Chapter 11 - THE PROFESSOR RETURNS
Selene returned to Cambridge six weeks later.
Not as a disgraced academic begging for forgiveness.
As a scholar carrying independently authenticated evidence that the documents used to destroy her reputation had been falsified.
Her attorney had submitted the financial records, correspondence, and forensic analysis to the university's independent review panel.
Professor Julian Harrow was suspended pending investigation.
Selene's original research files were recovered from an archived server.
They showed that she had identified the cipher long before Harrow claimed credit.
At the hearing, a senior administrator asked whether she intended to return to teaching.
Selene looked at the panel.
"I haven't decided."
The administrator nodded.
"We recognize the damage done to your career."
Selene's expression remained steady.
"Do you recognize that the damage was allowed to continue after I provided evidence?"
Silence.
She continued.
"I lost my position, my professional reputation, my research access, and two years of my life. An apology won't give those back."
The administrator lowered his eyes.
Selene placed a document on the table.
"I want a formal correction of the record. I want the authorship of my research restored. And I want the university to review the procedures that allowed forged evidence to be accepted without independent verification."
The panel agreed to consider the demands through its formal process.
Outside, reporters waited.
Selene walked past them without stopping.
Then she saw Dante standing near the stone steps.
He wore a dark coat and held two cups of coffee.
She stopped.
"What are you doing here?"
He smiled faintly.
"Buying coffee for a professor."
She stared.
"You flew across the Atlantic?"
"Yes."
"To bring me coffee?"
"Among other things."
She laughed.
For a moment, the weight of the past two years lifted.
Then Dante became serious.
"I wanted to tell you something in person."
Selene waited.
"The Commission has suspended Massimo's authority. Investigators have frozen the disputed accounts. And I've begun the process of separating our legitimate companies from the criminal organization."
She studied him.
"That won't be easy."
"No."
"It could cost you everything."
Dante looked at her.
"Maybe everything I thought I needed."
Selene felt her heart tighten.
Then he held out the second coffee.
"Would you have dinner with me tonight?"
She smiled.
"As a business arrangement?"
"No."
"As repayment for the translation?"
"No."
"Then as what?"
Dante took a breath.
"As a man who has been thinking about you every day since you told him his ancient manuscript wasn't gibberish."
Selene laughed softly.
May you like
Then nodded.
"Yes."
