Page 84 of Bachelor

“If this is about Christian Brockford, I’ve heard about your troubles with him and the university is taking the necessary steps to—”

“Did you fire Professor Rhys Ellis?”

He stared at me for a moment, then slowly closed his laptop and knitted his hands over the top of it.

“No, I did not.”

I swallowed hard. “Then where is he?”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t keep active tabs on this institution’s professors at all times.”

“Did he come here to speak to you?” My mouth was as dry as sandpaper as I waited for his answer.

“What does this pertain to, Ms. Dahl? Shouldn’t you be out celebrating the end of Dead Week?”

I ground my teeth. “Did he come here and tell you about us, and then you told him to leave campus?”

He straightened and looked down his nose at me. “Aboutus?”

“Professor Ellis and I are in a romantic relationship. We’re not breaking any rules.”

“I see.” He nodded, but his expression remained neutral and hard to read as he peered at me from behind his glasses. “Why would I have fired him for this?”

“I don’t know. He said he was going to talk to the administration about it today but apparently he left last night, so I assumed something happened.”

“I did receive his leave request in my inbox this morning, forwarded from his dean.” He opened his laptop. “Well, it was unnecessary to tell me as such, Ms. Dahl. My secretary can direct you to the proper channels when it comes to navigating human resources about your relationship with Professor Ellis. There’s some paperwork, of course, but there’s nothing we can do about it now with the administration leaving for their break and campus shutting down for the week. Once the new quarter begins, you and Professor Ellis can inform HR about the relationship.” He looked back down at his laptop. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“N-no,” I stammered, stunned.

“Then have a good day, Ms. Dahl. Enjoy your break.”

I turned on my heel and walked out of his office without another word, my heart hammering against my ribs.

I made it to my apartment building without remembering anything about the walk there, and found myself pounding on Jessica’s door before reality came crashing down around me.

“Whit, what’s the matter?” she asked as she ushered me inside.

“I just told the Chancellor about me and Rhys,” I said, barely able to meet her eyes. “But Rhys is gone, Jessica. I have no idea where he is.”

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