Betrayed by Kelly Harper Read Free Book Online

money it spends. There’s a new landscape out there.”
    Ethan shrugged.
    “This is nothing new,” Ethan said. “It’s politics.”
    Jerry’s face twitched.
    “We’re getting scrutinized from all angles. The business college is coming under fire from the President of the University; and she’s out to make a name for herself.”
    “We’re a top twenty business school on a national level. That’s no small feat for a public school.”
    Jerry’s voice grew quieter; all but a whisper.
    “We’re doing cutbacks,” he breathed out. “Soon.”
    Ethan fell back into his chair, the wind suddenly knocked from his chest. His mind raced as he considered what Jerry was telling him; as he considered why Jerry was telling him. This wasn’t news that the head of a department handed out lightly. It meant something.
    Ethan did the math quickly in his head. He knew what Jerry was saying.
    “How long do I have?” he asked.
    Jerry raised his hands to ease him, but Ethan was calm and collected.
    “You need this project to come through. I don’t see any other way - the department must see some money flowing in.”
    “Yeah, I get it,” Ethan said. “I know my salary is outside of the normal ranges given my pedigree. I know I’ve got to get some money flowing in the door.”
    Jerry nodded tightly. They were on the same page, and Ethan knew that everything was riding on his pending research project. If it wasn’t funded for some reason, or if anything fell through for any reason, he was done. He could kiss his academic career goodbye.
    It wouldn’t be the worst thing that happened in his life, but he had never failed in anything before. The thought of being cast out of the University like some bastard child didn’t appeal to him. He wasn’t about to go out without giving it all he had.
    “I won’t let you down,” he said.
    Jerry nodded once more and left without saying another word. The door clicked as it shut, and Ethan was left alone in silence. He bit his lip nervously as he replayed everything in his head. He cursed and shoved some of the papers away from himself. There would be no getting any work done the rest of the night. He was annoyed that he had his back up against the wall - but he knew that he could perform well under pressure. He’d done it for years on Wall Street. If anything, he was more annoyed that he had let himself get stuck in that situation in the first place.
    Ethan sighed and looked at his phone again. He reread the message from Kayla and checked the time. Fifteen minutes had passed already, and she was probably at his house waiting on him. He knew it was going to be a tough discussion - but perhaps a night with his girlfriend was just what the doctored ordered. Maybe it would help clear his head and get him on the right track.
    Girlfriend.
    That was the first time he’d ever thought of Kayla in that light. Maybe he would mention it to her when they were together.

    * * * * *

    Ethan raced through the streets of Tucson on his way home. The traffic was light at that hour, and he didn’t want to keep Kayla waiting any longer. He veered around an old Chevelle parked on the street as he pulled into the driveway, and he was happy to see that Kayla’s car wasn’t there. He had beat her home, and that meant he had a bit of time to unwind before she arrived.
    Ethan parked in the garage and shut off the car. As the purr of the engine died down, another noise took its place. He could hear the rhythmic beat of music coming rom somewhere. His brow pinched together when he realized it was coming from inside the house.
    “What the hell? ” he thought to himself.
    As he cracked open the door to the house from the garage, the sound of AC/DC erupted from within. He glanced back out at the driveway and confirmed that Kayla’s car wasn’t there - but he knew she wouldn’t be listening to music that loudly in the first place.
    Ethan’s hands started shaking. Someone was in his house; and apparently they