“Professor Wyles?” Elliot’s back snaps straight when the dean’s assistant leans her head into the outer office and calls his name. “Dean Miller will see you now.”
We all stand up and she studies us, her eyes widening when they land on Gabe. “I’m sorry; I wasn’t aware there was going to be an extra guest.”
Gabe smiles and winks at her, exuding the golden retriever charm that made him billions. “Let’s not tell the dean, okay? I’m a surprise.”
She nods vigorously. “Of course, Mr. Sullivan. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to see you.”
“I’ll bet he will,” I mutter as she leads us into the dean’s office. “Asshole.”
Elliot snickers and winks at me, setting a hand on my lower back as we walk into the dean’s office, and she closes the door behind us.
The office is a massive affair, full of dark wood, oriental rugs, and the kind of heavy, pretentious furniture that’s meant to sayavery important person works here, but really it just looks ridiculous in the modern building. Dean Miller’s eyes are focused on his computer in a realyou’ll wait for me until I’m good and readypower move, which means he hasn’t noticed Gabe standing here yet.
After a few seconds, Gabe seems to decide enough is enough. “We’re not interrupting you, are we?” he says.
Dean Miller’s head snaps up so quickly I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get whiplash, and his wide-eyed expression and the way he shoots to his feet like he’s in the presence of royalty have satisfaction rolling through me.That’s right, asshole. My brother is more important than you’ll ever be.
“Mr. Sullivan,” he splutters, waving his hands like he has no idea what to do with them. “To what do we owe this honor?” He hustles around his desk, coming at Gabe with an extendedhand that Gabe ignores entirely. Savage. “If you could just give me a minute. I have some business to attend to with Professor Wyles and Amelia, and then I would be just thrilled to show you all the exciting things we have going on in the computer science department.”
“I don’t believe I will give you a minute, no,” Gabe says, crossing his arms and standing to his full height, eyes never leaving Dean Miller’s. “And I assure you that any business you have with Professor Wyles and Amelia is very much my business too.”
Dean Miller laughs nervously, looking from Gabe to Elliot and me. “Well now, I don’t see how that can be true.”
Gabe smiles casually. “Don’t you?”
“Get him, Gabe,” Elliot mumbles, and I huff out a quiet laugh, knowing whatever is about to happen is worth the price of admission.
Dean Miller opens his mouth then closes it again, his head continuing to swivel between the three of us as if he’s trying to see where the attack is coming from but can’t quite figure it out. “Maybe we should all sit down.”
Gabe shakes his head, the smile never leaving his face. “I don’t think that will be necessary. We won’t be here long. It’s come to my attention that you have some sort of problem involving Professor Wyles and my sister. Seems to me you called them in here to threaten Elliot’s job and Amelia’s place in the PhD program. Is that correct?”
“Well, I’m not sure if you’re aware, Mr. Sullivan, but they violated the school’s very strict non-fraternization policy by carrying on a relationship while Professor Wyles was serving as Amelia’s teacher and her research advisor. It impedes the learning process that we value here at MassTech, and that simply can’t go unchecked.”
“Can’t it?” Gabe asks casually. “I mean, they’re both consenting adults. Professor Wyles has a stellar reputation as a professor and a researcher, and Amelia has had nothing but glowing evaluations from every professor she has worked with this semester. Doesn’t seem like their relationship is impeding anything at all.”
Dean Miller’s face turns red, and he clenches his fists at his sides. “Professors cannot date students,” he says through clenched teeth. “Professor Wyles violated that rule, so he is subject to discipline and termination.”
Gabe sucks air through his teeth, shaking his head. “You know, your argument here would be so much more compelling if it weren’t for your penchant to prey just a little too hard on the undergrads, Dean Miller.”
What. The. Fuck.
I glance at Elliot and see the same shocked expression on his face that I know is on my own.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Dean Miller splutters, a vein in his forehead starting to pulse.
Gabe squares his shoulders, staring down the dean. “Oh, I think I do. Apparently there have been rumblings about you for years. So many that it took me approximately five minutes of digging yesterday to hear them myself. You like them young. Not young enough to break any actual laws but too fucking young. I was sure I would find a million instances of you being a total fucking asshole, but instead I discovered you’re a goddamn predator, and that stops now.”
Gabe gives the dean an intense look, and if I wasn’t so gobsmacked by what I was hearing, I would laugh at the sweat beading on Dean Miller’s brow and the way he takes a full step back, as if distance can save him from Gabe’s words.
“Effective yesterday at noon, I officially accepted the seat on the MassTech board of trustees that they have been offering tome for, oh, five or so years now. An emergency meeting was convened two hours later, and you have been officially relieved of your duties. The school has retained the services of an independent investigative firm to look into your behavior during your tenure as dean of the College of Computing and will be involving law enforcement to the extent necessary. An interim dean has been appointed effective immediately, and security is outside this office right now to walk your ass out of here. Someone will send your things.” Gabe glances around the tacky office with a dismissive look on his face. “Such as they are.”
“You can’t do this,” Dean Miller says, his eyes darting wildly around the room.
Gabe just smiles. “Oh, I assure you, I can, and I did. You threatened my family, James. No one does that and comes out unscathed. You’re out. Elliot will hold his tenure here at MassTech for as long as he wants it, and my sister can affiliate herself with this university in any capacity she wants, although I think she has something else in mind, and it’s going to be amazing.”
Gabe turns and winks at me, and my heart just explodes with love for my brother. For his love for his family, his goodness, and his core of absolute gooey sweetness. He’s the best man I’ve ever known. Well, one of the best men. I glance over at Elliot, and he’s already looking at me, eyes full of love. I reach out and take his hand, and he laces our fingers together, our skin warming where it touches.
“Now, if we’re done here, my family and I have some places to be. It’s been less than a pleasure speaking to you, James. I hope you have the day you deserve.”
