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Every time Hayley thought about him, a bad taste filled her mouth. She wanted nothing to do with Raymond Grenville. She’d work with him in a professional capacity, but that was it. No small talk, no pleasantries, and definitely no reminiscing about their past. He might see things differently, but she knew the truth. He’d manipulated her to get what he wanted. Then he’d thrown her away and made sure her ambitions were crushed.

Hayley spent a few moments reconfiguring the data for the match she was trying to sort before hitting the enter button again. While she waited for the database to do its magic, she opened several windows and browsed through the information she’d been looking at throughout the morning.

She’d been researching Raymond, and what she’d found was alarming. At first, it had been about his latest research papers or a brilliant talk he’d done at a university. She’d seen several pictures of him smugly smiling at the camera, an arm wrapped around some girl young enough to be his daughter. Some things never changed. He still liked his dates young and easy to manipulate.

As Hayley had sifted through the information online, she’d stumbled across a chat room that mentioned his name. As she’d read through the postings about Professor Grenville, her heart had raced. She wasn’t the only one he’d targeted. She discovered a dozen girls complaining about the way Raymond had behaved toward them, doing exactly the same thing to them as he’d done to her.

As Hayley had read the threads from the other girls, she’d discovered his way of avoiding commitment and girlfriends messing with his career was to ensure they got expelled from college. He erased his conquests from his life once he’d gotten into their pants.

Hayley had posted in several of the forums. She’d sent a message outlining what had happened to her and the dates, the same as everyone else had done.

There were seven replies waiting for her. All told similar stories of Raymond’s betrayal. One, in particular, from a user called Angry Betsy caught her eye.

I was at the same college as you, just a year earlier. I met Professor Grenville on the same course. He used to ask me to stay behind at the end of the lectures and help with grading papers. I felt it was such a privilege to spend time with him. We used to chat about his work. He sounded brilliant. Instead, he was just a dirty old man.

Hayley let out a shaky breath. That was exactly what had happened to her. Raymond had found excuses for them to be alone and dazzled her with his knowledge. She opened the chat box and saw Angry Betsy was still online.

Hi, Angry Betsy. You’re not going to believe this, but I’ve just met Professor Grenville again, eight years after he ruined my life.

Her reply was instant. OMG!! Please tell me he’s old with a paunch and has lost all his teeth. It’s no less than he deserves. If someone has chopped off his tiny dick as well, I’ll be so happy.

Hayley smiled as she typed her response. He’s definitely gained a few pounds and has some wrinkles, but he’s basically the same. I was horrified to find him here.

What’s he doing?

He’s looking for an alien bride.

Holy crap!! He finally got bored with exploiting girls young enough to be his daughter.

Hayley paused before writing her next message. She still hadn’t figured out why Raymond was doing this. He must be aware of the risks of coupling with a female Retar, especially one with royal blood. He’d always been a smug bastard and considered himself above others. Perhaps he thought the princess would treat him differently. Or maybe he wanted to make a name for himself and go down in perpetuity as the first human male to be eaten by a Retar. She shook her head. He had way too big of an ego to go out like that.

I’m working with him to set up the match with an alien princess.

I hope she’s a right bitch. Someone who will set him right and show him how wrong it is to manipulate people.

He’s going to have his hands full, but I doubt he’ll learn any lessons.

Another user Hayley had been corresponding with, Julie64, joined the chat.

It’s time we taught him a lesson. He’s been doing this for far too long. It’s wrong. What would his peers think if they knew what a devious scumbag he was?

Most of them are probably doing something similar, Angry Betsy replied.

Hayley tapped her bottom lip. That wasn’t a bad idea. If there was enough of them, and they all told the same story, it could be enough to discredit Raymond. We could stop him.

What are you thinking? Julie64 asked.

I’ve located a dozen of us who’ve had the same thing happen. He manipulated us and ruined our education. We should let the college board know.

They wouldn’t believe us over a professor with his standing, Angry Betsy replied. They’ll think we’re bitter and twisted because we failed our college courses and are looking for somebody to blame.

Why come after him now? Hayley said. It won’t do us any good. We gain nothing from this. And I’m not doing the kind of job I dreamed of, thanks to him. What about you two?

I wanted to teach, Angry Betsy said. I had plans to do a doctorate, travel to Asia, and lecture there.

I wanted to go on digs, Julie64 said. Get in the dirt and be the one unearthing the fossils. Now, I work as a virtual assistant for a pharmaceutical company. It sucks.

I work at a dating agency, Hayley said. Before that, I had a series of very uninspiring waitressing jobs. I couldn’t even get a job teaching biology to third graders on Earth. All they saw on my record was that I got kicked out of college. They saw me as untrustworthy and unreliable. Until Professor Grenville accused me of cheating, I always aced my exams. A single word from him, and it was all over.