Author's note: Please forgive any errors in grammer. In my rereading of my stories, I miss things as my mind knew what I was trying to say. I currently do not have an editor and have given up the pursuit in finding one.
Foreward: The Professor's Accidental Harem was meant to be a stand alone story. The outpouring of feedback was immense and demand for a sequel was high. But I would not write one just for the sake of writing one. There had to be a plot I would love. It finally came to me, but in order to do so, I changed from a first person point of view to an omniscient point of view.
Happy Reading!
Chapter 2:
Six weeks later:
"But..."
"Dr. Tisdale," President Richards held up his hand as he interrupted, "I'm sorry but the board has made their ruling."
Dr. Tisdale let out a huff. "If not you, then who do I have to blow to get approved?"
President Richards wanted to say 'Will Harrison' but decided to try a different tact, consoling. "Suzanne," he moved his hand to cover hers and talked in a soothing tone, "five years ago the board of trustees decided to hand out grants to a number of professor's because they wanted our university to be known for something. You're imprinting concept was just one of many that they were willing to try to get themselves on the map. But now it's not necessary and the board has decided that mind manipulation is a risky endeavor that raises too many questions." He then shook his head, "I've warned you for the past three months to offer the board something else or the grant was going to be reassigned. You didn't and now that time has come."
Dr. Tisdale slammed her hands on the president's desk as she stood, "You're talking about five years of my life!"
"I'm sorry Suzanne. I really am. Despite your young age, you are an esteemed member of our faculty and we would be delighted to have you still be a professor on our staff."
"Fuck you!" Dr. Tisdale stomped toward the door, her auburn ponytail swaying with each forceful step.
"I'll let you calm down before we speak again."
Suzanne was still fuming as she entered her office with a cardboard box. Her intent was to leave and never look back. She knew the politics involved. When President Richards first spoke to her three months ago, she knew she had to make a breakthrough quickly because the young psychology whiz kid they hired two years ago, Ethan Carter, was on the verge of fulfilling the universities dream with some sort of memory drug.
'Why did it have to be now? I'm so close.' Suzanne set a couple manila envelopes in the box and began syphoning through another stack. 'Where will I go? Why couldn't the university see the importance of my imprinting creation? Capture a terrorist, use the serum to imprint yourself to them, and voila, instant traitor. They'll tell you everything and do anything you want them to do. And what about the people in prisons? Tell them to be honest citizens and poof - no more bad guys. If I had a little bit more time, I'd be ready for the private sector. I just don't have enough concrete analysis yet.' She slumped into her office chair and started to cry. With her shoulders twitching and head buried in her hands, a gentle rapping occurred on her office door.
"Dr. Tisdale?" A concerned male voice called from behind the door.
Due to the university giving every opportunity for the professors with grants to complete their work in an expedited manner, Suzanne didn't have any classes during summer break, so it couldn't be a student knocking on her door. At least she hoped it wasn't. She scrambled for a Kleenex and put her glasses on to hide her puffy eyes before answering, "Come in."
The door opened and there stood the handsome Professor Carter. That fact bothered Suzanne more than anything else about her colleague. He was both smart and handsome. And he seemed utterly clueless to how every female member of the student body fawned over him.
"I was on my way to lunch when I thought I heard someone crying in here. Are you all right Dr. Tisdale?"
Suzanne opened another file folder, pretending she had been working the entire time, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You can join me for lunch and talk about it if you'd like? Or come to lunch and not talk about it since I doubt I'd be much help in the field of neuroscience," Ethan finished with a big smile.
Suzanne chuckled, "Thanks for the offer but I'm swamped here."
"Nonsense." Ethan strode toward Suzanne and then grabbed her hand. "You just need some protein and then you'll figure it out. Besides, I'm dining at the wonderful, luxurious, and absolutely exquisite school cafeteria today. It would be a shame to eat such a gourmet meal alone."
Suzanne shook her head with an amused grin. She had changed her mind. The thing that bothered her most about Professor Carter was the fact he was genuinely a nice guy. The man she wanted to hate most in the world and she couldn't, in fact deep down, she knew she liked him. Damn him. "I suppose I can spare thirty minutes."
"Ah, better make it twenty nine and a half minutes," Ethan helped Suzanne to her feet. "I have a lot of work to do myself."
*
"So how's your memory research going?" Suzanne asked as she took a bite of her Caesar salad.