Chapter 39

Ian

 

 

I was ready. It felt good to have a purpose, to have something worth fighting for. Saturday afternoon and evening had been pretty unhelpful when it came to solving Tessa’s problem, but I didn’t think she minded. Once we had professed our love for one another, I couldn’t keep my hands off her or my dick out of her. I swear to God if I could have tied her up and kept her in bed for the next week, I would have. I felt like an eighteen-year-old kid. I had made up for four years of celibacy in a single day. I have no idea where I found the strength or stamina, but it was there.

Now my body was spent, and when we woke up Sunday morning, I felt as if I had finally been somewhat satiated. We both did. Thinking back to our lovemaking ignited that familiar flame, but I wasn’t desperate to have her now. I could wait—until tonight.

“You ready?” Jake asked.

I looked up from the table where I sat with my notes spread out. “Yep. We better get over there. She’s chomping at the bit.”

Jake laughed. “I’m surprised she is actually waiting for us to go with her. She was pretty fired up last night.”

I nodded in agreement. “Yeah, she is hoping your legal loophole will be her saving grace. There is a lot riding on this. Do you really think it will work?”

Jake nodded. “If the dean refuses to reinstate Tessa, we’ll take it up the chain. She was right, the rules and code of conduct say nothing about a relationship between an assistant and a teacher. She isn’t your student. She takes none of your classes. There is no violation per the rules. There is no potential gain or power. There cannot be a conflict of interest. The dean doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”

I prayed he was right.

My brother, in full lawyer mode, started pacing the length of my small table. “Furthermore, the fact she made a decision without questioning you or Tessa and based it all on the gossip of one young and disgruntled student is even more reason she must overturn her initial decision. There was no investigation. She took the word of one student who had no proof. I have never heard of anything so preposterous. Where is the evidence?” He shouted the last bit.

I had to laugh. He was good. Really good. Law school had paid off for him, and he had found his calling. I imagined lawyers would be looking for the exit when he showed up in court across the table from them. He was a force to be reckoned with.

“I’m glad you’re on my side,” I told him, meaning every word. “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s head over to Tessa’s and pick her up.”

She yanked open the door the second my car came to a stop. She was very eager to get her day in court—or at least face the woman who was attempting to disrupt her life.

“Hi,” I said, giving her a quick kiss. “You ready?”

“Yep, let’s go get the bitch.”

I leaned back and laughed. “You are one fierce woman!”

We piled back into the car, with Jake taking the backseat. We chatted about the weather and nothing in particular on the drive over. Tessa was wringing her hands.

I reached over, and placed my hand over both of hers. “It’s all going to work out.”

“I hope so.”

The three of us walked into the administration office, setting the tongues to wagging. Ladies who worked in the office were trying not to look directly at us, but their effort was ridiculous. It was obvious our story had spread throughout the office and likely the whole campus. Teaching students who thought of me as a lecherous predator was not going to be easy. There was also the fact that one of those students had turned us in. She had felt it was her business to run to the dean with some bullshit story, just to get back at me.

“You’ll be meeting in one of the conference rooms,” we were informed by a young woman who looked a little too eager to do the dean’s bidding.

Tessa was dressed in a black pencil skirt and white silk blouse. She looked like she could be the lawyer, and I couldn’t help but watch as she followed behind the woman, her shoulders back, and her head held high as passing students turned to point and whisper.

I gave my best professorial scowl, but it only served to heighten the whispers.

Let them talk.

“In here.” The woman pushed open the door to a room with a large table in the center, and a whiteboard at one end of the room. There were eight chairs positioned around the table, which made me a little nervous.

Our escort left, shutting the door behind her.

I turned to Jake, who looked cool as a cucumber. “What the hell? Are they planning an ambush?”

He smirked. “Don’t panic, it’s meant to intimidate. They could bring in twenty people, and it wouldn’t matter. Tessa was right all along. The law is on our side, and their own rule book backs up our case. Have a seat and don’t let them scare you. Push back. Show them you are confident and let them be worried. We got this,” he stressed.

“I’m ready. She doesn’t scare me,” Tessa said, pulling out a chair at the head of the table. It was a calculated move. She was putting herself in the position of authority, and I was very proud of her.

The door swung open, and Dean Scribbs walked in, followed by a short, stout elderly man.

“I am Mr. Hendricks. I represent the school and will be handling the majority of any questions you may have. Dean Scribbs is here as a courtesy; please keep that in mind,” the lawyer said, attempting to shut us down before we even got started.

Jake stepped forward and introduced himself. “Dean Scribbs can either be here or not, that is her choice. She is, however, the one we will be taking to court if this isn’t resolved to our satisfaction today.”

