Chapter 5

At lunch the next day, Maya quietly slipped into the seat next to me.

She looked around suspiciously, then whispered, "Avery, everyone is gossiping. They're saying you stayed late in the lab last night to try and seduce Professor Sterling."

I nearly choked, spitting out my food.

"Who said that?!"

"Everyone is talking about it. But don't worry, I know you wouldn't do that."

Only Chloe and I had been in the office last night. What reason would she have to spread such a rumor?

I chose not to let the baseless gossip distract me and went back to work.

Later that afternoon, when I went to hand in some new data, I overheard Chloe and Julian talking inside his office.

"Professor Sterling, you've heard the rumors going around the department," Chloe was saying. "I think removing Avery from the research group is actually for her own protection."

Julian replied, "She’s been in the group for two years. It's not appropriate to just kick her out."

"But her academic performance is pretty average anyway. Most of the work we did together on the project was actually done by me," Chloe lied smoothly. "Removing her won't hurt the project, and it'll stop the negative rumors about her."

Hearing this, I quietly walked back to my lab bench and started packing my things.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, an automated email popped up in my inbox.

*System Notification: You have been removed from the NSF Research Project roster.*

"Avery, can you organize this file for me?" Sylna, another lab member who didn't know I'd been kicked out yet, handed me some papers.

I quietly finished my tasks for the day.

Suddenly being forced to leave made me feel a heavy pang of sadness.

By the time I finished packing up all my personal belongings, it was already 8 PM.

With my backpack loaded with my things, I walked alone through a dimly lit, quiet street just off campus.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. They were getting closer.

I could even hear heavy, ragged breathing.

Instinctively, I quickened my pace, my heart hammering against my ribs. I pulled out my phone and went to my contacts.

The first contact was the phone number my online boyfriend had given me.

He had told me: *If you're ever in danger, call this number. I'll show up instantly.*

With no other choice, I dialed the number.