All Chapters of His office my rules : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

CARTERI didn't bother to go to the university. Now I was in and out like a ghost. Only revealing myself there when I'm needed. I stayed at the firm mostly now, whenever I needed to get out of the house. Before, I found comfort in school, but now it is not the same anymore.“Sir,” my secretary said gently, knocking once before opening the door, “your mother is here.”I looked up mid-signing. “What?”“Uhm, Mrs Vale. She’s here” she said“Send her in” I said after a momentThe door opened again, and my mother stepped into the office like she always did, quiet, composed, carrying herself as if the room had been waiting for her long before she arrived. She wore a soft cream coat, hands folded in front of her, her eyes were already scanning my face the way they had when I was a boy and she was trying to decide whether I was hurt or just angry.The door closed behind her.Neither of us spoke at first.She took the chair across from my desk without being invited but I didn’t stop her. Why wou

CARTER“The board has confirmed receipt of your mail, sir. They're reassessing the next steps” My assistant’s voice came through my phone speaker.“Thank you,” I said, ending the call and already turning back to my screen.I leaned back in my chair and exhaled slowly.I should have done this sooner.For weeks, I’d allowed the university to steer the conversation.Not anymore.I opened the document again, rereading the letter my firm had sent on my behalf, precise, and impossible to misinterpret.Effective immediately, all inquiries regarding Professor Carter Vale will be directed through retained counsel. Any further informal questioning or internal fact-finding conducted without notice will be considered a procedural breach.The ethics board wanted to appear decisive. Dean Holloway wanted to appear clean. Neither of them had paused to ask whether the process itself would survive scrutiny.I smiled faintly at that.There was a firm knock on my door.“Come in.”Holloway stepped inside,

CARTERI sat in my office at the university grading test papers, the most tedious work I could think of. It was why I usually didn't give my students many questions during tests or quizzes. My mind flashed back to the time I would have Eli grade some of the test papers just so I could engage him. But now, I couldn't even take that kind of risk. It would be like adding fuel to the fire.The thoughts made my stomach tickle a bit. I really liked him and no doubt that the feelings had increased over time. But I had to be careful.The firm knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. “Come in,” I said.The door opened.And for a split second, my brain rejected what my eyes were seeing.Liam?He stood there like he owned the place in his tailored coat, and hands in his pockets, his posture was relaxed but alert. Not the usual smug or mocking look, which somehow unsettled me more than his usual antagonism ever did.I straightened in my chair, “You’re lost”He shut the door behind him carefully.

CARTERThe legal process had started. I stood by the window with my phone pressed to my ear, watching the city buzz from above. To them, it was another workday, but it wasn't to me.“They can't ignore it” Dante said on the phone. He was on a week-long trip to Canada and would only be back in a few days.“Good I replied” but my jaw was tight.“What this means” he continued “Is that, they have to put it in writing.”This is exactly what I had wanted. I knew I made a good decision, making Dante my attorney for this.“Thanks, man. I’ll catch you up after” I said and ended the call. I stared at the rest for a moment. I wasn't thinking about anything. My mind was just blank.A soft knock interrupted me.“Come in”The faculty secretary came in holding a notepad.“Yes?”“Uhm. Dean Holloway said the ethics board called. They want to schedule a meeting”“What? With who?” I asked and she gave me an awkward face.“With you sir. They said an external lawyer would be made present”I exhaled slowly

CARTERDante showed up at my place without warning.I knew it was him the moment I heard the knock. It was firm and impatient, like he didn’t believe in waiting for permission. When I opened the door, he was already halfway inside, coat still on, eyes sharp and assessing like he was stepping into a crime scene.“You’re supposed to be in Canada,” I said.“Was,” he replied. “Cut it short.”That alone told me everything.He dropped his bag by the couch and finally looked at me properly. Really looked. His expression shifted just a bit, but I caught it.“You look like hell,” he said.“Feeling matches,” I replied, closing the door.We sat opposite each other, the city humming faintly through the windows. Dante leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped.“Start from the beginning,” he said. “And quit the professional talk.”I exhaled slowly.“There’s a lot going on you know. So I don't exactly have something to say”“Just talk. Is your mum good?”“Speaking of that. She calls me fro