“It’s come to my attention that you have a Fangirl account where you engage in and provide adult entertainment.”
A cold sweat beads long my brow and bile rises in the back of my throat.
My hands begin to shake and oh, God. I’m going to throw up.
This can’t be happening.
How does he know? Was it Brady?
No. Brady would never do that. He might not approve of my choices, but he’d never intentionally hurt me. He’s not that kind of person.
“I— I can explain,” I stammer, clasping my hands in my lap.
“That won’t be necessary.” The TA looks down his thin nose, judgment radiating off him like smoke from a fire. “I believe I understand the situation quite clearly.”
Christ. He actually sounds smug.
Like he’s just been waiting for the opportunity to ruin someone’s life.
“Dr. Barnes doesn’t know about your exploits.” Hope flares in my chest as a slow smile curves his lips. “Yet.”
The word echoes through my brain, snuffing out my naïve optimism.
Dr. Barnes doesn’t know about my exploitsyet.
“If Dr. Barnes knew what you’ve been up to, she’d be so disappointed,” he says, voice dripping with condescension. “You know how she feels about personal conduct.”
Me and everyone else in the College of Education.
It’s not exactly a secret.
My mouth goes dry and though I want to rage against the unfairness of it all, I force myself to remain calm. Melting down won’t change the facts.
Facts? What facts? This whole thing is bullshit.
What I do online has no bearing on my ability to be a successful educator, and if higher education wasn’t so damn expensive, I wouldn’t even be in this position.
“Dr. Barnes would probably cancel your student teaching assignment, and she definitely wouldn’t provide you with a letter of recommendation.”
The TA flashes another oily smile and understanding clicks into place.
He hasn’t told Barnes…yet.
Why not? He should’ve reported it immediately. She’s his direct supervisor.
He didn’t report it because he wants something.
That’s why he’s been watching me all semester. He’s been biding his time, just waiting to make his move when it would have the greatest impact.
Now that I’ve received my student teaching assignment, I’ve got the most to lose and he knows it.
Bastard.
“What do you want?”
The prick doesn’t even hesitate. “Money.”
He’s got balls, I’ll give him that.
