This job was a dream come true. Shelovedit here.
Audrey fitted her new keys onto her key ring and set out to find the hand dolly Mercy had mentioned. The supply closet was easy to locate, and from there, she rolled the dolly to her car. She put a box of books on the bottom and then added a box containing some of her ceramicson top so the books could cushion it from bumps. She’d already packed everything so thoroughly that it should be bump-proof, though. Her ceramics were priceless to her.
As she made her way back to Holman Hall, a drizzling rain began to fall, and dammit, she’d left her umbrella in the car. Since she was already halfway to her destination, she started to hurry, hoping to make it inside before she—or her boxes—got too wet.
She mostly succeeded, but she felt damp and frazzled by the time she hurried up the ramp to Holman Hall. She wiped raindrops from her boxes before brushing wet hair out of her eyes. The rain was picking up now, and she might have to leave the rest of her boxes until tomorrow. Maybe she’d put these two in her office and call it a day.
As she stood waiting for the elevator, Audrey heard someone else approaching.
“... foolishness, when the department is already over budget,” a man said.
A woman’s voice made a sound of agreement before he continued.
“Bet she’s young. You know Stuart’s been on a kick tofreshen up the departmentlately.” There was derision in the man’s tone, and Audrey had the sudden, sinking realization that not only were these two of her new coworkers, but they were probably talking abouther.
“Frankly, I was surprised to hear we had a new professor at all,” the woman said, and that voice ... the British accent ...
Oh no.
Audrey knew that voice. She’d once fantasized about that sultry accent, and she’d admired the woman behind it more than just about anyone else in the world.
“If you ask me,” the woman continued, “we’d have been better served to give whatever classes she’s teaching to the existing staff.”
“Absolutely. A damn shame,” the man responded just as the pair passed the alcove where Audrey stood.
The elevator arrived with a brisk ding, causing the gossipers to look Audrey’s way, and sure enough, she found herself staring into the slightly widened eyes of Dr. Michelle Thompson.
Michelle’s skin prickled with discomfort as she recognized the woman waiting for the lift. Audrey Lind, the new hire she and Marcus had just been discussing ... and not very nicely either. Years ago, Michelle had been Audrey’s undergrad advisor. She’d thought the young woman displayed impressive potential, both as an artist and as an academic.
But she hadn’t expected Audrey to wind uphere.
Not when Michelle was struggling to keep her head above water, fighting for each breath she took in this stifling building. She was slowly drowning, but that was no excuse for her behavior. Michelle loathed gossip, but unfortunately there was no taking back what she’d said. And if Audrey’s wounded expression was any indication, she’d overheard every word.
“Oh, hello,” Marcus said, either ignorant of Audrey’s identity or pretending that was the case. “Marcus Elkin. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Audrey Lind.” She extended a hand, her expression polite. “I’m the new assistant professor, but I’m also a Northshire alum. In fact, I took one of your classes when I was an undergrad, Dr. Elkin.”
“Did you really?” Marcus held the door to the lift for her as she wheeled her cart into it, and before Michelle could extract herself from the situation, they were all inside, doomed to an awkward—if brief—journey to the second floor together.
Audrey nodded. “The Global Renaissance, a fascinating class.”
“Fantastic,” he enthused, as polite now as he’d been rude before. “Please call me Marcus.”
“Marcus,” Audrey repeated softly.
This was exactly why Michelle rarely socialized with her coworkers. It was all a bunch of insincerity and posturing, and right now, sheintensely regretted allowing Marcus to draw her into a conversation in the lobby. She’d gotten caught up in venting her frustration about the department chair’s unwise decision to bring in a new assistant professor, and now she’d unintentionally insulted her former student.
Audrey caught her eye and extended a hand. “Dr. Thompson.”
“Audrey. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Audrey smiled at her, looking as bright-eyed and full of wonder as she had as an eighteen-year-old freshman, unapologetically enthusiastic about Michelle’s classes. Oh, how she missed having students like Audrey. These days, she was lucky if anyone paid attention at all. Most of her students were discreetly checking their phones and texting their friends.
The lift dinged again, and its doors opened on the second floor.
“Good luck, Audrey,” Marcus said. “Let me know if I can be of any help as you settle in.” He turned right, toward his office. Michelle and Audrey both turned left, confirming Michelle’s suspicion that her new coworker would be occupying the vacant office across from hers.
Certainly, she should apologize for what Audrey had overheard, but she couldn’t seem to find the right words. This was probably why no one in the building liked her. But Audrey used to like her, used to respect her, even. Michelle couldn’t bear to have her become yet another person who dreaded Michelle’s presence. If only her interpersonal skills weren’t so rusty ...
