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And she would make damn sure that Yara never did this to anyone else.

“For Dr. Ogden’s knowledge,” Elia started, facing Kamryn with an apologetic look on her face, “Yara and I dated for nearly two years.”

Kamryn paled. “When?”

“We broke up eighteen years ago.” Elia lifted her chin in defiance. She clenched her jaw again. “It was a mutual break up—at first. But grudges have been held since.”

“It’ll all come out anyway.” Yara sneered. “It’s just a matter of time.”

“It will come out.” Elia wasn’t going to back down. She’d done that once before, but she wasn’t the same person she had been then. This was her life Yara was screwing with. Elia let the anger surge forward, filling her chest and the top of her head. “All of it will come out. Are you prepared for that?”

“Absolutely,” Yara answered with a sickening grin.

“Good.” Elia faced Kamryn. “We’ll talk later.”

“Yeah,” Kamryn breathed the word out.

Elia had no doubt that she was completely lost to what was happening, to the war that she’d just walked into. All Elia could do was hope that Kamryn finally went and searched what she’d so obviously hadn’t. It would tell her everything. But for now, it was out of her hands.

Shoving her hands into her pockets, Elia balled her fingers into tight fists. She stared Yara down and waited in silence. She would do that until Yara moved. She would hold her ground with everything that she had.

“Why don’t I get you settled into the conference room?” Kamryn stepped forward, putting her hand out in front of her. She ushered Yara away, leaving Elia in the office.

Who had Elia been kidding?

This office would never be hers. She should have given up that dream decades ago when this had first happened. She should have never thought that she’d be allowed to be in that role and position. Relaxing slightly, Elia stared around the room some more. She slowly said goodbye to that dream and that hope.

No one had ever wanted her in that position. It had been a pipe dream at best, and it was time. Time to give it all up and to settle for what she knew she could have. And to fight to keep that. Because she was going to be lucky to keep it now.

“I’m so sorry about that,” Kamryn rushed as she came back in.

How long had Elia been standing there? She shook her head, breaking her reverie. “It’s not your fault.”

“If I’d known you and her—”

“It wouldn’t have mattered. I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life, Kam. Dating a student’s mother isn’t the worst of it. Putting myself in a position that could ever seem unethical was. And I need to keep my promise to myself.” Elia tightened every muscle in her body, because she didn’t like what she had to do next. “I won’t put myself in another compromising position.”

“You mean us.” Kamryn closed the door behind her this time, pushing on it to make sure that it was shut.

“I mean me.” Elia pursed her lips, already deciding exactly what she needed to do next. And it wasn’t going to be pleasant for either one of them. “You should look in my personnel file, Kam. Stop avoiding it. Better yet, get online and search my name. And you should do it now, before you walk into that ethics meeting.”

“Elia…” Kamryn stepped in close to her, immediately reaching for her arm, but Elia jerked back.

She had to protect herself from this. “Don’t touch me, Kam. I can’t…” Her voice broke on the word. “I won’t take you down with me.”

Without another word, Elia walked out.

She was doing this for both of them.

“Elia!” Kamryn followed her into the main office.

Elia halted by the outer door. This felt final. But it wasn’t. And yet, something about it seemed like an end. There was achasm between them, and Elia needed to keep it there. It was Kamryn’s protection as much as her own.

“What do you want me to think?”

Shaking her head, Elia very nearly came to tears. She just wanted Kamryn to believe her. But she couldn’t ask that. It was too much. Biting her lip to prevent the tears from falling, Elia bolstered herself for what she knew she had to say.

“I want you to believe the victim.”