What's next?
The email
Chapter 7
by 
KuroRose
The next morning Isabella arrived on campus earlier than usual.
The faculty lot was still half empty when she parked. She sat in the car for a minute with the engine off, watching a few early students cut across the quad with coffee in their hands. The sky was clear. It should have felt like any other second day of the semester.
She climbed the stairs to the third floor, unlocked her office, and stepped into the quiet. The room still smelled faintly of the lemon cleaner from the night before. Isabella set her bag on the chair, hung her blazer on the hook behind the door, and turned on the computer. While it booted she opened the blinds, watered the small plant on the windowsill, and stacked the graded quizzes from yesterday into a neat pile.
The pencil skirt today was dark gray, paired with a fitted black blouse. Her hair was pulled back again, neat and professional. She sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and began working through the overnight emails one by one.
Most were routine. A student asking for clarification on the lab safety rules. A reminder from the department secretary about the faculty mixer next Friday. Two messages from colleagues sharing articles. She answered the student, flagged the mixer reminder, and deleted a pair of mass announcements without opening them.
Then she saw the one from Dean David Anderson.
Dr. Keller,
Please come to my office during the lunch period today. There is a matter I need to discuss with you directly.
David Anderson
Dean of the College
Isabella read it twice. No details. No suggestion of what the matter might be. She closed the email, stared at the inbox for a moment, then finished the rest of her morning messages in silence.
The hours until lunch moved slowly. She taught her first class on autopilot, answered questions about the previous day’s material, collected a short quiz, and returned to her office without lingering in the hallway. At 12:05 she locked her door and walked the length of the corridor to the dean’s suite.
David’s assistant waved her through. The inner office door was already open.
“Dr. Keller,” David said, standing as she entered. “Thank you for coming so promptly. Close the door, please.”
Isabella shut it behind her. The office was large, lined with bookshelves and framed photographs of campus events. David gestured to the chair across from his desk. She sat. He remained standing a moment longer before taking his own seat.
“I’ll keep this direct,” he said. “The university received a new budget numbers this morning for this semester. Th cuts hit harder than expected. Several departments are being asked to reduce staff.”
Isabella waited.
David folded his hands on the desk. “The history department is one of them. Their funding allocation for the coming year has been reduced significantly. At least one full-time faculty line will need to be eliminated.”
The room felt suddenly still.
David met her eyes. “Professor Daniel Reed is among the more recent hires. His position is not protected by seniority in the same way others are. The department chair has already been informed that difficult decisions are coming. Nothing is finalized, but the possibility is real.”
Isabella’s hands rested in her lap. The engagement ring caught the light from the window.
“Is there anything that can be done?” she asked.
“There are always variables,” David said. His voice stayed even. “Donor support. Internal reallocations. Recommendations from senior faculty. These things can influence outcomes. But as of this morning, the history department is being told to prepare for the loss of at least one position.”
He watched her carefully.
“I wanted you to hear it from me first,” he continued. “Before rumors start moving through the building. You and Professor Reed are both valued here. I thought you deserved the courtesy of advance notice.”
Isabella nodded once. “I understand.”
David watched her for a moment, then spoke again, voice quieter.
“Ultimately the final decision sits with me. The department can recommend, but I sign off on every cut. I’m not a mean person, Isabella. I don’t enjoy putting people’s careers at risk.” He leaned forward slightly. “I could be convinced to look at other options. If the right reasons were given.”
Isabella stares up as her eyes bolden.
"What kind of options? what kind of reasons?"
David held her gaze for a long moment. The office was quiet enough that she could hear the faint tick of the clock on the shelf behind him. He stood, walked around the desk, and stopped just in front of her chair. Close enough that she had to tip her head back to keep looking at him.
“Well, the kind that don’t go through the usual channels,” he said. His voice stayed low, almost careful. “The kind that stay between two people. No paperwork. No committees.”
He rested one hand on the arm of her chair, leaning in just enough that his shadow fell across her.
“You’re a valuable member of this faculty, Isabella. Intelligent. Capable. Beautiful.” His eyes moved over her face, then down to the open collar of her blouse, then back up. “There are ways to make sure Daniel’s position is protected. Ways that have nothing to do with budget numbers.”
He let the words settle.
David’s hand closed over her right breast, fingers spreading wide, squeezing firmly. The touch was deliberate, possessive. He kneaded once, slow and heavy, feeling the soft weight of her in his palm.
Isabella jerked back hard.
She shoved his hand away and crossed both arms tightly over her chest, covering herself.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
Her voice was sharp, loud in the quiet office. Color had risen in her face. She stayed pressed against the back of the chair, arms locked in place, staring at him like she couldn’t believe what had just happened.
David didn’t move right away. He looked at her for a long second, then slowly lowered his hand.
“I think I made myself clear,” he said, calm. “There are ways to protect Daniel’s position. I was simply showing you one of them.”
“You don’t get to put your hands on me!”
David gave a small, almost regretful shrug.
“Okay. That is okay, Isabella. That’s too bad then. I know Daniel will be pretty upset about the news I have to tell him later.”
The words landed hard.
Isabella’s arms stayed locked across her chest, but her voice changed.
“There has to be another way.”
David raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“Please,” she said, quieter now. “There has to be something else. Another option. I’ll talk to the department. I’ll help find donors. I’ll do whatever paperwork you need. Just… don’t do this to him.”
She took a step closer to the desk, still covering herself, eyes fixed on his.
“I’m asking you. There has to be another way.”
David leaned back in his chair and studied her for a long moment. The silence stretched.
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