d forward in the hea

r stomach churned. The smell of the cab's cheap pine air freshener mixed with

ht. She dug into her handbag and pu

to steady them. She began drafting an email to the university administr

es with the Reeves family, Bryon would

umanities Department at Northbridge University. Bren

g the torn collar of her blouse, a

stairwell onto the third

ll next to her office door. He was stari

his head up. He shoved his phone in

his voice echoing in the quiet hallway. "You didn

t his usual aftershave. It was a heavy, sweet floral perfume. Th

t washed over her. Sh

ing distance between t

fingers dug into her coat. "Don't give me that attitude. Do you know how

Then she looked up into his ey

me, Emery.

early not expecting this. "

ng her arm out of his grip. "I am sick of your

space. "You think you can just dump me? My mother is the principal of this universi

her pocket. She unlocked the door, stepped inside, a

ng echoed i

r dead phone into the charger. She dropped

red in. Fourteen missed calls. Twelve of them w

She picked up the phone and

es your presence in her office immediate

nal blazer and a clean white shirt she kept for emergencies. She quickly ch

her resignation letter and walk

vy oak double doors of

She wore a sharp designer suit. Her eyes, identica

p a thick folder and tossed it onto the cent

iss Vincent," Evonne said, her voice dripping

mpossible. My academic paper was just published in a top

et's stop pretending. Emery deserves a woman from a proper family. Not an orpha

stepped forward and placed her resignation lett

tly steady. "And to avoid any further conflict of interest, I am res

he name 'Reeves', the color drained from her face

thing!" Evonne's voic

confused by th

s clicking sharply against the hardwood

sed, her eyes wide with desperation and anger. "He heavily implied that a massive, multi-million dollar investment for the new science building is on the table, provi

hest felt tight, as if invisibl

yo

ready mad

ened, pointing a manicured finger at Brenda's chest, "I will personally see to

ply into her palms that the ski

roy her career. The career she had bled for to escape the povert

The humiliation burned

p the resignation letter. She folde

nue tutoring Aiden. But I want a written guarantee, signed

emand, but she nodded sharply. "

n building with the signed document in her hand. The cris

She blocked Emery's numb

own, it buzzed. A text mess

:00 PM tonight.

nature. There di

ingers gripped the edges of the ph