Chapter 140: Outshine Him (1/2)

I sat beside Harshit and read a book for the new course Sebastian would be teaching next semester.

”What are you reading?” Professor Singh turned to me after the seatbelt sign had dimmed. I turned to him with a smile.

”Just preparing for Sebastian's classes. I will be taking more control of them from this semester,” I admitted. ”He went easy on me last semester, only letting me do the legwork.”

Professor Singh scoffed. ”He's working you to the bone, isn't he?” he asked with a critical eye. ”Just because he put a ring on your finger, he thinks he owns you.”

My head jerked up and I stared at him in shock.

”What?” he responded calmly. ”Did you think I wouldn't notice? You tried to be inconspicuous about it, but you use your hand in front of me too often.”

I sighed and shook my head. ”There is no point hiding such matters from people who have field experience,” I grumbled. ”But are you sure Sebastian didn't call and inform you? I highly doubt you would see it if you don't look out for it,” I said suspiciously.

”Oh, hush. I saw the ring on your finger and figured. There was no way the tyrant Sebastian was going to allow a random ring on your ring finger.” He rolled his eyes.

”But back to the topic on hand. He just proposed and you have changed sides. I would think that you are calling him a tyrant because you are jealous that I will take up more of his time,” I teased.

”Jealous of you?” he scoffed. ”I believe he will hog more of your time now that it is his legal right to stick beside you all the time.” He chuckled. ”Not that he leaves your side often.”

”Working at the station must have been hard for him then. For a man who loves work so much, he must have suffered, being separated from me for long periods of time.”

Professor Singh's eyes lit up. ”Oh! I heard about the little girl you found out. Good work on that!” he complimented.

”Do you want an interview with her?” I responded.

Professor Singh nodded. ”It would be fantastic if I could speak to her. I applied for a time slot to the rehabilitation center they took her to for the short term. Have you spoken to her yet?” he asked curiously.

”I was with her through the psychiatrist's evaluation and all that jazz. I haven't met her since then. We've been kept out of the loop so far.” I shrugged.

Harshit frowned. ”You've been working on some high-profile cases recently, haven't you?” he asked.

I nodded mildly. ”My face has been in the newspaper far more than I would like it to be,” I bemoaned.

”Others would kill for the opportunity, but you are cribbing about it,” he complained right back.

”I don't like being treated like a monkey in front of the media. I am not going to answer their wild curiosity about murders. Their need to sensationalize every case makes me want to puke. Soulless bloodsuckers,” I seethed.

”You have a lot of pent-up frustration, don't you?” He gave me a small smirk.

”What does that mean?” I asked, horrified by the implication. Destroying Sebastian's celibacy right before the trip was a bad move. Despite the talks about the psychology of addiction and whatnot, Sebastian used my one day of leave to the fullest.

Specifics aside, most of my luggage was packed by him.

”About the media and how cases are handled,” he said with a hint of amusement. ”What did you think I was speaking about?”

I didn't respond.

”Jokes aside, there is a research fellow position opening at the national institute of criminology and justice, do you want to apply?” he asked.

I turned to him with wide eyes. ”I am already working for Sebastian and interning at the police station,” I told him. ”I can't take up more work right now,” I admitted.

”But you would like to get the opportunity, right?” he coaxed.

”Well, the institute only takes students who hold Masters in Criminology and Criminal Psychology, right?”

”And law,” he prompted. ”But you have enough experience and background to qualify. Add in recommendation letters from Nash, Sebastian, and I, you will breeze through the entrance exams and interviews,” he shrugged.

I shook my head. ”I enjoy my work right now,” I told him.

”Yes, but the research fellowship will open up avenues for you to get a Ph.D. Isn't that what you wanted in the first place?” he asked.

”In the future. Right now, I want to learn everything that I can.”

Singh nodded. ”Do as you wish. The applications will be open for another month. I don't see a reason why you shouldn't apply. You can always decline the offer if you don't want to work there.”

”I'll think about it,” I said softly. It would be hard to turn down an offer from such a big institute if a call came. I might get in if I got recommendations from three of the brightest minds in the field at the time, but shooting down such an offer? People would chase me with knives.

Harshit tweaked his paper for the rest of the flight, while I read through the book.