Chapter 40
Isabelle
I sit, staring at my lunch, picking at the crusts on my sandwich, unable to even face eating anything.
The idea of being interviewed about our relationship makes me sick.
The whole idea of some stranger coming in and wanting to know everything about it leaves me feeling violated, and it hasn't even happened yet.
"How are you holding up?" Jen mutters quietly, slipping into the seat next to me.
"Meh… It's just really shit," I reply, unable to put together anything more eloquent.
At that moment, the universe decides to deal me another shit hand. In through the door strides Dickhead himself.
"Saw Loverboy leaving this morning… That’ll be the last time he sets foot on these premises!" Daniel sneers, laughing to himself and looking around to see if anyone is laughing with him.
Alexandra Ravensbrook
I jump out of my seat, sending it flying to the floor behind me, the clatter making everyone turn to watch what was happening.
“Fuck you, Daniel, you worthless piece of shit!"
The whole staffroom goes silent as I stalk over to Daniel, my finger pointing at his chest.
"You are a shitty excuse for a human being, and trust me, karma is on her way to fuck you over!
James and I will come out on top in this one, just you watch, and hopefully we'll never have to see your face again.
And female teachers," I say, giving him a knowing look, "will once again be safe, and you'll be out on your ass.
Now get the fuck out of my way, shit stain! "
I push him aside and storm out of the staff room, running face first into Rebecca.
"Everything okay, Isabelle?" Rebecca asks, an amused smirk on her face.
"He just really winds me up, Rebecca! I can't fucking stand him! He constantly has to have his little digs!" I fume, white-hot anger ripping through me, wanting a way to earth, like lightning seeking the tallest point.
"Shhhhh…it’s ok," she says, her hand on my shoulder. “I was sitting in the adjoining office this morning. James’ interview went okay, not that he managed to get much of a word in edgeways, with his solicitor there.”
Yes, Miss
I let out a small laugh, knowing full well Vic wouldn't have let anything slide!
"She firmly put the interviewer in his place at the very start.
She's a fierce one. I like her." Rebecca grins.
"We need more women like her. Then maybe we wouldn't have to put up with people like Daniel.
" She loops her hand through my arm and leads me to her office.
“I'll send my secretary to get Jen,” she says, “But first, I want you to get settled and compose yourself before the interview starts.”
Scattered over the table, paperwork, notepads, and pens create chaos where Rebecca would have had none.
She huffs, seeing the mess, and points to a seat for me to sit in and grabs me a glass of cold water, the beads of condensation dripping down the glass jug looking like the fresh relief I’m in need of.
Muttering and footsteps sound outside the room, and Jen enters, taking the seat next to me, closely followed by an older, balding man in a suit.
“Good afternoon, Isabelle. I'm Mr. Stephen Hunter, and I'm the Safeguarding Officer. I'll be interviewing you this afternoon with regard to your relationship with Mr. James Wentworth.” His face is older and kind, and he is clearly trying to put me at ease, but the knowledge that one wrong thing said or misunderstood could end James’ career or sully his reputation weighs heavily on me, adding to the oppressive stress of the whole situation.
Alexandra Ravensbrook
After a brief introduction and summary of the allegations, Mr. Hunter sits back in his chair, his pen twirling in his fingers as he asks his first question.
"Ms. Matthews, can you tell me when you first met Mr. Wentworth?"
"Yes, he was my piano teacher in my final year of sixth form. I was eighteen."
"And at this point, were you sexually active or in a relationship with anyone?" His eyes bore into me, seeking answers to a question he had no right asking. Since when was I on trial?
My insides lurch. How dare he ask that question!
Who I was sleeping with was none of his business, all he needed to know was it was not James.
"Mr. Hunter, I don't see what that's got to do with anything, and quite frankly, it's disgusting that you'd ask a question like that!
I will not be answering any questions of that nature.
" Fire lights up my anger like a match to a firework.
Mr. Hunter has the audacity to look shocked at my response to him, like I should have just told him my most personal, intimate information.
"During your tuition with Mr. Wentworth, did you form a…closer relationship?" He phrases the question carefully.
