Xavier

87

Xaviers POV

I sighed heavily and rubbed my sweaty palms onto my pant legs. I tried my best to get my nerves under control as I approached Dean Stavros' office door. Before knocking I took one last deep breath and raised my fist.

The door swung open almost instantaneously. "Xavier! I'm so glad you could make it!" He cheered. The man was always so happy. Nothing under any circumstances could stop that. Not even the topic of this meeting.

Despite the Ray of sunshine in front of me the president of the university, Angela dickens, was like a storm cloud. The frown on her face seemed even more pronounced because of the shade of red painted across her thin lips. Her frown lines eminent and the wrinkles in her forehead pronounced.

Her dark hair was beginning to grey like her eyes. "I'm sorry that we have to be meeting under these circumstances, Xavier. But something quite disturbing came across our desks early last week. We weren't sure how to go about it at the time which is why we are meeting with you now." John said whilst he rounded his desk.

I stepped into the office and shut the door behind me before sitting beside Angela. I offered her a smile but she didn't return it. She nodded as her acknowledgement. "This was slid under my door the other day."

I took the Manila folder that John handed to me over the desk. When I looked inside I found a photo of Luna and I standing outside of her apartment building. We were only talking. But then there was another picture of her getting into my car in the parking garage from a few weeks ago. The letter that came along with it was your usual run of the mill letter of manipulation.

Cornell's finest Professor and honors student. I believe that she may be coercing him into a relationship. For his safety I urge you to investigate.

E

My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. Coercing me???

Who the hell would send this? "Xavier can you explain these pictures and this letter? We take these accusations very seriously." Angela said in her stern voice. She was much more intimidating than John.

I assessed the pictures further and analyzed the clothes she was wearing. It was from the day I had to drop her off home. Her car was conveniently at the dealer getting fixed.

"I gave her a ride home because her car was in the shop. Nothing inappropriate happened. I just felt bad for having her working so late on a project for me. It was freezing and I wanted to be sure she got home safe. I recognize this outfit, she told me she accidentally wore her roommates jacket." I explained.

"And how do you explain the letter?" John asked.

"Genesis and I are not seeing each other romantically. I actually think she's dating someone. Mason or Marvin or something like that. She mentioned him looking for mentoring. She isn't coercing me into anything, I don't even think she's capable of that." I said.

I didn't think before mentioning Mason. I just did. The little shit would have to help us out. "We thought so. We just wanted to talk to you about it first.  So you've never seen her outside of this professional setting except when you took her home?" John asked.

"She and I grabbed coffee on campus a few times while discussing some of my case studies. Other than that we've never spoken out of turn. We have a strictly professional relationship. She's like a mentee of mine, I could never see her like that. These photos are simply circumstantial and taken out of context."

And they weren't incriminating. "You're sounding more like a lawyer." John laughed.

"I feel like I have to defend myself here. This could get me fired. I would never."

"Is it true that you have not renewed your contract with us?"

"Yes, I haven't. I planned on making this semester my last. I am going back to practicing full time because of the demands of my clients. They need me traveling and free to come when they need legal aid." I explained.

"Okay, we understand Xavier. I know this is stressful. The university doesn't feel it necessary to undergo an entire investigation. We'll just speak to Ms. Genesis and this boyfriend of hers." Angela told me.

I nodded silently. "For now we're done here." She added.

"Okay, thank you for seeing me."

When I left that office the weight on my chest only lifted slightly. Based on the questions they were asking I can't tell if they were initially going to believe me. But I think I got John. I just need Luna to appeal to Angela. I had no doubt that she could. With that face and those eyes, she could melt anyone. Even Angela.

As i made my way back to my own office I passed by Jordan's. I hadn't spoken to him today but right now I needed his voice of reasoning.

I needed to talk to him about this. I took a few steps back and knocked on his door. He had a rectangular window so I could see inside. It was just a matter of getting his attention. He looked up from his documents and waved me in with a smile. "What's up bro. What are you doing in this building?" He asked.

"I just left a meeting with the Dean...about Luna."

His smile quickly faded and he sighed. "Let me grab my coat."

I nodded. Once he got his jacket on he and I walked side by side out of the building in silence. "You didn't end it when I told you to did you?" He asked once we had walked far enough away from the building. "No." I mumbled.

"Damn it Xavier. It better had been worth it."

It was. But I didn't tell him that. "What happened?"

"Someone claimed that we were together. But I explained very thoroughly that we aren't."

"I told you something like this could happen man. You know what'll happen if they don't believe you?!"

"Yes I know."

"Do you care?"

"Yes I just...care about her more." I shrugged as we continued to walk. "Xavier this isn't going to end well if you keep this up. You told me you were going to be done after this semester. Why not just take a break until the semester is over? You can't wait two months?"

"I can I just don't want to have to do that. We'll still have to do things low key because I can't just up and pop out dating her. That'll just prove their suspicions." I lowered my voice to a whisper when we passed by another professor. Save for him there was no one else outside and we were at the edge of campus.

"Well you should. Some time away might clear your head because it's clear that this girl is clouding your judgement. If you don't want to do it for the sake of your own reputation, do it for the sake of hers. Not only that but for the sake of how your relationship will affect her in the long run. You two might think this is fun now. The sneaking around. But she's in the best years of her life. Ten years down the road say you two are still together. She may resent you for having to keep things hidden for so long. With time away from you she'd have the chance to think about all that." He ranted.

He was right. "I get it. I do."

"If you want what's best for her then you'll wait this out. It'll be good to Let her have this time to think about if this is what she really wants and if this is what you really want. You don't have to take my advice about anything else. But Xavier hear me when I say they will be watching you two with a magnifying glass even if they believe you. You gotta tighten up and be careful."