Student meets master

Candice remained seated as the door clicked closed as the last student left. She let out a small sigh and observed Mrs.Vaughn. Despite Mrs.Vaughn owing Candice a favor, they had never met before this date. Mrs.Vaughn had been a previous client, who wanted to see her husband punished for using his position as a Dean to sleep with any pretty young woman unlucky enough to catch his attention. It had been a simple enough task, Candice had simply mailed him a gift on behalf of some donor, which had contained audio and video recording equipment. Within weeks, videos of him blackmailing young women for sex were sent everywhere, from Pornhub to the state police. It was Candice's understanding that shortly thereafter, he was simply inmate #13772.

Mrs.Vaughn broke the momentary silence first, "So, Candice, who do I have to thank for bringing our paths together again?"

As she said this, Candice could feel Mrs.Vaughn's gaze examining her. There was no question that Candice was the less imposing of the two, a fact that tickled the animal part of her brain. Luckily, she wasn't the one that Candice was after.

Candice smiled at her, "Apparently there is a young man by the name of Alex who has made some enemies. Unfortunately, the client has said they want this handled personally. Which is what led me to sit before you today."

She couldn't tell Mrs.Vaughn too many details, primarily as her success depended on her ability to operate anonymously, but she also didn't get many details up front herself. Plausible deniability was important as an insurance policy should difficulties arise.

"Alex? I cannot say that I am surprised, he has made more enemies in the last 3 years than most people make in their entire lives." She replied. Candice could see the distaste for Alex on her face. Candice took note of that for the future.

"That is what I have heard. Hard to imagine what makes someone that hated in such a period of time." Candice was doing her best to appear at least cordial. "Look, it isn't my intention to do anything that will bring attention back to you. I am mostly here to do my best impression of a Scroogian ghost. If I think something might bring someone sniffing around you, I will let you know."

Mrs.Vaughn leaned forward and held Candice's gaze, "I am not overly concerned with that. What does concern me is the damage that you could do to this institution, particularly to this department. For the time being, you're a student here and I expect you to act like it for as long as you're enrolled. Women's studies is already a disrespected topic, I don't want to see the progress we have accomplished here undone." Mrs.Vaughn's body language had shifted, she was now resting her weight on the balls of her feet and her hands were tightly gripping the desk she was sitting on.

Candice was caught off guard by this. She hadn't had any intention of being an actual student, nor hanging around once her work was done. At the moment, however, the Amazon across from her didn't look like this was up for negotiation.