Scandalous Arrangement

by Mia Grandy

  One night at work a customer started up a conversation with me about where I went to school and what my major was. I gave her a basic rundown of my classes and we began joking about how hard of a time I was having in my economics class. She said oh wait let me guess are you taking Professor Tenley for micro?” I said yes how did you know. She said because she took him her freshmen year too and her roommate slept with him. Excuse me say that again. She said “oh yea, my roommate and I took his class at the same time and she was having a hard time passing the class, so she went to him to ask for extra credit and he asked her what was he going to get in return.” “My roommate told me all the stories of how he slept with other students and that he would give them an “A” in return.

  I was thinking how horrible he was for preying on innocent young girls who just wanted to pass their classes. And here I was thinking I will ask professor Tenley tomorrow for extra credit so that I can have all the points I can get toward the final. My customer said her goodbyes and I closed down the bar. It was closing time, and I was more than ready to go home. Going to school and working is more exhausting than I thought it would be.

  I got home right before 2 am. Exhausted and frustrated about all the finals that were approaching. I was struggling in algebra and micro. Then it hit me, I was going to use Professor Tenley to pass my class, and if he asks for “special attention” then I will catch him in the act and blackmail him. It was the perfect plan. I would expose him for all the things that he has done to other girls and still come out on top. I checked my syllabus to see when his office hours were.

  He was available after class from 9:30-10am. I made sure there was room on my phone for a video so that I could catch in him the act of soliciting for sex with a student. I know universities have a strict policy about faculty getting involved with students. It was grounds for termination no explication needed by the board of administration.

  So here it was after class around 9:30am, I walked over to the building were his office was located and waited in the lobby. I decided to give him a few minutes just in case he was not in his office. I walked over to his office door, knocked and waited for a response. No answer. I turned around to leave and Professor Tenley was walking down the hallway towards me. He said “sorry I am running a bit late, I had a few students that had some questions after class about the final next week.” He unlocked his door and said come on in. His office was decorated quite nicely, and it had a certain Feng Shui about it.

  I guess he was into Chinese culture because there was a Chinese theme throughout the room. I said nice office, he said “oh thanks, how can help you today”. I said my name is Julie Pierce and I am a student in your 8’ o clock micro class. He said “oh yes I remember seeing you this morning. What can I do for you today Julie?” I took a seat and told him that it was nothing personal but I was not a fan of economics. I told him how I would need all the help I could get for the final. He laughed it off a bit and said “no offenses taken, I understand micro is a bit different from what you learned in high school. It will take studying the material intensely for the next week to really understand it all.

  I noticed a picture on his desk, I asked about it. He said “that is Angela Summings, she is my fiancée. I just asked her not to long ago to be my wife. We have dated for the past 2 years and now we are ready for the next step. I asked him if they had any kids, he said “no, not yet but Angela wants a family probably well before I do.” He also told me that Angela was an elementary school teacher. I told him sounds like Angela is a very lucky lady. I proceeded to ask him about future projects that I could do for extra credit between now and the final. At this time I turned on my camera phone to record anything foul that might happen.

  He walked over to the edge of his desk and leaned against it and said “well many students have come to him before with the same concern,” all while rubbing my thigh. He didn’t say it verbatim but I totally understood what he was alluding too. I think he wants me to sleep with him to pass this class….. I was actually taken back a minute by his quick response. He was in fact actually pushing his “I will help you pass if you do something for me” agenda on a student needing help. This lets me know this is not his first time asking for “sexual favors” in trade for a passing grade. I have never been asked for sex outright. The basic nature of a man and woman in a relationship just takes course, and over the length of the relationship it’s something that just happens, not something you plan. His proposal sounded too much like me being his prostitute; his beck and call girl.

  Well if this is the game he wants to play, then I can out do him at it and take him down in the process. I will not be like the other girls that he took advantage of. I will get what I need and see to it that he goes down for all of these backroom secrets. I had him to repeat what he said he wanted from me so that my microphone would pick it up. Once he did I was good to go. I agreed to all of his so called demands and just so he thought I was all on board with everything I made a few demands of my own. He agreed and then I left. I got home to check my phone to make sure the evidence was on my camera and it was, loud and clear too. I had my firepower to get exactly what I needed in the end.

  Chapter 4

  It’s all out

  When Professor Tenley asked me to meet him so we can settle my “extra credit” I met him at the hotel he requested. When I got there he was all ready to go, all laid out on the bed and everything. I came in with my trench coat on and sat down next to him. He thought it was about to go down, but to his surprise I pull out my phone and to show him the video of our office agreement. His eyes got as big as a deer caught in the headlights on a dark road. He called me every name in the book besides a child of God. He acted just like I knew he would; all bark and no bite. I told him don’t even think about trying to deny what happened. I set up the new rules that we were going to play by. I let him know that I would not be sleeping with him and that he should be ashamed for taking advantage of all those other girls that just wanted help in his class.

