which hadn’t already been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, or Wall Street Journal. I’d tried to convince the young journalist there was simply nothing new to say, and that anything he needed to know could be had with a simple Google search.
But that wasn’t good enough. He was determined to cover the story in the school paper, and if I wanted to have any input, I had to meet with him.
I had to hand it to the little prick. He had some balls.
The issue was that my department head was already gunning for me and my future at the university. He was convinced I was as crooked as my father and that my association with the university was a black mark against the institution’s good name.
Personally, I thought the Wall Street viewpoint I brought to the department was a win-win for everyone, but he didn’t see it that way. And I had a feeling this article was going to seal my fate.
So I decided to push a little agenda of my own. If this kid thought he could use me, I’d use him right back, pushing the message that all universities needed more of a private sector perspective, and that’s why I’d been recruited to join Wellshire.
“So, Professor Carter, how do you feel about your father’s crimes?” was the first question he had for me.
Jesus. If I’d been asked this once, I’d been asked it a hundred times.
“Well, Alex, as you can imagine, it was devastating to my mother and me. It’s why I left New York to bring my industry experience to the academic arena.”
Not satisfied with my dull answer, he rephrased his question. “When you heard about what your father had done, essentially stealing thousands of people’s savings and retirements, what did that do to you?”
He was actually pretty good. Reporters were supposed to dig like he was. But that didn’t mean I was going to tell him shit.
“Like I said, Alex,” I continued patiently, “it was devastating. I’m really glad I landed here at Wellshire to leave all that behind.”
He looked down at his notes for another question.
“Given your reputation, Professor, do you think you are doing Wellshire any favor by being here?”
Fuck. He’d clearly interviewed my boss before me, who apparently had been pretty generous with his opinions.
But I could handle it. I’d dealt with tougher questions, that was for damn sure. “Well, Alex, only my students can tell you that.” I laughed. “Education was always my first love, and I like to think I’m making an impact in my student’s lives.”
How was that for a can of bullshit?
I’d finally gotten rid of him, tired as he was of my banal answers. But to be honest, the kid never stood a chance. I kind of felt sorry for him. He’d just wasted his time.
But on the other hand, fuck him. He was using my misfortune to showcase his journalism chops.
Not that it had done him much good.
When you’d come through shit like I have, you know how to answer every question and hold your head up in the face of adversity.
I think that was what I liked about Senna. I got the feeling you could knock her down, and she’d somehow manage to pop right back up.
There was rustling in the room as my students were starting to finish their tests.
“Hey, guys, can you please add your email to your tests in case I have any questions for you?” I asked.
One by one, they finished, leaving the room quietly. As soon as the first completed test landed on my desk, I started grading, something that took me only a few minutes. In algebra, I could see the entire process of how a student arrived at their answer, and could immediately identify what they’d done both right and wrong.
I flew through the tests, eager to get them done so I didn’t have to take them home. When Senna handed in hers and left the classroom, I pushed it to the top of my pile. I wanted to see how she’d done.
I ended up wishing I’d graded hers last.
She hadn’t done too well.
In fact, she’d failed.
Not what I’d expected.
But all was not lost. It gave me an excuse to reach out to her and offer my help. She wasn’t going to fail any more tests if I had anything to do with it.
Chapter 23
PROFESSOR JAMIE CARTER
“Thanks for coming by, Senna,” I said when she arrived during my office hours.
I gave her a minute to take