Yes, Miss
"Mr. Wentworth was always very professional and very helpful with getting me through my piano exams. There was nothing further than that at the time."
"In the allegation, the complainant states that you had a crush on Mr. Wentworth, and that they suspected you to be in a relationship with him. Could you discuss this?"
I look back at him, open-mouthed. What the fuck did that have to do with anything? He met James this morning, right? Every girl had a crush on James. What did they expect? Tall, strong, gorgeous, and sweet; I’d wager there were several boys that liked him too.
"I assume you’ll be interviewing all the female students in my cohort who had a crush on Mr. Wentworth, Mr. Hunter?
Mr. Wentworth is an attractive man, kind and thoughtful.
I defy you to find a heterosexual female student who doesn’t have a crush on him.
But for the record, yes I did, I refuse to lie.
Mr. Wentworth never behaved in a manner that was unprofessional or inappropriate.
" I shake my head at the ridiculousness of his questioning. Not only that, but I’m starting to feel like I’m on trial here.
I know what's at stake here, but we’ve not done anything wrong, and I won’t hide or lie.
Mr. Hunter makes some notations on his papers and continues. "Following the end of sixth form, did you meet up again with Mr. Wentworth?"
Alexandra Ravensbrook
"No, I didn’t. I didn’t see Mr. Wentworth again until my first day in this job as his colleague in September."
"And this is when your relationship began?"
"Yes, it is. Not immediately. We became good colleagues first, which later developed into a relationship."
"Ms. Matthews, we’ve had allegations that Mr. Wentworth enjoys relationships that may have unbalanced power dynamics, and this is a concern with regards to yourself. Do you feel as though you’ve been subjected to an imbalance of power in your relationship with Mr. Wentworth?"
Internally, I laugh. They have absolutely no idea about our power dynamic. I lean forward, my forearms on the table, weighing up the best approach to the answer. I decide not to choose violence and go with tactful instead.
"Mr. Hunter, my relationship with Mr. Wentworth is entirely consensual, and power dynamics are nobody's business but ours. I can assure you, I’m not being pressured or forced in any way into any role within this relationship."
"As you can appreciate, the complainant has alleged that you’ve been in a relationship with Mr. Wentworth since you were a student, and that Mr. Wentworth enjoys relationships where power dynamics are at play, where one party takes a controlling role over the other.
Yes, Miss
Obviously, relationships with students and the abuse of power dynamics by teachers are a valid concern—"
"Mr. Hunter, " I interrupt, talking loudly over him.
Maybe choosing violence was the right way with this prick.
"Mr. Wentworth at no point used any power or pressure to get me into a relationship with him. If anything, it's the reverse. He was reluctant at first because he thought he was too old for me. Not that that has anything to do with these allegations, but clearly, to add context, this allegation has been brought about by his ex-wife, who has verbally assaulted me in the street and harassed Mr. Wentworth, and at this point, I find the image you’re painting of him to be defamatory, derogatory, and disgusting. And I won’t sit here and listen to it. "
With that, I leave the room, Jen following closely behind.
I walk out to the reception area and stand outside the doors, desperate for fresh air and space to clear my head.
Rebecca follows closely to investigate the commotion.
I slump against the wall, fight leaving my body as I start to tremble, tears filling my eyes as I draw in several shaky breaths.
"Do you want to go home, Isabelle? I can take over your class, and Jen can go back to hers."
"Thank you, Rebecca. Yes, I will. I need to go see James. When will we know the outcome?" I wipe away the tears that have fallen down my cheeks.
Alexandra Ravensbrook
Rebecca says, "Normally, it’ll be in a few days. They need to speak to a few more people. Have you heard back from the women you spoke to?"
Jen has already informed Rebecca about the discussions we’ve had, and I explain how we’re waiting for written statements, but all the women are willing to come forward and support us.
"Great. Once I receive those, I’ll start the official grievance and suspend Daniel. You won’t need to see his face again."
I hug Rebecca and Jen and make my way home to James. Having his arms wrapped round me, his body against mine and his citrus amber smell filling my senses, is all I need right now.