“I earned that.”
“The same way you earned A’s in your other classes?”
“The exact same way. With my academic work.”
“I suppose the rest is just extra credit.” When Erin didn’t answer, Melinda continued. “I can’t fault you for trying. You get a good grade and land a hefty bank account to wipe out this debt. You’re clearly a smart girl to get this far.”
Horribly, she felt tears smart her eyes. She took a deep breath and forced them back.
“But now you can understand why I’m so worried about you. It’s my responsibility to look out for the students…and to report immoral behavior by our staff.”
“He didn’t do anything.”
She picked up the photograph and squinted. “Can he not get it up anymore? I wondered about that, after the accident. It does seem like a waste to have you all spread out and—”
“Just stop.” Her stomach rolled. She was going to be sick.
?
??Look, I don’t want to tell anyone. Realistically, the consequences will be more severe for him than for you. You’ll maybe have to stay another semester and retake that class. But him? Everyone would know. What little life he has left right now would be ruined.”
“What do you want?” she bit out.
“I don’t think Professor Morris needs to hear from you outside class again, don’t you think? Surely he has better things to do with his time.”
Like you? she wanted to ask. But she couldn’t. It wasn’t funny. The joke was on her. Because Blake really could do anything and anyone. Whereas she was held hostage in this goddamned office. Whereas she had made all these goddamned plans to be successful and rich so that no one could push her around, yet here she was. Being pushed around. Weak. Helpless.
Melinda kept talking, but Erin could no longer hear her. She had mentally checked out, and besides, she already knew the gist of the message. Go away. You’re not wanted. You’re not good enough. The rushing sound in her ears was the same as when she’d been at her boyfriend’s house. When his parents had cut her down over the soup course and told her she wasn’t good enough then either.
After, she stumbled down the hall into her advisor’s office.
Dr. Miller frowned at her. “Is everything okay? You’re usually so punctual.”
She just shook her head, at a loss. Relief washed through her when he took his seat behind his desk. Maybe she could go through the motions and make it through this meeting.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, Erin. We’ve talked about your work in-depth, and you know I’m very impressed. But I’ve also discussed it with one of the committee members and they’ve brought up some concerns…”
Oh God. She was completely sure who that committee member was. She fumbled through the questions, on the defensive as she countered multiple arguments against her work. Some of them were legitimate concerns, weaknesses that she’d already addressed or had noted to revisit. Others were bogus, but she wasn’t sure she was making a good case for herself anyway.
This wasn’t the actual defense in front of the committee, but how much worse would that be? Dr. Miller already thought she was smart, that much was clear from the way he spoke to her. As if he was truly curious about her answers. It wouldn’t be that way in front of the committee, with Melinda there. Who knew how far she’d gone to shore up support with the other committee members either? At the end of the two hours, an hour longer than they usually met, the best thing she could say about it was that she hadn’t thrown up.
He took off his glasses. “There’s one last thing. I really shouldn’t even tell you this, but I like you, Erin. I think you have promise. So I’m making an exception. There’s also been an accusation of plagiarism.”
The air felt too thin. She was dizzy from it, nauseous. “What?”
“It hasn’t been substantiated, and nothing will happen unless it is. But if there’s anything you want to tell me, now’s the time.”
Oh God, this was a nightmare. A true nightmare. “No. I came up with this, all of it. The only references I used are listed here.”
He studied her for long minutes. Finally he nodded. “Then there shouldn’t be a problem. I must admit, I was skeptical that you would do such a thing.”
“I would never.”
“No.” He seemed thoughtful. “I don’t think you would.”
“Please, what’s going to happen?”
“Quite frankly, if this situation is what I think it is, nothing. The only way the committee would act is if there’s clear proof. Generally that is provided at the time the accusation is made.”