Chapter 23
Grant
Everything in our lives had twisted and turned upside down in a matter of moments. Kylie was pregnant, and I still couldn’t fully wrap my head around the whole situation. It was a twist in the plot of life that had me reeling. Ben couldn’t even look either of us in the face, and I knew it had to do with his age and where he was in his life. I had known Ben a long time and hoped he would step outside of himself and come around. Kylie really needed both of us during this difficult transition. This was not the way I thought I would become a father, but life rarely worked out the way we wanted it. Nevertheless, even with all of that going on, we decided to continue with our plan to catch Arthur and Jeffrey red-handed.
“Your phone is on speaker with Ben,” I explained to Kylie. “Our end is muted, so you won’t be able to hear us, but we will be able to hear you. Just hold it discreetly in your hands or slip it in your pocket if they get nervous about it.”
“Okay,” she said, obviously nervous.
“Are you okay?”
“She’ll be fine,” Ben said gruffly. “You need to go, though, or you’ll be late.”
“All right,” she said with a nod.
I kissed her on the top of the head and sent her to the meeting. I didn’t like the plan anymore, especially since Kylie was pregnant and possibly with my child. The whole thing suddenly felt like a terrible idea. I wanted to protect Kylie and the baby from everything, and there was no telling what these guys were up to. Ben didn’t seem to have an issue with it, but at the same time, he didn’t seem to have much personality at all. He was still reeling from the news of the pregnancy, and at that moment, I was too nervous about the meeting to talk to him about it. Things would have to wait until this was done and over with.
Ben walked over to the desk and set the phone down in the center, switching it to the speakers. I sat down on the other side and put my phone on record. We were both recording it to make sure we got it. He knew I would want to listen to the conversation, too nervous to sit in the dark. I watched as he leaned back in his chair with his hand over his chin. I leaned forward, my foot tapping up and down, waiting for the voices.
“Good morning, Kylie,” Jeffrey’s voice called out. “Please, come in. You remember Arthur.”
“Yes. Morning, sir,” she said timidly.
Her nervousness made me want to run down the hall and rip her out of the meeting, but I knew this was our only shot. She sat in their office exchanging niceties for several moments, waiting for them to bring the subject up. I glanced over at the time, my patience running thin. What were they waiting for? I knew the only reason they had her back this morning was to see if she was going to agree to their little scheme. Maybe they thought being nice would get them their way.
“So, have you thought about our offer?”
“I have,” she said. “I just want to be one hundred percent sure I understand the terms.”
“Of course,” Arthur said, making me cringe. “It’s very simple, black and white really. You come in on a day specified, fuck both of us, either together or separately, depending on our schedules, and you get this whole little ordeal with you and the professors wiped away.”
“Even though it isn’t true,” she pointed out.
“Good girl,” Ben whispered, watching the phone.
“Well, once you’ve agreed, I don’t care what the truth is,” Jeffrey laughed.
“I’ll even throw in something to sweeten the deal,” Arthur said.
“What’s that?” I was proud of how confident and strong Kylie sounded.
“I’ll give you a personal recommendation when you graduate,” he said. “A recommendation from the provost of an Ivy League school is worth its weight in gold. The caveat is that you keep this a secret even after you’ve graduated.”
“I see,” Kylie said. “All right, I agree.”
“Wonderful,” Jeffrey replied. “Now stand up and do a little twirl for us.”
The phone shuffled as she moved and then became quiet again. I felt sick to my stomach that they were talking to her that way. I wanted to kick both of their asses right then and there, but I had to remember that what we had coming was much better.
“You are wearing the perfect thing,” Jeffrey said. “Short skirt, stockings, and low-cut top.”
“Don’t forget the heels,” Arthur said with excitement.
“I would ask a favor,” Kylie said.
“All right,” Jeffrey replied with irritation. “What is it?”
“That our meetings be scheduled for Thursdays,” she replied. “I’m here in this building already, and I have a short day on Thursdays. Otherwise, it might seem suspicious that I’m in the building when I don’t have any classes.”
“Hmm, you’re right,” Jeffrey replied. “Arthur, take out your appointment book and look at Thursdays.”
There was some random mumbling back and forth while Kylie sat there patiently. She was being so brave, and it really warmed me knowing she was so unselfish that she put herself in that position, after just finding out she was pregnant, and all to save women she had never met from suffering. She was truly inspirational, and I couldn’t understand how Ben couldn’t see that.
