Page 73 of Sexting the Single Pakhan

My chest caves. They know. They all know. Before I can reach the lounge, a hand grabs my elbow and yanks me sideways into an empty classroom. The door clicks shut behind us.

It’s Maria, usually the warmest person in the building. Right now her face is stone.

“What were you thinking?” she whispers, furious.

“I—”

She doesn’t let me finish. She pulls out her phone, opens a group chat, and shoves the screen in my face.

There it is. The photo. Blown up. Captioned in all caps:

Look who’s sleeping her way to the top. Our little Ms. Harper and the billionaire. Classy.

The chat is exploding, dozens of messages, emojis, shocked faces, laughing ones. My world tilts. The floor seems to drop away. I grip the edge of a student desk to keep from swaying.

Before I can form a single coherent word, my phone buzzes in my hand. The screen lights up.

Dr. Ellis. My fingers tremble so badly I almost drop it. I answer anyway.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Harper.” The principal’s voice is ice-cold. “Please come to my office immediately.”

The line goes dead.

I don’t remember walking there. One second I’m in the empty classroom, the next I’m standing outside the principal’s door, knuckles white around the knob. I knock once.

“Come in.”

I step inside. Dr. Ellis sits behind her desk, hands folded, expression unreadable.

“Sit.”

I do. My legs feel like they belong to someone else.

She doesn’t waste time. “I’ve received credible information, and photographic evidence that you are involved in an inappropriate relationship with a parent of one of our students, Mr. Leonid Volkov.”

My mouth opens. Nothing comes out.

“The photo in question has been circulated among staff. Regardless of how it was obtained, the fact remains that this compromises your professional integrity and the reputation of this school. We have a strict policy against relationships that could create conflicts of interest or appear exploitative, especially when a child is involved.”

“I… it’s not like that,” I manage, voice cracking. “Alexei isn’t involved. Mr. Volkov and I are in a normal romantic relationship. I know what it looks like, but I assure you —”

She raises a hand. “Ms. Harper, please.” Dr. Ellis leans forward, elbows on her desk, fingers steepled. Her smile is thin, cold, professional in the worst way. “The gap between your social classes is… astronomical. You certainly don’t expect me to believe you’re in some sweet, normal romantic relationship with Leonid Volkov of all people. The man is a billionaire. A public figure. You’re a school teacher. It’s absurd on its face.”

“Dr. Ellis, it’s the truth, I didn’t come on to him like you’re making it seem.”

“Ms. Harper! The school has very clear policies. Teachers are not permitted to have romantic relationships with students’ parents. It’s a conflict of interest. You know that.”

I nod, trying my best not to let the tears fall.

“So,” she continues, “I’m not interested in excuses or explanations at this stage. The board has already been informed. Effective immediately, you are terminated. Your access to school systems will be revoked by the end of the day. You will clean out your classroom, under supervision, and return all school property. Your final paycheck and any accrued benefits will be processed according to contract.”

The words land like punches. Each one knocks the air out of me.

“Dr. Ellis, please—”

“This is not negotiable, Ms. Harper.” Her voice softens just a fraction. “You’ve been an excellent teacher. I wish it hadn’t come to this. But it has. You’re dismissed.”