I get to keep my job but there's a price.

I was awake on Monday morning even before my alarm rang. I was so anxious all weekend about my meeting with the Dean that I barely slept the night before. I was sure that the University had somehow found out about my relationship with Bridget and I would be fired for dating a student. Why else would Dean Ostrendi need to speak with the lawyer before our meeting?

Even though I was about to lose my job, I could not be upset with Bridget. True to her word, we did not see each or speak to each other all weekend. The absence made me realise just how much I enjoyed being with her; I had grown extremely fond of her in a very short period of time - I was prepared to do whatever it would take to continue dating her, even if that meant looking for another job.

My meeting with the Dean was scheduled for 10:00am. To further signal that I was about to be fired, I received an email over the weekend informing me that my teaching schedule had been cleared for the day and therefore I would not need to worry about preparing anything.

I got ready as usual and then drove to campus. I arrived around 9:30 and slowly made my way to the Dean's office. I was dressed in beige chinos, a white button down shirt, a tie, and jacket. This was perhaps a bit more formal than how I normally dressed but I thought I should perhaps dress up if I had any hope of salvaging my job.

I arrived at the Dean's office 10 minutes earlier than my meeting time. I was informed by the Dean's assistant, Zoe, that the Dean was finishing up a meeting with Dana, the university's lawyer, and she would be with me shortly. She had me take a seat in the waiting area.

I was so nervous I started to sweat, with clear patches starting to show on my shirt. Zoe kept eyeing me with a mischievous grin. It was almost as if she knew what was about to happen to me and was taking pleasure in my misfortune. How cruel!

At 10:10am, the Dean finally wrapped up her meeting with the lawyer. As Dana left the office, she looked at me and gave me an encouraging two thumbs up gesture before whispering something to Zoe and leaving. Dean Ostrendi called me into her office, I walked into and stood before two leather arm chairs in front of a large, oak desk. The Dean asked if I wanted a coffee and called out to Zoe to bring us two cappuccinos. She then asked me to sit down on one of the arm chairs and she sat next to me, instead of on her side of the desk.

She placed her hand on my arm and gave me a comforting squeeze. "I'm sure you're quite anxious about today's meeting so I'll cut to the chase. I know you're dating one of your students." Here it was, she was trying to let me down easy before she told me I would be fired. "Specifically, I know that you're dating Bridget Bernard. Now now, there's no use denying it. Bridget and her mother called me and confirmed it" What?! Why would Bridget tell Dean Ostrendi? And her mother, I thought she approved of us dating!!

Before I could offer any explanation the Dean continued "I'll be honest, I was quite shocked at first. I didn't think it was at all proper for a teacher to date one of their students. Being frank, I was ready to terminate your employment. But Dr Bernard calmed me down. I should explain, Bridget's mother is one of my oldest friends. We went to college together ourselves and I trust her judgment unreservedly. She explained that she had observed your teaching and she could personally vouch for you - Even though you're dating her daughter, when it came to your teaching Bridget was neither favourably or unfavourably affected. More importantly, Dr Bernard said that you were extremely dedicated to making sure you got thought best results out of all your students and that you were willing to go the extra mile to motivate them. I have also surveyed some of your students and the feedback has been mostly positive. The truth is, you are good at your job - when you're arrogance isn't getting in the way but that's a topic for later - it would be a shame to lose you."

The whiplash of emotions from the anxiety I had experienced all weekend to a sudden sense of relief and pride was internally jarring. I couldn't form words, I sat there silently processing as the Dean continued.

"However, whilst Dr Bernard may have convinced me, I can't speak for whether the Board will be as willing to let this go. So I spoke to legal, the only way for us to guarantee your ongoing employment at IDU whilst allowing you to continue to date Bridget would be to make you a tenured academic. That way, you can only be dismissed for misconduct which requires sign off from the me."

"So here's what I'm offering. We will offer you tenure, and give you a $15,000.00 pay rise, and I've had legal amend your contract to expressly permit you to date Bridget. Is that something you would be interested in?"

"Of course! I would be so grateful! Thank you Dean, Thank you!" I gushed, almost leaping out of my chair.

"Hold on, hold on. Before you agree there are some conditions; it is after all quite unprecedented for an academic so young to be offered tenure. I need to make sure the university receives something equally valuable in return. I've thought of some ways for you to earn the amazing privilege being offered to you. I've had Dana write up amendments to your employment contract. I'll let you read through them in a moment, but it might be easier if I walk you through each condition first." the Dean paused allowing me to skim over the contract before nodding signalling to the Dean to continue with her list of conditions.

"First, Delia and Carlene both spoke highly of how useful you were as a model. So I've decided to continue that arrangement. You will be required to make yourself available for any class that requires a male model. Provided that they don't harm you or do anything illegal, the professors will be able to make use of you in any way that will assist the class. This includes any art classes, science classes, or frankly any other class.

