual relationship with a student eight years younger than him, Professor James Hunter said, "Our relationship was completely consensual. There is no explicit rule that states such a relationship is against the code of ethics of this university." And when asked if he would end the relationship, he said,
"I can't deny that I am in love with her. Nor do I have any intention of ending my relationship with her." In response to his wife's allegations, Hunter said, "My wife and I have been separated since last December, when I filed for divorce after I found out she was cheating on me. The documents are public and can be acquired from the New York City court." Said documents have not yet been released from the court.
The University of New Castle's dean of students, Joseph Vespelli, was contacted but declined to comment. His offices have informed us that an official statement will be released shortly.
Contact senior investigative reporter Bill Raffer at (302) 150-4527,
[email protected]
, on Facebook or Twitter @braffer
"Shit," James whispered. He folded the paper and threw it down on the counter. "I didn't think they were going to release your name."
"I'm going to lose my scholarship." Reality had just come crashing down on me. My parents were going to kill me. I needed that scholarship.
"What?"
"There were all these rules when I got it. I don't remember what they were. I'm sure being in the paper about sleeping with my professor broke at least one of them. James..."
"Don't get upset before we know, okay?"
He seemed so calm. How was he so calm? "Isn't this slander? How could they possibly print this? There isn't any proof. Can't we do something?"
"It doesn't matter. It's Isabella's word against mine. Stay here today. Let me go to the meeting alone. Let me handle this."
"No. I'm not letting you take all the blame for this. It's my fault too."
"I don't want you to get..."
"James. No. I'm coming with you."
Ellen walked over and set our plates down in front of us. She gave us a sympathetic look. When she walked away I looked back up at James. "And it does matter. Can't you sue them for printing this nonsense? They didn't even check any of their facts. It's a joke of a news report."
He sighed. "I just want this to blow over as fast as possible. A lawsuit will make it worse. It'll draw it out. I don't want to drag you into this. I'll be fine."
Drag me into it? I'm in the middle of it already. He wasn't dragging me into a fight with his ex-wife. This involved me too. I must have made a face because he squeezed my knee.