Quiet Domination

I entered Dr. James Slater’s office feeling a mixture of anxiety and excitement. He was undoubtedly the toughest professor I had in my three years of college thus far but he was also undoubtedly the most attractive man I had ever seen in my entire life. I hesitated outside his office door a moment to collect myself, smoothing my gray blouse that contrasted my hennaed hair greatly, and picking lint off my black linen pants, I hoped I looked ok.
“Come in,” Dr. Slater called after I tapped on the door gently.
I opened the door and entered, closing it behind me carefully. “You wanted to see me, Dr. Slater?” I was surprised at the steadiness of my own voice. I stood at the door looking at the back of the professor’s head as he looked out the window into the common area that spread out in front of the faculty office building.
Slowly he turned and looked at me, his dark blue eyes piercing as well as appraising. I squirmed internally, concentrating on not blushing.
“Miss McBride, thank you for coming. I know you must be busy with finals and getting ready for summer break.” His voice was dark, commanding while his words were inviting. Gesturing to the chair in front of his desk he bid me sit.
Looking over his office while I sat I silently remarked for the hundredth time how notably tidy it was; very different from the other offices piled with books and papers strewn about.
“First I would like to return your final to you,” Dr. Slater said, handing me my final exam. He gave me time to open up the booklet and see the A in the back with a small note commending my excellent thesis and essay construction.
I closed the booklet and smiled, “Thank you, Sir.”
Shaking his head slightly he smirked, “No need to thank me, I did not give you the grade. You earned it.”
Unsure of what to say to that I smiled at him, knowing how unassuming my expressions can be. I once had a friend who would photograph just about anyone but had rolls and rolls of me just sitting or hanging out, each expression unassuming and almost delicate looking, “As if there’s roaring waves of emotion just beneath a very fine layer of china” she said. I think she took the pictures to see if the china would break eventually, it never did, at least not in front of a camera.
“Now,” Professor Slater went on, unaffected by the blankness of my expression and the quiet after, “are you involved in any sort of internship this summer? Any work?”
Shaking my head I sighed. I had tried to get work at a nearby publishing company so that I might be able to get some of my manuscripts in through the back door but it was no use, they were already booked with interns and volunteers and workers. So far it looked like I would be stuck working at my friend’s boutique for six bucks an hour and free coffee. “No sir, I haven’t but it’s certainly not through lack of trying,” I tried to sound unaffected.
“I’m sure it isn’t, you’re a determined young woman, Miss McBride.” He looked at me a moment then went on, “I was hoping you weren’t involved in any work this summer, it makes my next move a lot easier.”
I was puzzled but remained silent while Dr. Slater leaned forward as if ready to confide in me a dark puzzle.
“How would you feel about an assistant position for the summer?”
As far as my understanding him he might have been speaking Russian. I Shook my head in a confused manner which he obviously took as negative hesitation, “Wait, hear me out,” he raised his hand to stop my unformed words. “Yes, it would be mostly goffer work with a lot of coffee making and note taking and phone calls but I’m willing to pay well and negotiate days off.”
I almost fell out of the chair, “You mean work as YOUR assistant?”
He seemed amused by this, “Well, I don’t think Dr. Jansen down the hall needs one, but I could ask if you’d prefer.”
Shaking my head I tried to think of something not stupid to say, “That, no, um…”
He grinned, a slow and miraculous motion that was more like a constellation forming or the sun rising, “Great, then how about we negotiate?”