Secondly, Dr Bernard was really impressed by how effective your unique motivation techniques have been with your own students. I've looked over their results and I can see a noticeable improvement. So twice a week, in addition to your normal classes, you will be required to conduct additional sessions which will be invite only for students who excel in your main class. These classes will be either be taught entirely in the nude or you will strip down progressively throughout the class. Either way you will be nude by the end. Additionally, I would encourage you to come up with creative ways to reward your students who perform well during these special lessons.

Thirdly, the University will be allowed to use an image of you in any educational or promotional capacity. This includes any images of you in the nude. The University will use its best endeavours to ensure that you are not recognisable or personally identifiable should it use a nude image but this cannot always be guaranteed, especially if it compromises the purpose for which the image is needed.

Fourthly, the University is providing generous remuneration and working conditions. If we are to use you as a model or motivator, we need to make sure you are as fit as possible so that the University gets as much value out of the arrangement. Whilst you are in incredible shape as it is we need to make sure you stay that way. So you will be required to train at least three times a week at the University Gym with a trainer of my choice, for at least an one hour each session. You will be required to comply with the training regiment provided by the trainer. For now I have chosen Coach Womak, but this may change from time to time.

And lastly, this arrangement is subject to you passing a special medical exam and being approved by the legal department as a fit and proper person for the requirements of this role. If you do not pass both tests, this offer will be voided and you will continue with your existing employment contract.

The above five conditions are your additional Employment Conditions and are required in consideration of the University offering you early tenure. You will be required to comply with them for as long you are employed with IDU regardless of whether you and Bridget continue dating or break up, or if she graduates and is no longer a student. These terms are non-negotiable. Either you accept them now and we offer you tenure, or you say no. You will not suffer any consequence for saying no, you will be allowed to carry on with your job as normal and I will not do anything about you dating Bridget. However, I can't guarantee that I can protect you if the Board was to find out about the relationship. That's a lot to process, so take some time now to read through those terms thoroughly and if you're ready sign at the bottom of the page to signal that you understand."

I was stunned. I read through each term multiple times; the contract itself was written in legalese but thankfully with the Dean's explanation I felt confident that I knew what I'd be signing up for. I wasn't sure if I could accept, a week and a half ago I was just a normal mathematics professor trying to get by. Sure, I was brilliant at the job but my biggest difficulties then was getting my students excited about the work. Since then, I had somehow been seen naked, and so much more, by at least a hundred different woman and if I agreed I'd be signing up to get naked for countless more women. There's no way I could possibly go through with it.

But, being offered tenure this early was almost unheard for any professor and it would be an incredible boost for my career. I would be able to focus more on experimental teachings and research. And I'd be able to date Bridget with impunity. The weekend had given me plenty of time to think to about Bridget and how much I missed her. I realised again how amazing she truly was. She challenged me in so many ways - her mind was brilliant but more importantly she wanted me to be a better version of myself. Plus, she's incredibly beautiful. And there I had my answer, I knew I would do whatever it took to make this work.

After 15 minutes of agonising over every word I turned to the Dean and indicated that I was ready to sign the contract.

"Avery, before you sign the contract there's one more thing. As mentioned, the above terms are your Employment Conditions in exchange for Tenure. But there's still the issue of you being allowed to date Bridget. I said that I would allow it, but that's only because Bridget's mother spoke so reassuringly that the relationship would not affect your teaching. I'm willing to take her word for it for now but as Dean, I need to make sure that your relationship does not affect your teaching at any point in the future. So, you will be allowed to continue the relationship subject to you passing periodic panel reviews. Once a semester, your work will be reviewed by a panel to ensure that it has not been compromised by your relationship in any way. The panel will be made up by me, or any person I nominate as my delegate, a representative from Bridget's family, and three of your colleagues as independent academics. Each semester we will vote on whether or not your relationship should be allowed to continue. If the panel determines that your teaching has been compromised you will be required to end your relationship with Bridget. You will still retain tenure but you will not be able to date a student until such time as your teaching has improved. If you agree to this, then sign the contract."

I was confident in my capabilities as a teacher and after the week I'd had, I was sure that nothing in my relationship with Bridget would affect the quality of my teaching. If Prof. Suther could do it, I could surely be better.

I picked up my pen and confidently signed the Contract. Any reservations I had about the arrangements were outweighed by a sense that I'd achieved something no other young professor had. A secure job and an amazing woman!

"Avery, I'm glad you agreed. I think you've made the right decision, there are exciting times ahead for both you and the University I think. You'll need to head out shortly to meet with the lawyers and the university's doctors, but before you do I have a personal deal to offer you. This doesn't affect your employment so I can't compel you to agree, but it would go a long way towards influencing my vote on the panel. Would you like to hear my offer?"