  You are engaged to be married. There are a lot of things that I don’t like, but I can’t stand a liar and a cheater. I also told him that at this very minute I was filming our hotel session and that was extra insurance. If he doesn’t give me an “A” then I would show this tape to the board of administration. He asked me why I was doing this; I gave him the simplest answer I could and said because it’s all about getting what I want and if I happen to take someone down in the process then so be it. I saw my opportunity and I took it. I turned to walk out the room and he said “karma falls on everyone, remember that Julie”. The door slammed behind me.

  I didn’t even feel the need to attend my final exam since I knew what the end result of principals of microeconomics would be. I decided to call my mom and tell her what was going on with me and school. I told my mom the full story of my professor exchanging sex for a passing grade. She was shocked to say the least. She asked if I was safe and if I needed her to come up to the school. She said that it might be a good idea to transfer to a junior college for a while so that I don’t end up in any drama. I told her I am not the tuck tail and run kind of girl. She understood that, but she again just expressed her concern. I heard her loud and clear and I made that known unto her. She said that she understood and that she would support me in whatever I decided.

  After I told her what happened I needed to get out of my apartment to get some fresh air and strategize my next move. Maybe my mom was right, maybe I needed to move around and let things blow over. A few hours had passed before I left and made it over to the student center. As I walked through the crowd I noticed stares from strangers unlike any that I had ever received. Once I finally made it past all the crowds, I walked inside to grab a bite to eat when I saw one of my guys. I yelled “hey Mike over here.” We sat down and he asked me if I had heard what was going on around campus. I told him I had no idea, what’s going on and why I was getting all these crazy looks from everyone. He said “he heard that I was blackmailing Profe
ssor Tenley for asking me for sex in place of a passing grade.”

  I almost jumped out of my seat… Where did you hear that? He said that he heard it from some people in the business department about 2 hours ago. Then it hit me, the economics class is in the business building and the theater department was just next door. I think Tiffany overheard me on the phone with my mom earlier today. She must have told some friends in her class and the word just ran like wildfire! I can’t believe this is happening. I didn’t want to be linked to this crap. She had to have been listening at my door because I don’t talk that loud. I needed to talk to her about what she thought she heard.

  I didn’t even finish my lunch, I told mike to throw away my mess, because I needed to go find my roommate. He asked if he should come with me. I told him I had it under control, thanks anyway. I walked to the theater department asking for a girl named tiffany. Luckily there were only 3 girls named tiffany there at the time. I finally tracked her down in the lounge where she was surrounded by a group of people. As I approached the huddle I began to listen in on what was being said. Tiffany was telling them all of the stuff I said to my mom. I couldn’t believe this, Tiffany didn’t have anything else better to do than spread rumors, which happened to be true, which was beside the point.

  I moved my way through the crowd and we came face to face. She knew she was caught red handed, her expression was priceless. I pulled her to the side and asked her what the hell was going on, why was she spreading all this gossip. She didn’t have anything to say for herself. She just shrugged her shoulders, I told her she needed to shut this shit down before someone got really hurt, but I guess the damage had already been done. There was no turning back from an allegation like this. Soliciting sex from a student is grounds for termination at SMU. Females are always trying to have one leg up on someone else; which is why I don’t hang with “them”, like I said “party of 1”.

  It didn’t take long for the accusations to get to the administration department. They don’t take these situations lightly; a few years back a student was raped by her professor and it was a nightmare for the university. Every news station within 100 miles came to cover the story. It even made nightly news. So I know this is something that they wanted to get in front of. I kept my ear to the ground to see if my name would come up, and if they needed to question me. Not even 2 weeks later a cop showed up to my apartment, handing me a search warrant. I tried to ask what this was all about and he said have a seat while they went through my things.

  I read the warrant and it said that they were able to take my computer and cell phone for evidence just in case the evidence was saved on one of them. They ransacked my room, my stuff was all over the place, and they finally told me that I needed to come with them downtown. I said am I under arrest, the cop said “no we just need to question you about what we just found on your computer.” My words were ok let me get some shoes while I thought to myself, Damn it they found the video I saved! I walked outside with a detective and got into his car.

  As we drove down to the station; I was trying to figure out what to tell them, I guess I couldn’t make up something else since they obviously had the recording. I needed to call my mom. So many thoughts were racing through my mind. When we got there they sat me in a room and closed the door. I sat there alone and cold not knowing what to expect. I waved my hands and motioned for a phone call, since that is what they say in the movies. Someone popped there head in the room and said someone would be with me shortly. I think they dodged my request. After a few minutes 2 people came in with a folder and a tape recorder. I sat up straight in my chair. I asked for my phone call again, the female officer said “oh you only need a phone call if you are under arrest, we are just asking you some questions about the incident with professor Tenley, and it would be wise to cooperate since my voice was on the tape.” I told her, well since you put it like that then I guess I have no problem answering your questions.

