“Nonsense. Ethan will have plenty of time. I’ll be assigning the other two candidates to Martin Collins, so he won’t have to worry about making time for them.” She turns from me toEthan. “And I’ve only known Sadie for a couple of years. She transferred here from Sydney Uni for her master’s. She’s a very competent student, so she doesn’t need her hand held. I expect her to sail through this PhD under your supervision.”
There’s another beat of silence during which Ethan and I mind meld again. There’s no way we’re getting out of this. Arguing any more will look suss. We need to regroup. Hopefully, we’ll be able to come up with something plausible.
Jennifer looks over our shoulders.
“Oh, Martin, how fortunate. Come on in.” She waves a hand and Martin Collins, who was walking past the office, joins us. The temperature in the room drops by a good five degrees, although Ethan’s face remains impassive.
“I was just discussing the appointment of supervisors for the new PhD students. Ethan is going to take on Sadie, and I’d like you to supervise Riley Hall and Garret Brown.”
The temperature drops another couple of degrees.
“I see. So, when I suggested I should supervise Sadie, you insisted you would do it yourself. Now, all of a sudden, you’re handing her to Ethan on a silver platter?” Martin’s tone is arctic. There’s not even a flicker of surprise on Ethan’s face. Word on the street is they crossed swords—and I don’t mean in the sexy way—when Ethan was studying here, and Martin was an assistant professor. There’s been what can only be described as antipathy ever since.
One of Jennifer’s eyebrows pulls up in the middle, creating the perfect arch.
“Are you questioning my decision, Martin?”
“You have to admit it’s rather convenient that the new hire is taking the best PhD student and I’m getting the leftovers.”
Oof. Harsh. And probably wasn’t meant for my ears. I try to make myself invisible.
“By all means, Martin. You should supervise Sadie,” Ethan says, with what appears to be mild disinterest. “Her thesis is focussed on the Eighteenth Dynasty. You know, in the New Kingdom? I’ll get you a chronology if you need to place it in context. I think I have a colour-coded version that will help.” One side of Ethan’s mouth pulls up in a smirk. Interesting how one muscle movement can express so much disdain.
Jennifer suppresses a smile.
“Yes, I’m well aware when the Eighteenth Dynasty was, thank you,ProfessorCarter,” Martin snaps. Although I’m not entirely sure he is. He seems to mostly teach classes in Late Period and beyond.
“This is about the efficient running of the department. As Ethan so eloquently clarified, Sadie’s thesis aligns best with his area of expertise. Do you have a problem with that?” Jennifer’s tone makes it clear she expects no objections.
“Of course not, Professor Stone,” Martin replies. In contrast to hers, his tone sayshell yes, I have a problem with that.“I’m late for a lecture. I’ll circle back this afternoon to discuss this further.” He turns on his heel, giving Ethan a death stare, and without even acknowledging me, stomps from the room. Perhaps he didn’t notice me. Because I was as still as a statue the whole time he was in the room.
As soon as he’s gone, Ethan stands with a snort. “He’ll ‘circle back’. Sucks to be you, Jen.” And he’s out the door, too.
It’s unusual for the professors to go at it like that—as frosty and controlled as it was—in front of a student. Although maybe the walls come down once you’re doing your PhD. Either way, Jennifer looks thoroughly pissed off.
“That’s all for now, Sadie,” she says with a deep sigh. “Although I’d appreciate you keeping anything said in this office to yourself. See Ethan to set up a time that works for you both to go over your plans.”
“Of course. No problem.” Except it is. It’s a big problem. And the plans we’ll be going over are plans to extract ourselves from this disaster.
I’m at my desk for less than thirty seconds when Riley pops up out of nowhere. She’s like a ninja.
“I saw you in Jennifer’s office with Ethan. What was that about? Were you talking about supervisors? She still hasn’t told me who I’ll be working under.” Am I being oversensitive, or did she give the wordundera definite tone?
“I don’t think anything is decided yet,” I prevaricate. Because technically, if we can come up with something plausible, there’s a chance we might still change Jennifer’s mind. Or maybe Martin Collins will. Not to mention I was asked to keep quiet about what went on in the office, although I’m pretty sure that was more about the argument than the issue of supervisors.
Riley sighs like a little girl drooling over a princess doll. “Ireallywant Ethan as my supervisor. He’s so hot.”
“He’s a professor. You can’t hit on him. And if you have him as your supervisor, he’s even more off-limits.” I pull my laptop out of my satchel and plug it in.
“Pfft. That’s such nineties thinking. Oh, that’s right. Dad told me hooking up with a professor is exactly what your mum did in the nineties.” She simpers with almost enough sugar to disguise the poison in her words. Riley’s family are huge benefactors to the university. There’s a whole wing in the Department of Medicine named after them. I hear her dad even plays golf with the vice-chancellor. Nice to know they’ve been talking about me and my little family melodrama.
“Anyway, things are different now. Standards have changed. It’s not like he’s married. I’ll bet he’s really lonely and could do with someone to keep him company.”
The thought of Riley keeping Ethan ‘company’ makes me want to puncture her breast implants. Which is wrong. Obviously. Notleast because we just got through agreeing there would be no repeat performance. I have no claim. But I’ll be buggered if I’m going to let Riley get her acrylic infills into him. I also can’t let her know she’s got under my skin.
“Hmm. I suspect Jennifer won’t see it that way. And it won't be Ethan who gets into trouble. They can't afford to lose him. But if you want to risk your academic career, knock yourself out.” I shrug, busying myself with checking emails so I don’t have to look at her. I might not be a great actor, but Riley isn’t all that perceptive, so hopefully, I’ll get away with it.
Sadly, she’s not letting this go.