I had to fight back the smile that threatened to cross my face. The old lawyer obviously thought he was dealing with a greenhorn. Jake was about to show him that an Ivy League education was worth every penny—even if it had been mostly paid with the various scholarships he worked his ass off to get.

“Let’s have a seat and talk this out,” the lawyer said, gesturing to the chairs. Dean Scribbs eyeballed Tessa in her seat at the head of the table. Tessa smiled sweetly in return as the woman glared.

Jake pulled out the paperwork he had prepared, where the rule was highlighted, and various examples of case law were referenced. “We are asking Tessa be reinstated to return to school and pick up where she left off.”

“Absolutely not,” Dean Scribbs said in a snide voice. “She has been expelled and is lucky I have allowed her to return to campus at all. This institution has far higher standards, and I can assure you we have many students that would appreciate the opportunity more than Miss McShane did.”

Jake cleared his throat. “Your actions were without merit. Per your own rules, there was no violation. Therefore, you have no grounds to expel her. She will return to class tomorrow.”

Dean Scribbs turned red and glared at the lawyer, willing him to speak. Withering under the angry gaze, he finally spoke up. “Now, son, making demands is not the way this meeting is going to be conducted,” the lawyer said, holding up his hands.

Jake looked at him. “You fix it today or we’ll be going to court and Tessa will be awarded more than enough money to finish her education elsewhere if she chooses.”

The dean slammed her open hand on the table and stood up. “I don’t think so! This is ridiculous!”

Tessa looked up at her, and I knew she was about to say something. I met her eyes and gave a slight shake of my head. This was Jake’s game. He would win it if we could keep our emotions in check.

“I suggest you review the document I put together, Mr. Hendricks,” Jake said, sliding a copy of the paper across the table. “You will see that I’ve put our cards on the table and stated our intent very clearly.”

After reading the document, the lawyer asked for a few minutes to confer with the dean. They stood and left the room.

“Well?” Tessa asked Jake.

“It’s in the bag,” he replied. “She’ll put up a fuss, but they really don’t have any legal grounds to expel you. If they stick to the expulsion, we’ll sue. That will cost them far more than her eating a little crow and getting through one more semester.”

Tessa nodded, looked at me, the stress of the moment overwhelming her bravado. I smiled. “Hang in there a few more minutes; it’ll be okay.” Trying to reassure her, I pushed aside the fear in my gut that it would not go our way, and I’d end up losing her. Somehow it would have been better if I’d been fired outright.

Finally, after what seemed a very long time, the dean and the lawyer came back into the room. It was very evident the dean was not happy.

“Well then, in order to expedite resolution of this matter, Miss McShane may return to school tomorrow. She will not, however, be allowed to remain as a teaching assistant to Professor Dunlap,” the lawyer stated.

“What about the credit?” Tessa asked.

“You will receive the credit for this semester, however, you will need to pick up another class for next semester. You will not be granted any assistant teaching positions,” he explained.

The dean turned to glare at me. “You will not be coming back here next year. We expect better from our professors,” she spat out.

I laughed. “Dean Scribbs, that makes me very happy. I would be more than happy to leave tomorrow if you wish.”

The lawyer shook his head. “No, you signed a contract. We expect that to be fulfilled.”

I nodded. “Fine, but you,” I said, pointing to the dean. “Stay out of my way. If a student has a problem with me, you bring him, and I’ll bring him,” I said, pointing to both lawyers in the room. “I think it’s safe to say we cannot have a proper discussion about anything at this point.”

“Fine,” she seethed.

“If we could just get all this in writing and signed by all parties involved, I think we can call this case settled,” Jake said, standing. “Agreed?” he asked, making eye contact with everyone in the room.

“Yep,” Tessa said with a smile.

The dean stepped out and returned a few minutes later with the documents that reinstated Tessa as well as my resignation effective at the end of the year.

We walked out of the building, and I felt great. Tessa was grinning ear to ear, her arm around my waist as we strolled down the sidewalk that was packed full of students and faculty.

“Thank you, Jake. You’re my hero,” she teased.

“No problem. I’m glad to have helped, and I’m especially glad you got this big oaf to lighten up and have some fun,” he replied. He looked at me. “So, is it back to consulting or you going to look for another teaching job?”

“Consulting,” I answered, without hesitating. “My taste for teaching has been tainted for now. Maybe down the road, but I would prefer to avoid people like the dean for a nice long while.”

“Sounds good. Are we still on for dinner tonight?” Jake asked.

“Yep, my place, I’m cooking.”

We dropped Jake off at his car and Tessa and I headed back to my place. I had plans for her and that tight skirt. My naughty teacher fantasy was about to be fulfilled whether Tessa knew it or not.