“Yes?”
“Professor Emerson, there is a woman here who says that she needs to see you.”
“Her name?”
“Paulina Gruscheva.”
Gabriel cursed. “Tell her to go away.”
The security guard lowered his voice. “Of course, Professor. But you should know that she seems upset. And she’s using your name rather loudly.”
“Fine,” he spat. “Tell her I’ll be right there.”
Gabriel grabbed his keys and strode out of the apartment heading toward the elevator, cursing.
Chapter 17
With the relief that an early acceptance to Harvard brought, Julia was able to redouble her efforts on her thesis. When she and Gabriel were apart, she worked tirelessly, spending hours upon hours in the library or at her apartment writing.
As a reward, Gabriel decided to whisk her away to Belize for Valentine’s weekend. It was a celebration of love, Julia’s acceptance to Harvard, and other things that Gabriel was not yet ready to share.
On the day of their departure, Julia stood on the front porch of her building, checking her mailbox. She found a letter from Harvard, which she opened immediately. It was a formal offer of admission to the doctoral program, and it included the terms of her conditional acceptance and her fellowship.
She also found a business sized envelope with the University of Toronto insignia on it. The words Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies were printed above the return address. She quickly ripped open the envelope and read its contents. Then she dragged her luggage to Bloor Street, flagging a cab to Gabriel’s condominium.
She flew into the lobby, past the security guards, and into the elevator that would take her to his floor. Tripping down the hall, she let herself in with her key.
“Darling?” Gabriel walked to the front door with a smile. “You’re early. I’m flattered that you couldn’t stay away from me.”
She batted away his outstretched arms and shoved one of the letters into his hand.
“What’s this?”
He glanced down at the letter.
February 5, 2010
Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies
University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada
Dear Miss Julianne Mitchell,
A complaint has been filed in our office alleging that you have violated the University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. In conjunction with this complaint, you are requested to appear in person at the Dean’s office on February 19, 2010, for a preliminary interview. The Chair of Italian Studies, Professor Jeremy Martin, will also be in attendance.
You may bring an individual with you to this meeting. This individual may be a representative of the Graduate Student Association, a family member or friend, or an attorney.
This meeting is for information purposes only and does not constitute a hearing, nor has the Dean’s office taken any position on the legitimacy of the complaint.
Please confirm with this office that you have received this letter and that you will be attending this meeting. If you do not attend, an investigation into the complaint will begin automatically.
Yours very truly,
David Aras, PhD
Dean of Graduate Studies
Gabriel looked down into Julia’s panicked eyes and tried to find the words to reassure her that she had nothing to worry about—but he couldn’t.
Chapter 18
Julia saw fear flash across Gabriel’s eyes, but only for an instant. There was nothing more terrifying to her than the sight of Gabriel’s fear.
He helped her take off her coat and urged her to sit down in the red chair next to the fireplace. Flipping a switch, which caused the flames to ignite, he walked to the other room. Julia leaned back in the chair and covered her face with her hands.
“Drink this.” He nudged her hand with a glass.
“What is it?”
“Laphroaig. Scotch.”
“You know I don’t like that stuff.”
“One swallow, just to take the edge off.”
She tipped the crystal glass to her lips and drank, feeling the burn of the alcohol in her mouth and throat. Coughing wildly, she handed the glass back. He downed the rest of the Scotch and sat on the sofa opposite her.
“What’s the ‘Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters’?” she asked.
“It’s the policy that governs any kind of scholastic infraction—cheating, plagiarism, fraud, etc.”
“Why would someone report me for academic fraud?”
Gabriel scrubbed at his face. “I have no idea.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course! You think I’d keep this from you?”
“You’ve been keeping something from me. That night you were working late in your office, you wouldn’t tell me what you were—”
“I was working on a job application,” he interrupted. “Greg Matthews called me the night that you and I went to Auberge for dinner. He invited me to apply for an endowed chair but told me they needed my portfolio right away. Preparing it took longer than I expected.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He averted his eyes. “I didn’t want you to get your hopes up. The chances of me getting that job are slim. I’m not a full professor and without a doubt they’re recruiting senior people. But I had to try—for your sake.”
“I wish you’d told me. I imagined all kinds of things.”
His eyes flew to hers. “I thought you trusted me.”
“Of course I trust you. It’s the women around you I don’t trust.”
“I shouldn’t have kept my application a secret.” He shuffled his feet. “I didn’t want to disappoint you when I don’t get the position.”
“You aren’t going to disappoint me, Gabriel, unless you keep secrets from me.”
He grimaced and disappeared into the dining room. When he returned, he was sipping another finger’s worth of Scotch.
“I have a meeting with Jeremy this week. I could ask him about you.”
She shook her head. “You should stay out of this.”
“Do you have any idea what the complaint might be about?”
“I haven’t done anything but go to school and do my work since I got here. Except for having some conflict with Christa and that run in with Professor Pain—Professor Singer. Do you think that she…?”
Gabriel seemed to consider this possibility for a moment.
“I don’t think so. She was hauled in front of a Judicial Committee last year when Paul Norris filed a complaint. I’m sure she wouldn’t want to appear in front of them again. She isn’t one of your instructors, so how would she know about your academic work?”
“She wouldn’t.” Julia paused and a look of horror came over her pretty face. “You don’t think Katherine Picton reported me for something?”
“No. She wouldn’t do that without confronting you first. And she’d call me, as a courtesy.”
“What are the penalties for academic infractions?”
“It depends on the severity of the offense. They could reprimand you or give you a zero on an assignment or in a course. In extreme circumstances, they can expel you.”
Julia inhaled shakily. If she were expelled, she wouldn’t be completing her MA. And that would mean that Harvard…
Gabriel fixed his gaze on her. “Would Paul do this?”
“No. He wants to help me, not hurt me.”
“Angelfucker,” Gabriel muttered.
“What about Christa?”
He shifted against the leather of the sofa. “It’s possible.”
Julia’s eyes narrowed. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“You already know she’s a troublemaker.”
“What’s going on with Christa, Gabriel? Tell me.”
He stood up and began pacing in front of the fireplace. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Julia grabbed the Dean’s letter and walked to the front hall.
“Wait, what are you doing?” He jogged after her.
“I warned you not to lie to me. I guess I should have been more specific and told you not to be evasive, either.” She retrieved her coat from the hall closet, pulling it on hastily.
“Don’t leave.”
She looked up at him, eyes blazing. “Then tell me about Christa.”
He pressed the heels of his hands over his eyes. “Fine.”
Gabriel helped her take off her coat and escorted her back to the living room. She refused to sit down, choosing rather to stand in front of the fire, arms crossed.
“Is Christa blackmailing you? Is that why you approved her thesis proposal?”
“Not exactly.”
“Spit it out, Gabriel.”
He turned away from her, looking out the window at the Toronto skyline. “Christa Peterson has accused me of sexual harassment.”
Chapter 19
Julia stared at Gabriel, wide-eyed. “What?”
“Christa filed a complaint with the sexual harassment officer, who referred the file to Jeremy. That’s why I have to meet him this week.”
Shakily, Julia lowered herself to sit in the red velvet chair. “When did you find out?”
A muscle jumped in Gabriel’s angular jaw. “He called me a few days ago.”
“A few days ago?” She clenched her teeth. “How long were you going to wait before you told me?”