The Pleasure of the Dean

by Nelson, Ann Marie

  “Planning on moving to Scotland?” Sophie asked.

  “No way. I wouldn’t want to leave my fans in a lurch. Or my sweet house.”

  Oz lived in a huge old Victorian near campus. The owners rented rooms to residents, postdocs, researchers, and short-term lab staff doing rotations at the University. The house was notorious around campus for being the medical school’s party house. It was the scene of so many sexual hook ups it earned the nickname “The Petri Dish.”

  "Hey, living at the Petri is awesome,” Oz said. "It’s near work, I can afford the rent on my paltry stipend, and, since my bandmates live there, we get lots of practice. In fact, we're having a party there this weekend. You should come and hear us play."

  "No thanks. I'm over the party scene,” Sophie told him.

  "You only over it because your new boyfriend is ancient,” Oz teased.

  "I have no idea what you’re talking about. Cole is not my boyfriend and even if he was, he’s the perfect age. Like a well aged scotch,” Sophie said with a blush, remembering the last time she indulged in the liquor with Cole. “And besides, that’s over. We’re definitely most likely not seeing each other naked anymore.”

  Sophie took a deep breath. "Let's change the subject again."

  "Hey, no worries. If you change your mind about the party, you know you're always welcome. Or, you can check out our upcoming gig at the Black Sun."

  The Black Sun was a local bar frequented by University faculty and staff. Oz and his band were regulars on stage there.

  "It’s a deal," Sophie said as she gathered her lunch trash. "I gotta get back to clinic. I'm working at least three more hours plus I offered to be on call tonight, which means I’ll be sleeping in the break room."

  "Yeah, I gotta motor too Soph." Oz stood up and stretched, his tight black t-shirt riding up and revealing six pack abs. "I'm waiting on samples sitting in a PCR machine. They should be about done."

  They walked out the big double doors of the Circulata to the hallway leading to the medical center. "Back to the grind," Sophie sighed.

  "Tell the leprechaun I said “hi”,” Oz called out as he and Sophie parted ways and began walking in opposite directions down the corridor. Sophie continued walking and flipped Oz the bird over her shoulder. His responding chuckle echoed in the hallway.

  ***

  Crystal Bridges was seething. She looked down at her plate of barely touched tacos. Crystal was so wrapped up in overhearing Dr. Benedict and Dr. Magnuson’s conversation from the other side of the pillar, she’d barely touched her lunch.

  The Iron Giant? How dare they make fun of her and the fact she practiced by-the-book university HR policy? Providing Sharelink brochures to disgruntled employees was exactly what the Central Employee Relations Department taught as standard protocol. It wasn’t her problem that her self-confidence intimidated others, and she wasn’t that tall.

  Then Crystal smiled, recalling the tidbit of useful information she learned during her eavesdropping session. “So, Dean Armstrong and Dr. Benedict are sleeping together,” she thought. “That explains a lot. This is fantastic. Dean Armstrong will be ruined if the faculty council finds out about his slip up. He’ll be forced to step down.” Crystal, suddenly hungry, dug into her tacos like a ravenous wolf.

  But how to use this information? “I’ll need proof,” she strategized. “And I’ll need help. I’d better talk to Bruce.” Crystal took out her smartphone to compose a message. She changed her mind and slipped her phone back in her bag. “This is too important for email,” she said to herself. Crystal finished the last of her meal and gathered up her things in a flurry. She hastily sorted her trash at the recycling station before power walking down the long corridor, straight towards Dr. Mapleton’s office.

  Chapter Ten

  Crystal burst into Dr. Mapleton’s office, out of breath from her long walk. He was sitting at his desk, having cleared his afternoon clinic schedule in order to strategize the demise of Dean Cole Armstrong. Cole had overridden his authority by not signing off on Dr. Benedict’s termination, which, in Bruce’s mind, meant they were now engaged in all out war. After a game of darts, using a picture of Cole as a target, Bruce was now playing handheld electronic solitaire and drinking bourbon from a flask. He was hoping the mindless activity would clear his brain, allowing a brilliant idea as to how to take down Cole to coalesce. Then Bruce would finally ascend to his rightful position as Dean of the US School of Medicine.

