LEO'S POV
I stepped into the conference room and immediately felt the weight of five sets of judgmental eyes on me. The disciplinary committee sat behind their mahogany table like a tribunal, their faces grave and disapproving.
I deliberately didn't look at Zoe. I couldn't. If I saw the hurt in her eyes, the confusion about why I'd been treating her like a stranger, I might lose what little composure I had left.
This was all my fault. Every bit of it.
I should have recognized the attraction the moment it started and crushed it. Should have requested a different student, transferred her to another mentor, done anything except let myself get drawn into her world of passion and music and hope.
But I hadn't. I'd been weak, selfish, and now we were both paying the price.
Marcus sat against the wall, looking smug and satisfied. Like he'd orchestrated this whole disaster just to watch me fall.
"Professor Mercer," Dr. Hendricks said, her voice crisp and professional. "Thank you for cutting your conference short to join us."
"I apologize for any inconvenience," I said, taking the seat across from the committee. "I came as soon as I received your message."
"I'm sure you understand why we needed to speak with you urgently."
"I do."
Dr. Sullivan leaned forward, his glasses reflecting the fluorescent lights. "Professor Mercer, I'll get straight to the point. We have video evidence of you engaging in inappropriate physical contact with your student, Miss Washington, during a recent trip to Los Angeles."
"Yes, sir."
"Do you deny that this contact occurred?"
I could feel Zoe's eyes on me, but I kept my gaze fixed on the committee. "No, sir. I don't deny it."
"Can you explain to us what happened?"
I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. How could I explain that night without revealing how deeply I'd fallen for her? How could I make them understand that it wasn't some calculated seduction, but a moment of weakness born from grief and loneliness?
"I was having a nightmare," I said finally. "About my accident. Miss Washington was concerned and accompanied me on a walk to clear my head. We ended up at the beach, and during our conversation, there was... a momentary lapse in judgment."
"A momentary lapse in judgment," Dr. Chen repeated. "Is that how you would characterize kissing your student?"
The words hit me like physical blows, but I forced myself to remain calm. "Yes. It was a mistake that should never have happened."
"Miss Washington described it the same way," Dr. Hendricks said, consulting her notes. "She said you both recognized it was wrong immediately."
"That's correct."
"And yet," Dr. Sullivan said, "the video suggests a rather passionate encounter. This doesn't look like two people who immediately realized their mistake."
My jaw clenched. "The video was taken without our knowledge or consent. It captures one moment out of context."
"Professor Mercer," Dr. Chen said, "are you aware of the conservatory's policies regarding relationships between faculty and students?"
"Of course I am."
"Then you understand that any romantic or sexual contact with a student is grounds for immediate dismissal."
"I understand."
Marcus chose that moment to speak up from his chair. "If I may interject, I think we're being too lenient here. Professor Mercer has violated one of our most fundamental policies. He should be terminated immediately."
I finally looked at Zoe then, and saw the pain and confusion in her face. She'd been sitting there for who knows how long, listening to Marcus paint me as some kind of predator.
"Mr. Washington," Dr. Hendricks said, "while we appreciate your concern for your niece, we need to follow proper procedures."
"Proper procedures?" Marcus scoffed. "He kissed a student half his age. What more procedure do you need?"
"The procedure where we hear all the facts," I said, my voice sharper than I intended.
"Professor Mercer," Dr. Sullivan warned, "I'd advise you to watch your tone."
"My apologies." I forced myself to speak more calmly. "I simply meant that context matters in any disciplinary proceeding."
"What context could possibly justify your behavior?" Marcus demanded.
I looked at him directly for the first time since entering the room. "The context that includes how this video came to exist in the first place."
Dr. Hendricks frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that someone followed us to that beach at three in the morning and filmed us without our knowledge. Someone invaded our privacy for the express purpose of creating this scandal."
"That's irrelevant," Marcus said quickly. "The invasion of privacy doesn't change what you did."
"Doesn't it?" I stood up from my chair, my anger finally overriding my caution. "Tell me, Marcus, how do you think that video came to exist?"
"How would I know?"
"Because you arranged for it to be taken."
The room went dead silent. Zoe's mouth fell open, and I could see shock written across her face.