Read Online Spice by Seressia Glass - Free Book Online Page A

of ending a marriage, people thought something was wrong with you.
    â€œI’m saying that you need to take more concrete steps to protect your career,” Marshall said, his tone and expression kind. “Right now you’re like forbidden fruit, and sometimes our students display a decided lack of self-control. You need to do something to make that fruit less attractive.”
    Kane barked out a laugh. The situation, the conversation, all of it, was just too ludicrous to be believed. “So in order to keep my job as a professor here at Herscher, I need to get married. Is that what you’re advising me to do, Dr. Marshall? I want to make sure I understand where the department head stands on this.”
    â€œProfessor Sullivan!” Marshall boomed out, his jowls actually trembling with righteous indignation and the volume of his words. When Kane just stared silently at him, the older man blew out a breath and settled back into his chair. “Professor Sullivan,” he said again, “I’m not issuing a directive for you to get married. That violates all manner of rules, and as I never saw fit to enter the state of matrimony myself, I can’t say that I recommend it. However, whether you believe me or not, I do have your best interests at heart.”
    â€œAnd the best interests of the department,” Kane pointed out.
    Marshall didn’t bother to deny it. “Yes, the success and reputation of our department are important to me. So is its future. I want to make sure it’s in good hands when I’m gone.”
    Ah, the dangling of the tenure carrot. “Of course,” Kane said, because it was the only appropriate thing he could say.
    â€œThe dean appreciates the exposure your skills and expertise have given to Herscher,” Marshall continued. “Your journal papers and books have made the national spotlight. We know how much of an asset you are to the college.”
    But
 . . . Kane mentally prodded.
    â€œYou wouldn’t want any hint of impropriety, no matter how unfounded, to come to the dean’s attention. There is a code of conduct we must all adhere to, and I would hate for the president of the board of regents to believe your potential liabilities outweigh the benefits of having you on staff here.”
    â€œI understand.” He did. Despite all he’d done for the school, all the positive attention and donations, the seminars and conferences and influx of students, it was not good enough. His position was still tenuous and dependent on things beyond his control, and he fucking hated it.
    He rose. “If that will be all, I have somewhere I need to be.”
    â€œJust one more thing, Sullivan.” The corpulent department head rose from his chair like a ship breaking a wave. “The department meet and greet for our benefactors is coming up soon. The president and members of the board will be attending. If you could bring a date with you, not only would that be a refreshing change, but it would be sure to alleviate some of the negative speculation that’s aimed your way.”
    The department meet and greet. Part of the political posturing that was a necessary evil of teaching at the university level. Most of the time he didn’t attend, using his consulting work as the perfect excuse not to participate in the song and dance. He doubted if Marshall or Dean Lansing would accept an excuse this time around.
    Kane nodded at Marshall. “I’ll see what I can do. Have a good evening, sir.”
    He left Marshall’s office, then quickly made his way out of Prentiss Hall and into the crisp pre-spring air. Breathing deeply several times, he pushed away the anger that had bubbled up while he’d been pressured by the department head like a middle-school student called to the principal’s office.
    Shoving his hands into his pants pockets, he made his way across the quad to the faculty parking lot. As much as he