  Crystal’s abrupt appearance startled Bruce, causing him to lose the hand of poker. He looked up intending to give her a set-down, but he changed his mind and gave Crystal a salacious grin instead. Maybe a physical release would help with his strategy session?

  “Anxious for some afternoon delight my cupcake,” he drawled, stroking his mustache suggestively. “I’m busy, but I can spare a few minutes for you.”

  “No you idiot!” Crystal barked, before she could stop herself. Bruce looked at her in confusion, surprised by her tone. Crystal usually only whispered sweet compliments to him.

  She immediately checked herself.

  “Silly,” Crystal purred, walking to his desk, “I’m still too sore from the last pounding you gave me.” She leaned over. Crystal’s blouse gaped, giving Bruce an unimpeded look at her braless chest. Bruce stared, mouth agape, mesmerized by the sight of her thorny tattoo. He put down his game, stuck his hand down her shirt, and began pawing her breasts. Crystal resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She didn’t have time for this.

  “Brucey,” Crystal said, running a fingertip down his face and gently tilting his chin up so he looked her in the eyes. She needed him to focus. “I came to see you because I have some information you’re going to love.” He ignored her and went back to his exploration of her tattoo, replacing his hands with his mouth.

  Since sweet words weren’t breaking through to Bruce, Crystal decided to try another tactic. “Cole Armstrong is fucking Sophie Benedict,” she said bluntly.

  “What?!” Bruce said, finally unlatching from her breast. “How do you know this? Do you have proof?”

  Crystal adjusted her blouse, covering herself back up. “I overheard a conversation between Drs. Benedict and Magnuson in the Circulata. They were gossiping about the Dean like schoolgirls.”

  “I knew it!” Bruce replied, triumphantly. Ever since Cole Armstrong’s impassioned defense of Sophie, when she was caught moonlighting, Bruce had a suspicion the Dean wasn’t only interested in Sophie’s brain or superb patient care. After that incident Bruce watched Cole and Sophie’s interactions carefully, but Cole was too savvy to do anything untoward in the hospital setting. He gave her a little extra attention and Bruce observed some longing looks, but nothing that would be the proverbial nail in Cole’s coffin.

  Bruce was actually slightly surprised Sophie returned Cole’s affection. If he knew she was interested in powerful older men, he might have been more lenient with her. Bruce could be flexible when the situation warranted. As long as the payoff was worth it. Just the thought of Sophie’s long blonde hair, cherry lips, and pert breasts made him hard. Bruce imagined running his hands along her nude nubile body.

  “Mmmm, a sexual scandal,” he said. “Better men than Cole have been brought down by their peccadillos. If we can come up with proof of the affair, we can use the information to get the Dean terminated. Should we get Chambers in here to pull their email and phone records?” Eric Chambers was the IT Director for the School of Medicine.

  “Too risky,” Crystal replied. “I don’t trust Chambers. He’s not a team player.” Crystal’s past experiences with the brilliant IT Director left a bad taste in her mouth. He didn’t take orders well.

  “Then how do we obtain proof?”

  “On my walk over, I formulated a plan for gathering evidence of the affair,” Crystal replied excitedly. The thought of putting Cole in his place and terminating Sophie filled her with glee. She was flushed with excitement.

  “How?” Bruce asked.

  “I believe
the dirty work is best left to the professionals. We should hire a private investigator.”

  “Have you used one in the past?” Bruce asked.

  “No, however they’re commonly used in these types of situations and the internet is obviously the best way to find a good one.” She pointed at Bruce’s desktop computer. “Web-search “Seattle private investigator”,” Crystal commanded.

  Bruce turned to his computer and performed the search. The first result that popped up was for: Alex Jones, P.I. Anonymous and Discreet Investigations. He clicked on the link.

