Chapter 15
~
June
The day of the lunch arrived before I knew it, and I spent the entire build-up preparing for it. I had my portfolio, all the pertinent pieces of information Oren had mentioned, and a brief but thorough description of my work ethic and future goals all lined up.
I had my outfit planned out. I did a final “dress rehearsal” with Mads playing the interviewer. I was prepared.
Or, so I thought I was until I walked into the restaurant.
I’d been expecting Oren and his contact to be waiting for me at the assigned table, but what I had certainly not been expecting was to see Lucas and Ronan as well. I froze on my way to join them, suddenly unsure of what to do next.
Had I somehow fallen asleep and stepped into a nightmare?
Because what other possible explanation could there be for this?
I pictured a confrontation between the four of us, with the three men all demanding an explanation for the past few weeks.
After all… they weren’t just colleagues, they were actually friends. And I’d slept with all three of them.
Guilt and nervousness mixed together in an ungodly combination that almost made me turn around to leave. But then Oren spotted me and called me over, a beautiful but reserved smile on his face.
I continued the long journey to the table, still uncertain. “What are the two of you doing here?”
“Oren asked us to put in a good word for you,” Ronan answered. “Three recommendations are better than one, after all. Besides, I’d think that having a professor sing your praise who has more than just a few years of an established academic record would be a major boon.”
Oren rolled his eyes.
So they’d agreed to come with the intention to help me?
My brain was struggling to process that bit of information.
I hadn’t slept with them for the purpose of getting a leg-up in my career.
In fact, the whole networking thing started way before any of our relationships progressed to where they currently were.
But still, the thought of sharing a table with them again after everything that had happened still made me feel queasy. I was sick at the thought that my greed could end up costing me more than just my career.
“You look terrified,” Lucas said sympathetically, putting a hand on my shoulder and pulling back a chair for me to take a seat. “Nervous?”
“More than a little,” I confided, though it wasn’t about the actual meeting. Three pairs of eyes all watched me with equal levels of concern. My stomach twisted, and I hoped that they wouldn’t prod too much in case I ended up blurting out something that I shouldn’t.
“You’ve got absolutely nothing to be nervous about,” Ronan said soothingly. “We’ve all had first-hand experience of your work ethic in class.”
His wink created butterflies in my stomach but I pushed the rush away.
“I can’t think of another student who deserves this opportunity more than you,” Oren added.
He was better at hiding his feelings than even Ronan was—looking at him now, it was impossible to tell that we’d done everything we did in his office the other day.
He just looked at me like a professor who was proud of their student, his gentle praise lacking even a hint of innuendo.
But Lucas, his eyes were shining. They lingered on me long enough for heat to brush my cheeks and for me to worry that the other two might notice something was off. But all he offered was a light squeeze of my hand beneath the table.
Nothing sexual, just an offering of genuine comfort.
Despite the strangeness of the situation and the fact that I knew I’d have to come clean sooner rather than later, I couldn’t help but feel moved at this show of support from all three of them.
Sure, I’d fucked them. Multiple times.
But what existed between us didn’t feel like something cheap or tawdry, an autumn fling that would only last as long as the heat did. No, whatever this was, felt real. Which only amplified the confusion I was grappling with. But that I could deal with later. I had a singular goal right now.
“Ah, it appears I’m the last to arrive!” An unfamiliar voice drew all of our attention and I was startled to see William Johnson approach the table.
He was another professor at NEU who I knew vaguely, but I had never had any classes with him.
I also had no idea that he was the friend Oren had spoken of who had contacts with the recruitment board affiliated with Muller I spoke about what got me into urban development, how my passion for the field developed, walked him through the volunteer experience I’d picked up in my second year.
“Tell me, you come very highly recommended by Professor Blackwell as well. I’d love to know what specific research subject you’ve enjoyed most in your course?” Professor Johnson asked.
The smile on my face was sincere. “Definitely the housing and social equity section, but specifically the interaction with technological accessibility. What I hope to work towards one day is the redirecting of tech innovation to help enrich existing communities instead of eradicating them for the sake of tech.”
“That’s a rather ambitious goal,” Professor Johnson mused.
“It is,” I admitted. “But I think by using a bottom-up approach and prioritizing local contexts instead of favoring high-tech, generic solutions to aging infrastructure, we can build a bridge between urban developers and residents. I don’t think the link between accessibility and long-term sustainability has been focused on enough. ”
“Fascinating,” he said, a look of genuine interest on his face.
He continued to ask me a few more questions about my plans post Masters, and how I’d tailor my approach to a potential business model. We went through my portfolio as well, with Oren, Lucas and Ronan chipping in here and there.
It reminded me of the first dinner we had together, how easily conversation flowed.
I’d missed this, the ability to engage with them on an intellectual basis and share my inner thoughts with them in a way that so few people truly understood.
By the end of the meeting, Professor Johnson clapped his hands once.
“Well, Miss Price, consider me very impressed. I’ll remind you that I am not on the recruitment board for Muller & Co.
, but my opinion does hold some sway. I see why these three hold you in such high esteem,” he said, gesturing to Lucas, Oren and Ronan.
“Fine academics and men in general, all of them.”
Guilt reared its ugly head once more at his words. He was right of course. I snuck a quick glance at the professors and saw that each of them looked pleased. Happy, actually. I forced my eyes back to Mr. Johnson.
“And after meeting you, I understand why you left the impression you did. I’ll certainly put in a good word with the recruitment board,” he finished.
“Thank you, Professor Johnson,” I said.
After we said our goodbyes, the four of us were left alone. Oren turned to me immediately.
“You did amazingly well,” he reassured me with a warm smile. “If I know anything about William Johnson, it’s that he’s a man whose words hold weight. He’s not particularly forthcoming with his compliments.”
One bullet straight to the heart.
“I’m proud of you, June,” said Lucas. “If that doesn’t get you into Muller & Co. then I don’t know what will. They’d be foolish not to come pounding at your door to offer you a job after you get your Masters.”
Another shot.
“Magnificent, isn’t she?” said Ronan.
And that was the coup de grace. I sighed, putting my elbows on the table and dropping my head into my hands.
This was the final straw… I needed to come clean.
I’d already established that I wanted them all, and that I didn’t truly regret anything that I did.
But I needed to let them know where I stood on this.
Even if there'd been no establishment of commitment and technically no rules to break—except for, of course, the whole sleeping with my professors thing in the first place— they did deserve to know and choose if they wanted any part of what I wanted to suggest.
Because I had a few suggestions, alright. And I was tired of feeling ashamed over them.
“June, are you okay?” asked Lucas.
I lifted my head and looked at the three of them.
Oren was silent, blue eyes pensive and waiting.
Lucas looked concerned, his hand reaching under the table again to hold mine.
And Ronan, well, he just looked curious.
Almost as though he had an idea that something else was going on and was waiting for me to finally come out with it.
“There’s something I need to tell you guys and it can’t wait any longer,” I said. There was a lull of expectant silence, every muscle in my body tense with nerves, my throat wanting to close up and swallow the words that I knew I had to say.
But I said them anyway.