His smile didn’t falter. “I’m glad you asked… I’m also glad that you obviously didn’t glance through the university’s rules and regulations page before you signed your contract. You see, this university is one of the few that maintain a rescinding policy. Meaning that if any alumni are caught doing anything illegal or dishonorable in any way, the university maintains the right to rescind the degree that was earned.”
“I hardly think having a relationship with your professor qualifies as illegal or dishonorable,” I spat.
“No, but sleeping your way to an A grade is considered dishonorable.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“That’s what I’ll make is sound like,” Jason said. “And since my father has made generous donations to this university, I know that many will be inclined to believe me. Even if she keeps her degree it won’t matter… my father is a powerful man. He has made careers and he has broken them. If you want Natalie to be a piranha in the job market, then you can go ahead and be bull headed about this.”
He had covered his bases, and I felt any semblance of control I thought I had slipped from my grasp. Jason seemed to sense the defeat on my shoulders because his smile grew wider.
“I take it we have a deal?” he asked.
I practically had to choke the words from my mouth. “Fine,” I barked.
“Not a very gracious acceptance, but I’ll take it.” He smiled. “Oh, and one more thing.”
“What now?”
“Make it believable. You have to make it seem like you’re not interested in her anymore,” Jason said. “I don’t want her suspecting that anyone else is involved. She has to believe that you don’t care about the relationship anymore. Understood?”
“Get out of my fucking office.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Jason smiled. He stood up slowly and headed towards the door.
“Jason?” I said, and he stopped in his tracks.
“Yes?”
“You were following us the night of Natalie’s birthday, weren’t you?”
“Yes,” he replied, without shame.
“I have a condition, too,” I said, choking back my anger. “I’ll keep to your twisted deal on one condition. I don’t ever want to see your face again. And if I do, rest assured, I’m going to punch the living shit out of you.”
Jason looked amused. “What makes you think I’ll ever need to see or speak to you again after this?”
With that, he turned and walked out of my office. I reached for my phone, and my eyes fell immediately to my open picture library. Natalie stared out at me, and I looked at her face and shook my head.
“I’m sorry,” I said to her, knowing that I could never give her the explanation she would expect. “I’m so sorry.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Natalie
Missy was sitting at her desk when I walked in. She whirled around to greet me, and I could tell from her expression that she was looking for a distraction.
“Cramming, are you?” I asked.
“Urgh…my last final is two days from now, and I’m so over it,” she groaned. “What about you?”
“Just finished my last final,” I glowed. “So, I’m free as a bird!”
“Lucky bitch,” she complained. “It feels as though you’ve got the lion’s share of the luck these days.”
I laughed. “Don’t say that, what about Mitch?”
Missy shrugged.