Room inspection

The warm orange light emanating from the desk lamp illuminates the USB keyboard, the technology a stark contrast to the old, vintage wooden desk. The office is quiet, her stocking-covered foot sliding softly on the hardwood floor beneath her, the sensation calming for her, her eyes darting across the monitor as her manicured nails tap on the keys.

“Erik Doe.”

She murmurs in a hushed tone. Her eyes focus through her glasses at the small, pixelated photo on the screen. She scrolls down, her finger curved on the wheel.

“Good grades… Very good grades with her,” she remarks to herself, “university-provided dorm room, rooming with Sai…”

Her eyes narrow on Sai’s profile. She knows that last name, a last name that was the talk of the town in affluent circles a few months prior, a pretty messy divorce. The powerful, busty woman knows that the offspring of that couple would not be using university accommodation; they definitely have a property, especially for their precious son.

She leans back in her chair. Her fingers find her phone and press it against her cheek as the line rings.

“Hello? Is something wrong?”

She responds to the feminine but deep voice, “No, no. Are you free to do a surprise room inspection?”

“A room inspection?” The voice replies, confused, “Me? And you? Seems below our pay grade?”

The woman chuckles. “Ordinarily, yes. But it’s a Saturday, and I want you to know that even in my position, it’s important to do some ‘grunt’ work.”

“I told you I don’t want your—“

“For now. You will be my recommendation if I leave, or retire early.”

The voice on the other line sighs.

“Very good. Meet me at dorm building G.” The woman in the office says.

“G. Got it. I hope that you have an explanation for this; I’m beginning to suspect that you just want to hang out with me.”

“Would that be so bad Amelia?” She asks with a laugh, “You would be opposed to a coffee and brunch?”

She sighs again, the receiver catching every soft sound, “No no. That would be okay. See you soon, Kathryn.”

The Dean smiles to herself as she places her phone back on the desk, slipping her feet into her flats; she types up a quick email and sends it to the reception desk at the building.

“Pick up…. I literally just saw you…. Come on….”

The call goes to voicemail again..

“Hey you’ve reached Erik, leave me a text if it’s urgent; if not I’ll call you back in a min.”

“C’mon…. Pick up the damn phone.” The blonde receptionist growls softly, glancing up at the entrance.

Heidi knows she could just go into his room herself, help him out, make up that spare room of his, hide his personal stuff and make it look like Sai actually lives there. The cute bow lipped receptionist having quickly figured out the situations when she met met him.

But the Dean is coming to inspect just this room herself.

“Pick up…” She growls again, her hair falling and framing her face.

Too late. Erik was too busy at Ari’s dorm to hear his phone buzzing in the pocket of his abandoned trackies.

Heidi gives a strained smile up at the two intimidating women standing in front of her desk.

“Heidi, correct?”

Heidi nods. “Yes. Hi Ms Imalee.”

Kathryn smiles, holding her hand out. “The keycard please.”

Heidi’s eye darts to Amelia Revers beside her. Wondering why she’s accompanying the dean.

“Mrs Revers here is poised to be a future Dean. I’m showing her what this job will sometimes entail.” Kathryn fills in, her fingers twitching as her hand remains outstretched, giving Heidi a small conspiratorial smile.

A soft exasperated exhale escapes Amelia’s nose.

Heidi can’t really delay any longer, handing her the master keycard.

“Thank you,” Kathryn says, turning toward the elevator.

The the thick pair of women chat softly as the elevator door closes.

“Oh… Erik…. Who did you piss off?” Heidi groans, grabbing her phone and calling again.

…

Amelia follows Kathryn as they enter the dorm room.

“Why exactly are we doing this?” Amelia asks her superior and friend.

Kathryn smiles, running a finger on the kitchen counter and pausing in front of the desk, a closed laptop and an open sketchbook. She flicks through the pages. “This student is quite artistic.”

“Kathryn,” Amelia says, exasperated.

“I believe this student has a spare room; I believe he has escaped having a roommate.”

Amelia looks around, the living area somewhat messy. “Why?”

“The two names listed on the database. One of them belongs to a child from a particularly affluent family.”

“What does that have to do with a living situation? And you had to check now?” Amelia replies, leaning on the kitchen bench.

Kathryn chuckles, pointing at the left side bedroom. “There are students that would benefit from having accomodation near the university that either have to commute, or pay exorbitant prices, I care for our students, Amelia,” She smiles, winking, “And, like you said. I wanted to get brunch with you. Check that room for me please.”

Amelia sighs and opens the door.

It looks lived in. The bed is undone, clothes on the bed, some on the floor. She walks inside and peers into the en suite. She wasn’t actually aware of how nice these bigger dorm rooms are.

She spots a small portrait on the bedside table, curious to know whose dorm they’re inspecting, she picks it up, Kathryn had been dodging the question since they arrived.

Her heart thumps against her ribcage.

She places the portrait down, she closes her eyes and breathes slowly, she looks over her shoulder at the open door; Kathryn must still be in the other room.

Amelia picks up the shirt from the bed, running her fingers on the fabric.

“This is so weird.” She says softly before bringing the shirt to her nose and inhaling the scent of the young man.

She puts the shirt down, exhaling shakily.

“The other room is filled with personal items; the bed unmade, boxes, it looks like a storage closet, and the cupboard is filled with women's clothes,” (Vi had left a backup wardrobe here).

Amelia turns, a nervous smile on her face. “This bedroom is clearly occupied.”

Kathyn’s eyes peer at the bed and then the shirt recently dropped by Amelia.

“I can see that. These young men are quite messy.”

“Quite.” Amelia agrees with strain.

Did Kathryn see? Her face betrays nothing.

“Shall we then?” Kathryn asks, turning away and back into the main area of the dorm.

“Is the resident going to be punished?” Amelia asks; she can’t help but be concerned for Erik.

“No,” Kathryn responds, still turned away, her eyes to the side, turned enough towards Amelia to catch her still body language. “Why?”

Amelia licks her lips nervously. “No reason… I suppose… I was… Is this a punishable offence?”

Kathryn continues to watch Amelia, shifting her weight between feet, a strange look on the usually composed professor. “No. More trouble to punish than it’s worth. Especially for this student.”

“Right… He’s a good student.” Amelia replies, nervously nibbling her lip.

Kathryn’s eyes narrow.

‘So she knows this is Mr Doe. She hasn’t been here before, clearly. But why was she holding that shirt?’

Kathryn’s thoughts are clear, her suspicion of her friend rising; the situation was seconds away from exposing Amelia’s extramarital affair.

“Indeed. No. There will be no punishment; he will simply receive a notice that he has been found in contempt of the university's guidelines, and that to consider it an official warning. And then he will be assigned a roommate for next year, or sooner.”

Amelia nods, a soft sigh of relief that doesn’t go unnoticed. “I see. I suppose it’s better morale-wise?”

Kathryn nods and turns with a smile. “Precisely.”

She heads towards the front door. “Now. Brunch?”