Page 74 of Troy Story
Her gut tightened. If she let him carry out his scheme, he’d probably get away with it. Even if the Germans suspected his find, even if they insisted on comparing his tablet to the fragment they’d found, they’d still have no proof that he’d taken the tablet from their site.
If she kept quiet, no one else would know what he’d done.
But she’d know. And if Stuart ever discovered the truth, he’d be appalled.
“No. I have to tell Stuart.”
Dr. Hughes advanced toward her. “I didn’t want to threaten you, but you haven’t left me much choice.”
She clenched her fists, hoping to hide the rush of fear surging through her. Even with her rudimentary knowledge of self-defense, he was easily a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier than her. “Don’t touch me, you bastard.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. I know better than to touch a graduate student. But apparently, Stuart didn’t get the memo.”
A chill ran through her. “What are you talking about?”
He leaned in closer, giving off the rank aroma of stale sweat. “Were you aware the university’s code of conduct forbids professors from engaging in sexual relations with their students?”
She backed away, only to bump up against the side of the bed. “I’m not one of Stuart’s grad students.”
“That’s right, you’re at Harvard. A legacy, if I’m not mistaken. Over the years, I’m sure your parents have been generous donors. How else could you have gotten in?” He gave a barbed laugh. “As much as I loathe your mother, I can’t help but pity her. Having a daughter who’s not cut out for academia must be a grave disappointment.”
Two weeks ago, his words would have wounded her, tapping into her deepest insecurities. Not anymore. “For your information, I’m dropping out of grad school.”
“That’s even more pathetic. But you’re a studentnow, and that’s what matters. I’m assuming that Stuart, for all his spreadsheets and rules, didn’t bother to read the updated code of conduct. The university amended it last year after a professor made the mistake of screwing a grad student who was working on his dig.”
“You?” She wouldn’t put anything past him.
“No. A colleague of mine had an affair with a student from Yale when they were excavating in Belize. Big mistake. After he broke things off, she accused him of sexual harassment. Since then, the rules were changed to prevent it from happening again.Allstudents are off-limits, regardless of where they’re from.”
Fuck.Had Stuart known about this? When he’d first talked to her about the dig, he’d mentioned dealing with a mountain of paperwork. Since he’d been so busy packing up to move to Boston, she’d told him not to worry about it. For once in his life, he’d failed to read the small print, and his lapse had come back to bite him in the ass.
She tried to mask her anguish, but her voice came out wobbly. “Wh…what happened between me and Stuart was entirely consensual.”
“Was it? I know the two of you stole a bottle of wine from my room. Who’s to say he didn’t get you drunk and take advantage?” He crossed his arms. “In six hours, Dr. Valeria Fiorelli, the chair of the Classics Department, will be in her office. She doesn’t look kindly on issues of sexual harassment. I could call her then and report Stuart’s infraction. Or…”
“Or what?”
“Or I could let it go.”
Dusty clutched her stomach, fighting off a wave of nausea. It didn’t matter that she’d been a willing partner. That she loved Stuart. This could destroy him.
Shit.Why hadn’t they waited until Istanbul to have sex?
Because you both wanted it. And you didn’t know any better.
Ignorance was no excuse. They’d still broken the rules and, in doing so, endangered Stuart’s career.
“Are we done here?” Dr. Hughes said. “Because I’d like you to leave my room.”
Without saying a word, she followed him out. He shut the door firmly behind them.
“For the time being, why not make yourself useful?” he said. “Get a little work done. Then, when the others come back, you can tell them you’ve recovered from your upset stomach.”
She was about to retreat to the lab and take refuge in her drawings, but she stopped herself.
What was she doing? She couldn’t let him get away with this. And she couldn’t lie to Stuart. The secret would eat away at her forever.
She took a deep breath, bracing herself for his wrath. “No. Do your worst, but I can’t keep this quiet.”