  “Alex Jones gets good reviews,” Crystal said, pointing to the P.I.’s 4 out of 4 star rating. “Plus, assignments can be made via email.”

  Anonymity was important to Crystal. She didn’t want her name connected to the investigation in any way, in case the situation went south. If, somehow, the P.I. came up empty handed and the Dean discovered the investigation, Crystal would claim she had no knowledge of the situation and point a finger at Bruce.

  “Brucey, you should email the P.I.,” she purred. “You’re more powerful and well-connected than me. He’ll work harder for you.”

  “Of course,” Bruce replied. Because of his position at the hospital and visibility in the community, Bruce was used to people going above and beyond to fulfill his wishes. Crystal Bridges, while at the top of her field, didn’t have the same kind of clout.

  Dr. Mapleton opened up his email

  TO: Alex Jones

  FROM: Dr. Bruce Mapleton

  Mr. Jones. I would like to contract your services in order to obtain evidence, preferably photographic, of an affair between Dr. Cole Armstrong and Dr. Sophie Benedict. They are both employees of the University of Seattle Medical Center. Please respond ASAP with a cost estimate, and I will provide you with additional details.

  “P.I.’s are lowlifes desperate for cash,” Bruce said, even though he had never dealt with a private investigator before. “I bet $200 will get us the proof we need. In fact, I won’t go a dollar above $215.”

  “That sounds reasonable,” Crystal replied absentmindedly. She was already imagining Cole being disgraced and dismissed by the faculty council and Sophie being booted out of her Residency program. That would teach them to taunt her and usurp her authority!

  Bruce, on the other hand, was not only imagining Cole’s downfall but also the salacious pictures the P.I. was going to provide them with. He knew they’d be graphic. He prayed there’d be video. Bruce couldn’t wait to see Sophie in her element, the bedroom, acting like the sexy little kitten he knew she was. His erection roared back to life.

  “Now that that’s taken care of, I need to head back to my office,” Crystal said. Bruce grabbed her hand as she started walking away. He pulled Crystal to him.

  “Before you leave, there’s something I need you to take care of first,” Bruce said, bringing her hand to his raging erection.

  Crystal inwardly sighed. She didn’t have time for this, but she knew she needed to keep Bruce happy and under her spell. Crystal sunk to her knees, and unzipped Bruce’s pants.

  He watched as she pulled his cock out, and efficiently sucked it into her mouth. Crystal pumped his length with her hand, milking Bruce and trying to speed up his orgasm. He groaned, closed his eyes, and imagined it was Sophie with her mouth wrapped around his cock. He came instantly.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sophie and Cole needed to talk. She sat in surgeon’s break room waiting for him to finish up his last case, a tricky spinal fusion on a hiker who fractured a vertebrae in a fall on Mount Pilchuck. It was eerily quiet in the OR. Due to union regulations, surgeries weren’t scheduled at the US Surgery Pavilion past 5PM. After hours trauma cases were diverted to Oceanview Medical Center, which had the staffing to handle late night emergencies.

  She checked her email, absentmindedly fidgeting with the hem of her short black t-shirt dress. The hemline was higher than she usually wore at work. Sophie tried to convince herself she wasn’t wearing it for Cole. A day away from his all-consuming presence allowed doubts about their relationship to creep in. Sophie was resolved. They had to stop seeing each other. She couldn’t risk being kicked out of her residency program - again.

  The break room door swept open. Sophie looked up, expecting Cole, but Dr. Mapleton walked in instead. He looked disheveled. Dr. Mapleton’s wrinkled button down shirt and dark brown slacks looked slept in. Sophie stood up, feeling awkward. They hadn’t seen each other since her near termination.

  Bruce spent the afternoon celebrating his impending victory over Cole. First he created online mock-ups of his future business cards, then he polished off his flask of bourbon, and finally Bruce capped off his afternoon with a quick nap on his office couch, to recharge. When he woke up, Bruce poured himself a refill from the bottle of liquor in his desk drawer and set off on an evening constitutional. Bruce walked through the medical center, his future domain, and imagined the changes he’d make to the decor once he ascended to the position of Dean.