  We went forth with the interview and she asked me to explain why I recorded Professor Tenley and myself in his office. I told her that I was failing the class and that I genuinely needed help with extra credit. I overheard from someone that was a former student of Professor Tenley’s’ about how he conducts himself with them. He solicits sex from the girls in exchange for a passing grade.

  The other cop told me that they had enough evidence on him to arrest Tenley for sexual solicitation. I was speechless. I was asked if I would testify under oath in court on these charges brought against Daniel. I said that I would since I knew there would be a chance that he would do it again, and heaven forbid that it would be to a minor. I signed a few pieces of paper and I was on my way. As I walked out of the interview room I had this overwhelming feeling of seeking a safe place of refugee. I needed to escape this town of bad memories.

  I got outside to call my mom; I needed a ride back to my place. She picked me up within 20 minutes. As soon as I got in her car I just went off the deep end. I told her how I can’t believe what just happened in there. My mom asked me if I was actually going to be a part of ruining someone else life for the betterment of my own. “I just wanted to put a little fear into him, not have the man arrested I said.”

  Daniel should not have been asking those girls to sleep with him just to pass his class. That is lower than low, any man that partakes in situations like that should spend a little time in jail. You should never take advantage of someone just because you can. I told my mom that Professor Tenley was even engaged to be married, and he pulls a stunt like this. If he goes down for this crime then karma was served up just right.

  Chapter 5

  It has begun

  I read the newspaper a few days later and I found out that Professor Tenley was fired from SMU, he was officially arrested, and that there would be a court hearing within 2 weeks. After I read the article I showed it to my mom, she just looked at me with a blank face and asked what I was going to do. I told her it was time for me to leave. I needed to relocate to another city and start fresh. I didn’t want to have any connections with that entire ordeal. I withdrew from school, quit my job and was ready to set up somewhere else. I am still young; I know that I will find another job, a better one. I didn’t like the idea of going to school and work at the same time anyway. It was too hectic for me; I prefer the slow and steady lifestyle. I can understand working hard; my motto is work smarter not harder.

  My mom turned on the TV, and it just so happens that the news was on and they were talking about the big university scandal. That’s when I knew I had to really get out of here and establish a better name for myself. They showed professor Tenley and his fiancée, I recognized her from the office photo. Hopefully he explained everything to her about sleeping with his students and how he cheated on her numerous times. I told my mom who the lady standing next to professor Tenley was and she said, “Well she is a pretty lady and I hope she gets the entire truth from him. No one should have to find that the man they love has a secret lifestyle.” I thought to myself, I would leave his lying ass if I were her. I can’t stand liars and cheaters.

  A week or so went by and then I found out from Mike that he had some info about Professor Tenley and the investigation. Mike had to be my ears and eyes on campus now that I no longer attended SMU. He told me that it wasn’t just hear say that he heard it from the administration, they made an announcement on campus for the people taking microeconomics. It was said that they are in the works of finding a replacement teacher for the spring semester. So for those who are trying to sign up for economics please wait until a new professor is assigned to that department. Now the next piece of information Mike had was hearsay he said he heard it from a student whose sister teaches at the elementary school Professor Tenley fiancée teaches at. He told me her name was Angela Summings and that she lost everything, apparently Professor Tenley had a nice house and car you know like luxury stuff. Angela was struggling to pay for everything on her salary alone so she just moved out of the house and started over. Mike jokin
gly said “it’s not like Professor Tenley is going to use all of that stuff in jail.” We laughed it off but it was true and that was the bad part about it.

  I was still shocked that he went to jail and was awaiting his sentence hearing. I asked Mike “I wonder how long they would send him to jail for?” Mike said “probably like 2-5 years since it’s his first offense. Mike was a criminal justice major so he was more knowledgeable in that department. It was finally time to move out of my mom place, again. This time I was ready. I saved up a good amount of money from working at the bar this past semester, I had a job lined up and everything. I was at my mom’s house a little over 3 weeks and within that time I managed to find a new apartment and a job at a law firm. I would be working at Howard, Sperry, and Blackwell. One of the most prestigious law firm in the state. I start working in 2 days which gives me enough time to move into my new place and set everything up. I would be working as a temporary legal assistant, through a temp agency.

  It was an easy gig, my mom has a male friend that golfs with some of the men at Howard, Sperry and Blackwell; he got me in the door. It’s not always about what you know, it’s about who you know. Everything is based on politics no matter what people say. I was glad my mom had cool friends in high places. This was just the right start that I needed especially on the opposite side of town. I would be about a 1 hour and 30 minutes away from my mom now. Which still wasn’t that far away, she could easily come to visit and I know this time she would actually schedule regular visits to make sure things were running smoothly with me. In fact have a little of my loan money left over from this past semester. I will use that to furnish my new place, call in a few favors and my new place will be just how I need it to be; fit for a princess.