He Wanted My Research, She Wanted My Seat, I Wanted Out Chapter 04

He Wanted My Research, She Wanted My Seat, I Wanted Out Chapter 04

He didn’t ask why I’d blocked him. Didn’t explain the weeks of silence. His voice was perfectly normal, like nothing had ever happened.

“Camila, is that research Stanford’s presenting tomorrow yours?”

“Listen to me, it’s too early in the semester to stand out. Push it back a week…”

I played dumb. “What are you talking about? I haven’t even submitted my research project yet.”

Henrik let out a breath. “Good. I was just worried. I didn’t want something that good to get wasted.”

Wasted. He meant he wanted Tessa to go first. So I’d be the one accused of stealing.

I didn’t call him out. Just hung up.

The next morning at 10 a.m., Harvard and Stanford went live with their presentations at the same time.

When the topics hit the screen, the internet lost it.

Same research topic.

Same paper.

Same supporting documents.

Every single punctuation mark was the same.

[Wait, what the hell? Everything’s identical except the author names?]

[Someone copied. One of them definitely stole from the other.]

Professors from both schools saw the comments flood in. They killed the streams immediately.

The presentations turned into a mystery, blowing up all over social media.

To keep things from spiraling, an academic integrity committee formed and launched an investigation overnight.

Dr. Thompson called me into his office.

“Camila, what’s going on? This research… you’re sure you completed it independently?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then what about Tessa Nolan at Harvard? Why are her materials exactly the same as yours?”

“She stole my research.”

“Do you have proof?”

“Dr. Thompson, I can’t get into the details right now. But I promise, I won’t bring shame to our university.”

Dr. Thompson narrowed his eyes at me.

“You chose today for the presentation on purpose. You knew Harvard’s date, right?”

I didn’t answer.

His assistant knocked on the door.

“The committee has a conference room at Adler Central. They need you there now.”

The room was wide, with five committee members seated behind a long table, faces stone-cold serious.

Three network journalists had cameras rolling, live feed, so the public could see.

Tessa and Henrik sat in chairs facing the committee.

When Tessa saw me, her eyes went red on cue.

“Camila… how could you do this? Why would you steal my work…”

“I trusted you so much…”

The committee gestured for me and Dr. Thompson to sit. Then they turned to Tessa. “Did you complete this research independently?”

Tessa nodded. “I worked on it for a year. It nearly broke me.”

“Then why does Camila Mercer have an identical copy?”

That question opened the floodgates. Tears streamed down Tessa’s face, her voice wobbling.

“She’s my best friend. I never hid anything from her. She knew all my passwords.”

“She was always on my computer at my place. I never thought she’d actually steal my research.”

“Camila, if you wanted anything else I’d give it to you. But this is my life’s work. Please just give it back…”

I blinked, innocent.

“I didn’t take anything of yours. What am I supposed to give back?”

“I don’t steal. Not things. Not people.”

Henrik cut in, his voice sharp and loud.

“Camila, stop with your snarky crap! I know exactly what you’re doing! You’re getting back at Tessa for no reason!”

“I’m her boyfriend. She’s been bitter and jealous ever since Tessa and I ended up at the same school.”

“I never thought she’d sink this low! Stealing someone else’s research.”

“And I can tell you right now. Camila’s always been lazy. She parties, she plays around. This project is way beyond her.”

The live comments flooded in, almost entirely one-sided.

[Between Harvard and Stanford, I’m going with Harvard…]

[Exactly. A Harvard student stealing from a Stanford student? That’s a joke, right?]

[Agreed. If she were that smart, she’d have gotten into Harvard.]

[Even her boyfriend is calling her out. Says everything about her character.]

Dr. Thompson shifted in his seat, clearly rattled. He leaned toward me.

“Camila, stop holding back. Explain yourself!”

The committee chair’s voice cut through the murmurs.

“Camila Mercer, do you have anything to say in response to Ms. Nolan’s accusation?”

“Yes.”

I raised my hand and pointed at the huge screen displaying two identical sets of documents.

Everyone’s eyes followed my finger.

I turned to Tessa, speaking slowly, one word at a time.

“Tessa, since this project is yours—”

“Then tell everyone where the watermark is hidden.”