  He walked into the surgeon’s waiting room, intending to survey the existing furniture in order to determine if it should be reupholstered or completely replaced. As luck would have it, Sophie was in there. Alone.

  “Dr. Mapleton,” she said. “How are you this evening?”

  “Splendid Sophie,” he said. Bruce gave her the once over, pausing to leer at her bare legs. It was a shame they were usually concealed by her scrubs. “Just lovely. Can I offer you a drink?” Bruce pulled a flask out of his pocket, and held it out to Sophie. “Don’t let the humble container deter you, it’s single barrel straight Kentucky bourbon whiskey.”

  “No thank you Dr. Mapleton,” Sophie replied, nonplussed. It was the first time he called her anything other than “Dr. Benedict.” Also, as she well knew, Dr. Mapleton was a stickler for the rules. US policy stated doctors were not allowed to drink on campus. The fact Dr. Mapleton was toting around a flask and appeared visibly inebriated was shocking.

  Bruce chuckled. “I’m taking the night off,” he said with a shrug, as if it explained his erratic behavior. “Celebrating.”

  “What are you celebrating, sir?”

  “The downfall of a man and the ascension of a king,” he said dramatically, taking a swig from his flask. “By the way my dear, you look stunning tonight.”

  “Excuse me?” Sophie said. She shook her head, as if to clear it. Sophie thought Dr. Mapleton complimented her appearance. She must have misheard.

  “I like this look on you,” Bruce continued, gesturing to her outfit. “It’s sexy. If only you wore dresses in clinic instead of those shapeless scrubs. It’d make working with you more pleasant.”

  Sophie definitely hadn’t misheard him earlier. “Your comments are inappropriate and bordering on sexual harassment, Dr. Mapleton,” she said firmly, trying not to lose her cool. “I understand there is bad blood between the two of us, but I’m hoping we can maintain a professional working relationship.”

  “Let’s not pretend, Sophie,” he replied, walking towards her. His temper flared quickly, fueled not only by her words but also by his inebriation and disdain for Cole. “You and I both know the only reason you’re still employed by this hospital and in my residency program is because you’re fucking Cole Armstrong. You are a naughty, naughty doctor and I happen to be in need of a thorough exam.”

  “Stop Dr. Mapleton!” Sophie yelled, throwing out a hand to halt his progress towards her. He was beginning to crowd her. Dr. Mapleton’s stature landed his gaze directly at her bustline, and he was staring at it lustily. Sophie scooted backwards until she reached the wall, putting more space between the two of them.

  “You gave it up to Cole,” he snarled, inexplicably angry Sophie wasn’t throwing herself at him like Bruce imagined she threw herself at the Dean. “I want a taste too. Don’t worry, I won’t tell your boyfriend.”

  “If you take another step, I’m going to scream. Cole will be here any minute.”

  “If you sucked my dick like you’re probably
sucking Cole’s,” he continued, not hearing her, “I’d feel better about the fact he cock-blocked me. You should be out on the street. Not in my hospital, pretending you’re a doctor.”

  “I am a doctor and a damn good one! You need to treat me with respect.”

  “Show me your cunt Sophie, and I’ll treat you however you like,” Bruce said nastily.

  “In your dreams, asshole!” Sophie replied, dropping any attempt at politeness. Her blood was boiling. “Back the hell up, now!”

  Dr. Mapleton ignored her words and moved closer to Sophie. She tensed, ready to strike. If he dared touch her, she was going to clock him. Dr. Mapleton wouldn’t know what hit him.

  He was reaching for Sophie, a sneer on his face, when Cole walked in.

  Cole took in the scene quickly. Sophie was backed up against the wall, obviously upset, and Dr. Bruce Mapleton was reaching for her with a dirty grin on his face. Cole vaulted across the room, and pulled Bruce away from Sophie.