Author's note: Please let me know of any factual or grammatical errors. Thanks for reading, and more chapters to come if desired. Thank you!
Everyone loved good gossip. Hunt's reveal at Bianca's probation hearing was everything the media could ask for and more.
"Retired famed director Thomas hunt involved with student"
"Up-and-coming professional caught with professor"
"Rising star caught in double relationship with Thomas Hunt and Chris Winters"
Clearly, the online headlines were lacking in creativity.
It wasn't even a day before both of us received a phone call detailing when we were to attend a meeting with the President of the university and the dean for misconduct. The phone calls came while we were lying down on his sofa, wrapped in each other's arms and staring at the ceiling above us. His came first.
He didn't move at first, just took a glance at his phone vibrating on the coffee table before looking at me with a worried expression on his face. I nodded gently for him, encouraging him to take the call. Not answering would look suspicious. Closing his eyes and pressing his fingers to his temples, he sat up and picked up his phone, accepting the call.
"Hello, this is Thomas Hunt. Ah, yes, I was expecting this phone call."
I tried leaning my head closer to hear what the other person was saying, but he moved away from me with a wary glance.
I leaned away from him and buried my face into the nearest pillow, trying to slow my breathing. I felt his warm hand gently rubbing my back as he spoke.
"Yes, I understand the implications surrounding Ms. Stone's accusations. Yes, I will be able to attend a hearing addressing these accusations. One week? Yes, I will make myself available. Suspension?"
That was when I heard his voice crack in the slightest, almost unnoticeable to the caller. I sat up and looked at him, my lips curving down into a frown.
"While I do understand the implications of the accusations, I am not certain why it is necessary for my suspension from teaching until the hearing-. You're saying the media is portraying me as a sex-crazed student-seducing man who sleeps with young and giving away perfect grades as a result, correct? And since when has the media been correct in what they publish?"
"Seeing as you've been secretly dating one of your students for who knows how long, I wouldn't contest the media at this point," I heard from the phone again. When he noticed that it was easier to eavesdrop, he moved away again.
"I see. Then my credibility is no longer worth acknowledging. If I have no other choice than to accept the suspension, if there is nothing else to discuss, does this conclude the phone call? Yes, I will check my email for a written transcript of these guidelines before the hearing. Yes, thank you. Goodbye."
He turned to look at me and for the first time since he turned the tables on Bianca today, I saw the worry in his eyes. I saw his fears coming true, that we wouldn't make it out alive together, but would be ripped apart piece by piece not only by the media, but also by his own colleagues and institution.
"They want us to stay separated until the hearing, don't they?" I asked him, reaching forward to take his hand. He nodded silently, closing his eyes and using his free hand to rub his temples again. I could feel tears welling in my eyes and tried to will them back, but all I could see was the fear in his eyes as the word "suspension" left his lips. We wouldn't even be able to have each other for support while we waited.
Before I could speak again, I heard my phone vibrating on the table next, and a cold shiver ran through my body. I looked at him with my eyes wide, and he nodded again towards my phone. Saying a silent prayer, I picked up and took a deep breath before answering.
"Hello?"
"Is this Lena Solorio?" an official-sounding voice asked. It wasn't Professor Singh, but a male voice.
"This is her," I answered.
"This is President Robert Avery of Hollywood University. We need to discuss the accusations made against yourself and Professor Hunt today at Ms. Bianca Stone's hearing. Are you available now?"
The phone call lasted an hour.
When it was finally over, I tipped my head back and let myself cry softly, no longer able to hold back my own fears now that they had been confirmed through the media and the President himself.
He wrapped his arms around me and held me to his chest, and I curled up into a ball on his lap. "Secrets never stay hidden for long," I thought to myself as I cried into his chest. It wasn't long before I felt tears hitting the top of my head as well.