“I can’t believe you were that careless, Alistair. I just can’t believe it. You were so close to being free of that snake.” Enzo continues pacing back and forth in my kitchen.

“Do you think I was worried about being caught in that moment?”

“Fuck,” Enzo curses.

“You should call Forrester,” my father says.

He’s right; I should call him before he comes knocking at my door too.

I head to my office to make the call in privacy. I don’t need Enzo breathing down my neck while I talk to Forrester. Too fucking bad he doesn’t answer his cell phone, so I call his office, getting his assistant.

“He’s locked in a meeting at the moment,” she says, “but he wants you to come by his office as soon as possible.”

“Of course. I’ll be there in an hour.”

When I announce that I’m headed to DuBose, Enzo asks if that’s a wise idea. I tell him Forrester wants to see me in person.

“Maybe I should come with you as your lawyer.”

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary. I didn’t break any laws.”

I walk out before he can start another argument. There’s no sign of paparazzi outside my door, and for that I’m both relieved and surprised. I can’t believe Nadine didn’t send her vulture friends to harass me.

As I drive to DuBose, I can’t help but think that I’d been right all along. Chiara will be responsible for my downfall, but I don’t regret a single moment of it. If given the chance to do it all over again, I would.

I have to steel myself as I walk from my car to Forrester’s office. I get looks; I hear whispers. They all remind me of the time I lived in the limelight. I should be used to it by now, but scrutiny by strangers is not something anyone ever gets accustomed to.

When I arrive at his office, his assistant asks me to take a seat. Forrester isn’t done with his meeting yet. The reproachable glance she aims my way doesn’t escape my notice.

I have to wait for another half hour before she tells me I can come in. Since I didn’t see anyone come out of Forrester’s office, I can only assume he was on a call.

He doesn’t say a word as I walk in and sit across from him. Instead, he stares at me with his indecipherable gaze, the one he used on me when I was his patient. Only I’m no longer eighteen, and I have no time for this type of intimidation tactic.

“Stop staring at me like that. Let’s cut to the chase. Am I fired?”

“You’re not even going to apologize for this whole mess? I vouched for you when I brought you to DuBose despite your past record. And that’s how you repay me?”

“You make it sound like I did it on purpose.”

“You’re sleeping with one of your students! I hardly think you did that by accident.”

“I met Chiara in Italy, before she became my student. And for the record, I tried to fight it.”

“Until your dick won the battle.” He twists his face into a scowl.

“It isn’t like that. I love her.”

My confession seems to dilute a bit of Forrester’s anger, but he continues to glare. “That doesn’t change the fact that she’s eighteen and your student.”

“Fire me, then.”

“Oh, I will, but I’m afraid I must expel Miss Moretti as well.”

“What? Why? She’s done nothing wrong.”

Forrester raises an eyebrow. “Really? You don’t consider sleeping with her teacher as something reproachable? All the grades she’s earned in your classes will be questioned now.”

“I didn’t give Chiara any special treatment. She earned her marks by her own merit.”

“Even so, she broke the student code of conduct. It’s out of my hands. The board demanded your head and hers.”

“That’s such bullshit!” I stand up, not willing to sit here and listen to Forrester destroy Chiara’s academic reputation.

“Shouting and cursing won’t get you anywhere. You should have thought about the consequences before you gave in to your urges. I expected more from you.”

That last reproach feels like a punch to my gut. I also expected more from myself.

“I’ll collect my belongings and be off the premises within the hour.”

“Wait, you need to be escorted by security.”

I turn, leveling him with a glare. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“I’m sorry, Alistair. Those are the rules. I can’t keep covering for you.”

Fuming, I leave his office but wait for the babysitter in the waiting area. I’m not sure what Forrester thinks I’ll do, but he sent two guys to escort me. Fucking great. I feel like a criminal.

My walk of shame draws as much attention as I thought it would. At least I’m the one facing it, not Chiara.

God, she’s going to be devastated when she learns they’re expelling her.

I pack my things as fast as I can, at least the personal belongings I can carry with me. The books and other bigger stuff will have to be packed by someone else and shipped to me later. It feels bittersweet to hand over my staff ID and the keys to my office. I did enjoy teaching here.

The vineyard is also gone.

What the fuck am I going to do with my life now?

42

Chiara

After the encounter with Nadine, I changed my mind about going to Robbie’s place. I need to be home, surrounded by familiar things, so I can break down in peace. Robbie wanted to come up to my apartment with me, but I told him I needed to be alone.

My cheek still stings from Nadine’s slap, but it’s my ego that’s more bruised. I should have reacted, scratched her face, done something. But no, I just cowered, just like I did every time Mom was cruel to me.

I take the stairs, not wanting to risk getting stuck with anyone in the elevator. When I reach the landing, I find someone standing in front of my door.

“Max! What are you doing here?”