“They don’t think you date?” I say, suddenly irritated that people are reacting weirdly around her, too.
“I guess it was just unexpected. Kind of a shock, maybe?”
What could be so shocking about her behavior? Is there a morality clause for her conduct? But what kind of morality clause could be applied to a sex toy company CEO?
“Everyone at the company is super excited about me moving on. I guess they don’t like Todd much.”
I grunt my approval. At least they have good taste in some areas, I decide, recalling the purple dick in the lobby.
“So, it didn’t get you into trouble with anybody, right? You don’t have a girlfriend or anything?”
Her concern is cute, but a bit late. “I wouldn’t have done it if I were in a relationship.”
She sighs. “Oh, good.”
For some bizarre reason, it makes me wonder what kind of sigh she’d make in bed. Blood starts to heat and flows in the wrong direction.
I need you up here, in my brain. Not down there.
But, like water, my blood finds its own level and the fabric over my crotch begins to rise. Great.
“The only thing that’s happened so far is Charles conveying his expectations for the case,” I add, irritated at my body’s reaction.
“Such as?”
“Just some departmental issues.”
“It would help if we told everyone the truth, wouldn’t it?” she asks tentatively.
“Probably.”
“What do you want to tell people?”
If this were up to me, I’d just announce that the whole thing was a farce. But this affects Sierra too. The video starts with Todd calling her frigid. And the idiot said it loudly enough that the phone caught it.
Asshole.
I should’ve taunted him until he threw a punch. That way, he could have acquired some bruises that wouldn’t melt off his oily face. “Since I started it and one of Todd’s students spread it, perhaps you should have a say on how you want to end the rumor.”
“Oh.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Do you want to meet and discuss? I have meetings all day today, but I’ll be done by six.”
“All right. Where?”
“Not my office. The gossip would never die.”
And cafés in the area are out of question, since that’s where my caffeine-addicted students hang out. “I can be in my office. You can use the faculty parking lot if you come after six.”
The kids won’t be hanging out that late in Fullilove Hall. They’ll be busy thinking about dinner or daydreaming about the upcoming mixer.
“Um. My car’s kind of noticeable. I drive a red Ferrari.”
At least she’s smart enough to bring that up now. Somebody would definitely notice a red Ferrari and want to know whom it belonged to. I don’t even drive my Tesla to work.
“How about my place? It isn’t that far from campus,” she says.
Her place feels a bit too personal. “A woman living alone should take more precautions. I could be a serial killer.”
She laughs. “Do serial killers generally announce that they’re serial killers before the fact?”
“The smarter ones probably do. Creates a false sense of security.”
“Well, I’ll take my chances. I have attack hamsters to defend my honor. And I trust you.”
Why do I like hearing that so much?
She continues, “Now give me your cell phone number so I can text you the address.”