“Thursday’s work for me,” Arthur said.
“Me too,” Jeffrey replied. “It’s actually the only day neither of us is getting pussy or blowjobs from other students.”
“So, I’m not the only one?”
“That’s really none of your concern,” Arthur snapped.
“It just made me feel better knowing my fellow students were facing this choice as well,” she said. “My apologies.”
“No need to apologize, my dear,” Jeffrey said. “You are not the only one, no. You are joining the ranks of many young women who understand what it means to get ahead in this world. You’re a realist, and you know this life does nothing but chew you up and spit you out unless you’re willing to take it by the horns.”
“Right,” Kylie replied kindly. “Well, if that is all, I have a class to get to. I will see you both on Thursday.”
“We are very much looking forward to it,” Arthur replied.
I sat back and listened as she walked out of the room and into the hall. None of us said anything for several moments. When I heard the office door shut, I picked up Ben’s phone and turned off the mute button. To say that I was pissed was an understatement. Those two idiots had been running a sexual assault ring for I didn’t know how long, ruining the lives of innocent women. They had decided that my Kylie was next on their list, and they’d treated the whole meeting as if they were scheduling time for tea with her. It was disgusting and made me feel terrible. I couldn’t even imagine how Kylie was feeling after being in that room all alone. If I had my way, though, she would never have to be in there with them again, nor any other woman for that matter. Men like them deserve to be embarrassed, persecuted, and hung up for their crimes.
“Are you all right?” I cleared my throat and waited for her answer.
“Hold on,” she whispered.
I could hear the clacking of her heels through the phone and the grew louder for a moment as she passed the door to Ben’s office and then continued down the hall. I wanted to hug her, to hold her, and to tell her how fantastic she did, but it was safer for her to keep going. We didn’t want to take any chances that she might be caught with us before we had a chance to talk with the president.
“Okay, I’m outside in the parking lot,” she said. “That was really intense. I mean, it wasn’t as horrible as last time with Arthur touching me, but it was definitely not comfortable. Did you get everything?”
“We did,” Ben said. “You did a good job. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” she sighed. “If it will help catch these guys, it is worth it.”
“Are you okay?” I was worried about her.
“I’m okay,” she said. “Just tired. I am going to go home and get some rest. Let me know what you guys come up with, okay? I just want this to be over with.”
“I’ll let you know, and take care of yourself,” I said. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks,” she said. “Piper’s home, so I’m sure I’ll have everything I need. She is being really great about everything. We’ll talk about all this later, though. I don’t want anyone here hearing about it. I have enough issues with bullies at this school, I don’t need to fan the flames any further.”
“I agree,” I said. “Be careful getting home.”
“You too,” she said, hanging up the phone.
I hung up and put the phone down on the desk, double-checking that I had turned my recording off, which I had. It felt good to be doing something that would help others, but I couldn’t get our current situation off my mind. I looked up at Ben who was standing by the window in his office, watching out over the courtyard. It was an overcast day, and they were calling for snow flurries on and off. He turned around and walked back to his desk, sitting down and looking over at me.
“We should talk about things,” I said.
“I don’t know what to say to you,” he replied. “It’s not black and white here. I know that makes me look like an asshole, but I don’t really give a damn anymore. This is my life too.”
“It is,” I said. “And you have every right to feel whatever way you want to, but remember that you aren’t the only one affected and that your choices affect other people.”
“Grant, I know you’re just trying to be helpful, but I’m not a child. I understand the effect I can have on Kylie and this whole situation,” he said with irritation. “I just found out yesterday. I need some time to think things through.”
“I don’t think it’s a matter of time. Time won’t change anything,” I said. “I’m in all the way. I don’t see that there’s any choice in the matter.”
“I don’t know what I want to do,” Ben said. “And I need you to respect that for right now.”
“I do respect that, but know there will be a time your answer needs to be final and resolved,” I said. “There may come a time where I can’t respect your choice with this. It’s not only about Kylie or you or me even. It’s about a child, an innocent child who has nothing to do with your career or your choices in life.”
“I am fully aware of this,” Ben said.
“Don’t break Kylie’s heart, okay?” I stood up and grabbed my phone. “I’ll email you that voice recording in your private email account.”
Ben nodded his head, and I walked out of his office, heading for the parking lot for air. Everything was so big right then, and between the dean and Kylie’s pregnancy, I had about all I could take for the day. I wanted Kylie to be happy, and I knew that without Ben, it would be really hard on her.