Aria's POV
"Aria? Are you there?"
"Dean Keller?" My voice felt brittle as I pressed the phone to my ear, heart pounding in my chest. I'd been avoiding this call all week.
I sank onto the edge of my bed in Damon's guest suite, the morning light slanting across the silk sheets. My stomach fluttered—fatigue and tension coiled inside me like a living thing. Lila's situation, the twins growing inside me, the chaos that still lingered from Celeste's final act… and now this: my professor demanding answers.
Dean Keller (voice gentle but firm): "Yes, Aria. I noticed you haven't been in class for several sessions. Your attendance is slipping. I'm concerned. Are you all right?"
I swallowed, forcing calm into my tone. "I'm fine, sir. I apologize for my absence."
A pause. I imagined him behind his desk—polished wood, psychology books lining the shelves, the same sympathetic eyes I'd seen in office hours. He'd always been supportive, but also strict about academic responsibility.
Dean Keller: "Can you help me understand why you've missed assignments? Your grades used to be impeccable."
My chest tightened. "I… received a job offer." The words tumbled out before I could filter them. "Westin Industries hired me as a secretary. It's full-time hours, and I need to fund tuition and help my sister."
I heard him exhale softly. Dean Keller: "Westin Industries… Damon Westin's company?"
My pulse stuttered. "Yes, sir."
Dean Keller: "That's… quite an opportunity. Congratulations on the offer. But I worry about you, Aria. Balancing a demanding job in a high-pressure corporate environment with school—and everything else—can be overwhelming."
I pressed my free hand to my belly, where the twins stirred like curious birds. The weight of my secret pressed down: pregnancy, office politics, near-death experiences… I couldn't reveal that now. Not even to him.
Me (softly): "I understand. I planned to reduce my course load, maybe take a leave of absence until I can cover fees."
Dean Keller: "A leave could help, but be careful. Taking too long away might delay graduation indefinitely. Have you thought about a part-time schedule? Online classes? There may be options here."
His concern warmed me. He'd always been more than a professor—mentor, sometimes sounding like a guardian. Yet I hesitated.
Me: "I considered part-time, but the position demands my presence. They expect long hours, unpredictable schedule. They said it's temporary, just until I can support my sister and get back on my feet."
Dean Keller: "Temporary can stretch into permanent. And college can slip away." His tone was gentle but insistent. "Aria, I don't want to lose you as a student, but more importantly, I don't want you to burn out or get trapped in a world you're not ready for."
Trapped. The word echoed in my mind. Westin Industries: glamorous, powerful, but dangerous. I'd glimpsed its seductive pull—and the peril Celeste embodied. Yet the job was my lifeline: money for Lila's care, for my twins' future, for tuition. What choice did I have?
Me (quietly): "I appreciate your concern, sir. I truly do. But right now, my sister's health and these babies… they can't wait. When I stabilize finances and her recovery is certain, I'll return. That's my plan."
Dean Keller: "I admire your devotion. Still, promise me you'll keep me updated. If things become unmanageable, reach out. There are emergency funds, counseling services—don't think you have to face everything alone."
Tears threatened. His sincerity cut through me. "Thank you. I will."
Dean Keller: "Also… there have been rumors circulating about Westin Industries. Nothing confirmed, but I advise caution. Make sure you know what you're getting into. If you ever need guidance—"
He trailed off. My pulse surged. Rumors? What did he know? I held the phone tighter, mind racing.
Me (voice steady but curious): "Rumors? Sir, what kind of rumors?"
Dean Keller (hesitant): "Just… some people whisper about intense pressures on employees, about questionable practices in high-level departments. Again, unverified. But I want you to be aware."
My stomach clenched. I'd seen the sleek offices, the polished exteriors, but I'd also felt the undercurrent: the late-night demands, the secrecy around Damon's personal life. And now this caution—from my professor. I forced a swallow.
Me: "I understand. I'll be careful."
Dean Keller: "Good. And Aria—if you decide you need to pause, let me know. I'll support a leave of absence with the committee. Your health and well-being come first."
I bit my lip. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Dean Keller."
He hesitated, then spoke softly. "One more thing: if you ever feel in danger—physically, emotionally—please seek help immediately. There are resources. You're not alone."
His voice carried weight: genuine care beyond academic duty. I closed my eyes, pressing the phone to my ear. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Dean Keller: "Take care, Aria. I'll see you soon—if not in class, then in my office. Let's touch base next week."
Me: "Yes, sir. Good morning."
I hung up and stared at the phone, heart pounding. Tuition and secrets: my reality felt more precarious than ever. Damon's world beckoned and threatened in equal measure. And now Dean Keller's warning hovered like a specter: rumors of pressure, questionable practices. Was I endangering myself further by staying?
I rose and moved to the window, gazing out at the city skyline. The morning sun glinted off glass towers—the same city that held my sister in a hospital bed, the same city where my twins grew inside me. And the same city where Damon ruled his empire.
A knock sounded on the door. My gaze snapped to see Maya slipping in, concern etched across her face.
"How did it go?" she whispered, closing the door behind her.
I sank onto the armchair, voice tight. "He knows—knows I'm not attending classes. He offered options: leave of absence, part-time, but… he warned me about Westin Industries. Rumors of pressure, long hours, possible unethical practices."
Maya's eyes widened. "Rumors? Like what?"
I shook my head. "He didn't specify. Just said to be cautious." I pressed a hand to my belly. "I need this job. But… what if there's truth? What if I'm in over my head?"
She knelt beside me. "You know Damon. He seemed protective. If he cares about you, he won't allow you to be exploited."
A soft chime from my phone interrupted us: a message from an unknown number:
Careful whose advice you follow.
My pulse spiked. I showed Maya; she frowned.
"This is getting dangerous."
I nodded, swallowing. "Dean Keller's call, this message… something's off."
She squeezed my hand. "Whatever happens, I'm with you."