Vengeful Heart: Fighting Heart Erotic Bad Boy Romance Series Book 3 by Nicole Hamilton
Authors: Nicole Hamilton
Ads: Link
right.
“Ashley, Professor Ridgley has spoken to me at length. He told me what occurred between you. He overstepped a serious boundary in making romantic overtures to you. He tells me nothing physical actually occurred between you, but the student body doesn’t seem to care about that. And neither does the Dean’s office. The Dean draws no distinction between romantic approaches and a sexual liaison in terms of the resulting discipline. Professor Ridgley has crossed a bridge he should not have crossed. I believe you have also made a mistake, Ashley, as you are not in the least a stupid girl. You knew what you were doing. But in this situation, Professor Ridgley bears the greatest responsibility. He will be suspended and the likelihood is that he will be forced to resign or he will eventually be dismissed. If you resign, Tom, at least you can get another job elsewhere.”
Ridgley stroked his chin. “Maybe,” he said quietly. “But what about Ashley and Brandon Lynes? Whatever happens here, we can’t let Lynes get away with what he’s doing to this young lady. It’s terrible, Professor. It’s a form of abuse.”
“Yes. I agree. That young man is out of control. I’ve noticed it for a while now. Speaking of spiralling, Ashley, Mr Lynes has been in a tailspin since the beginning of this year. No matter which family Brandon Lynes hails from, I will insist on impartiality on how this matter is dealt with.”
“What will happen to him, Professor Cantor?” I asked.
“I’m sorry, Ashley. I don’t know. It’s not in my hands. But I can tell you this, and this is strictly confidential and must remain so… From his attendance to his grades, Mr Lynes is sinking fast. He’s on course to fail at least two modules at present so I am going to recommend that Mr Lynes is to undertake counselling and that he should be withdrawn from his degree course for the rest of this academic year.”
“You’re going to kick him out?” I blurted in happiness. But I still wondered about the other consequences.
“No. I don’t have those powers, but as part of a committee, yes, we can make that happen and if he is to undertake counselling, the way he has treated you will have been acknowledged. It will be on paper as a college record. Which means Mr Lynes could never get away with that ever again.”
“I’d also suggest that the college owes Ashley some practical support to get over this trauma. Smiths should provide her with some safe accommodation free of charge while she gets back on her own two feet.”
Cantor made a whimsical face at his colleague. “Tom, don’t push it. But I will try.”
“Think about it, Ashley. If Professor Cantor is able to have Brandon Lynes withdrawn not only can he never feasibly harm you again… but all those threats about his influence will be meaningless. He will never have any influence at Smiths ever again.”
I smiled and I hoped it would come to pass as they both said. But revenge didn’t inspire me, not any more, not after seeing so many of my mistakes, and not while I was missing Cody as much as ever, knowing we were still so far apart…
As I stood to leave, Professor Cantor said. “Now, remember what I said.”
“Yes, I’ll remember, Professor.”
I left the small room, with Tom Ridgley following suit.
“I had to wait or he would have been suspicious,” he whispered, the door closed behind him.
“Cantor is a good friend to you, Tom.”
“Yes, yes he is. At least if I leave this place we can be together…” he smiled.
I tried my best to look happy about that. “I’ve got to go,” I said.
“Of course,” he said, beaming.
But the future for Professor Ridgley and me looked like a brief one. I wasn’t looking forward to breaking the news to him but I knew now more than ever that my heart was for one man. I hoped very much that Cantor and Ridgley could force the Dean to remove Brandon from the college, but I still doubted they could. I don’t think Cantor was
“Ashley, Professor Ridgley has spoken to me at length. He told me what occurred between you. He overstepped a serious boundary in making romantic overtures to you. He tells me nothing physical actually occurred between you, but the student body doesn’t seem to care about that. And neither does the Dean’s office. The Dean draws no distinction between romantic approaches and a sexual liaison in terms of the resulting discipline. Professor Ridgley has crossed a bridge he should not have crossed. I believe you have also made a mistake, Ashley, as you are not in the least a stupid girl. You knew what you were doing. But in this situation, Professor Ridgley bears the greatest responsibility. He will be suspended and the likelihood is that he will be forced to resign or he will eventually be dismissed. If you resign, Tom, at least you can get another job elsewhere.”
Ridgley stroked his chin. “Maybe,” he said quietly. “But what about Ashley and Brandon Lynes? Whatever happens here, we can’t let Lynes get away with what he’s doing to this young lady. It’s terrible, Professor. It’s a form of abuse.”
“Yes. I agree. That young man is out of control. I’ve noticed it for a while now. Speaking of spiralling, Ashley, Mr Lynes has been in a tailspin since the beginning of this year. No matter which family Brandon Lynes hails from, I will insist on impartiality on how this matter is dealt with.”
“What will happen to him, Professor Cantor?” I asked.
“I’m sorry, Ashley. I don’t know. It’s not in my hands. But I can tell you this, and this is strictly confidential and must remain so… From his attendance to his grades, Mr Lynes is sinking fast. He’s on course to fail at least two modules at present so I am going to recommend that Mr Lynes is to undertake counselling and that he should be withdrawn from his degree course for the rest of this academic year.”
“You’re going to kick him out?” I blurted in happiness. But I still wondered about the other consequences.
“No. I don’t have those powers, but as part of a committee, yes, we can make that happen and if he is to undertake counselling, the way he has treated you will have been acknowledged. It will be on paper as a college record. Which means Mr Lynes could never get away with that ever again.”
“I’d also suggest that the college owes Ashley some practical support to get over this trauma. Smiths should provide her with some safe accommodation free of charge while she gets back on her own two feet.”
Cantor made a whimsical face at his colleague. “Tom, don’t push it. But I will try.”
“Think about it, Ashley. If Professor Cantor is able to have Brandon Lynes withdrawn not only can he never feasibly harm you again… but all those threats about his influence will be meaningless. He will never have any influence at Smiths ever again.”
I smiled and I hoped it would come to pass as they both said. But revenge didn’t inspire me, not any more, not after seeing so many of my mistakes, and not while I was missing Cody as much as ever, knowing we were still so far apart…
As I stood to leave, Professor Cantor said. “Now, remember what I said.”
“Yes, I’ll remember, Professor.”
I left the small room, with Tom Ridgley following suit.
“I had to wait or he would have been suspicious,” he whispered, the door closed behind him.
“Cantor is a good friend to you, Tom.”
“Yes, yes he is. At least if I leave this place we can be together…” he smiled.
I tried my best to look happy about that. “I’ve got to go,” I said.
“Of course,” he said, beaming.
But the future for Professor Ridgley and me looked like a brief one. I wasn’t looking forward to breaking the news to him but I knew now more than ever that my heart was for one man. I hoped very much that Cantor and Ridgley could force the Dean to remove Brandon from the college, but I still doubted they could. I don’t think Cantor was
Similar Books
