Gomez

ht' s office, my knuckles barely making a sound. A

me i

mmediately fell on the person sitting in the chair o

dy Ka

, I saw a flash of pure, unadulterated triumph in their depths, a smug, predatory glint.

dn' t greet me. He just slapped two bound papers dow

ngerously low. \"Perhaps one of you would care to e

sis. And another, with Kennedy' s nam

g between us, \"that academic dishonesty is the single greatest sin at this in

tely, her voice trembling artfully. She looked on the verge of t

olen and twisted into this nightmare. \"I didn't copy either,\" I said, my voic

a vein throbbing there. \"Then provide

nedy said quickly, her ey

the office doo

Ayers wa

of furniture, an insignificant object in the room. H

ire writing process. I saw her write every single draft.\" He paused, then his gaze finally, briefly, flickered to me,

was clear. Dev

ipped completely. Professor Albright looked at Branson, the business school prodigy, the heir to a global empir

beyond disappointed. I took you under my wing! I believed in you!

I wanted to shriek. You already took my scholarship. You took my dign

tain on her record, to ensure her path was flawless. And I was

inst the golden boy and his princess. I was already condemned. The

r Albright said, his voice calmer now, but la

e. He lectured me for what felt like an eternity, his words about integrity and honor wa

r academic misconduct will be pe

office like a zombie

against the corridor wal

"Why?\" The word was a dry, ragged tear

dy got a little too... inspired by the draft of your thesis she saw on my la

d tears, the culmination of a year's w

ill holding that infuriating, cold logic. \"And you... well. You' re already dealing with this vi

really matt

man being, finally shattered the last of my composure. A sound

ve any idea what you've done to me?\" Tea

atures. A slight frown creased his brow. He was used to my quiet compliance, my so

y arm. \"It' s a small thing. I' ll take you

were a hot poker, slapping

acking. \"You think dinner can fix this? I

y lungs burning. I had to get away from him, fr

I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking I was overreacting. He was thinking I was being difficult. After al

I' d cry it out an

lverized the last remaining atom o