Chapter 176: Shoot The Victim
Vivian’s POV
For many years now Vivian had been an upstanding teacher. She loved her job and as a result she had always put in one hundred and ten when doing it. Her kids deserved nothing less but for the past few months her personal life had been way more hectic than she was used to. The way in which she approached her teaching job had shown that. She had taken a lot of days off. But despite that, every single moment that she had been in her classroom Vivian had always made sure that none of her personal turmoil was affecting her work.
But that did not matter anymore.
The private life that she had been working so hard to keep from her work life had found its way in, and it was wreaking havoc in Vivian’s career. By some miracle when the paparazzi had shown up at the school and made a scene Vivian’s job had not been affected. In fact the director had even allowed her to have a few days off.
But now thanks to all of the online hate going on and the most recent assault through the pornographic video, Vivian’s luck had finally run out.
Looking over at Ryan’s expectant face, she tried to reassure him with a smile, but all that her lips did was wobble. The school director’s words still ringing in her ears. Vivian almost found that she had no idea how to tell him, but she knew that she was going to have to say something.
***
Finally getting her lips to stop wobbling, she forced a fake smile onto her face, stretching her lips as far as they would go trying to look cheerful. But from the worried look that Ryan gave her, she could tell it was not working, so she dropped the fake smile and let her sadness show.
"The school director just informed me that I can now consider my leave as a suspension," Ryan inhaled sharply. His shock quickly giving way to anger.
"What right does she have to do that? You have done nothing wrong. Do not worry, I will get you the best representation and we will take that school to the cleaners," Before he was even done. Vivian was shaking her head. "No Ryan, I do not want to do that. Whatever is coming my way, I will face it alone,"
But Ryan was not listening.
"No Vivian, you have done nothing to deserve this. It is all that good for nothing Bryce’s fault. All of those images online are AI, that lady surely knows that,"
Not disputing that at all, Vivian simply shrugged. "Of course, she knows, she told me that she is well aware of it. But the problem is the parents, they were more than willing to want to be associated with me when our relationship was exposed. But now with the sex tape a lot of them are uneasy. They do not want someone like that around their kids," Running a hand through his hair, Ryan blew out a breath, his nostrils flaring in rage as he did so.
"But you did nothing wrong. Why are you being punished for this?"
Vivian shrugged. "To you, this might seem shocking, but for us common folk, it is actually something we see on a regular basis. Rumors can destroy your career, if they cannot fire you, they can make you quit. The school director is actually doing me a favour by handling this thing head on, at least now that I am suspended, procedure can be followed, I have a fighting chance,"
"I still think that you should let me hire somebody to represent you," Reaching out Vivian gently patted Ryan’s cheek.
"As sweet as it is for you to offer, I am going to have to decline. Come what may, I have to face it on my own like a big girl,"
Ryan looked like he was only moments away from pulling out his own hair.
"But that is the thing Vivian, you are not alone anymore, you have me and all of the power that I possess, let me help you fight this," He was so sincere, it made her heart ache. The man really had no idea how the world was like for the working class.
Smiling softly Vivian shook her head. "If I were to bring representation into this, and win, it would make my life at the school really, really hard. Not only would I be threatening the school director, and the parents, it would look like I am flaunting how untouchable I am, No one likes a person like that. Let me face this alone, it is the only way I can do it," Clearly still not happy with it at all. Ryan finally just nodded, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
"All right, I do not like it, but I will let you handle this your way. But if you change your mind, just tell me, and you will be lawyered up in a heartbeat," Smiling tiredly at him even though she knew that she would not be taking him up on the offer, Vivian nodded. The one good thing that she had gotten from the conversation with the director was that her hearing would be a virtual one, so she would at least be in the comfort of the penthouse when she finally got her chance to defend herself.
She would have liked it even more if she were in her apartment. But Ryan’s people had reported that the occasional journalist could still be seen lurking around, so she could not go there. Choosing to stop thinking about things that she could not do, she focused on the things that she could still do, and in that moment, what she could do was hug Ryan, and that was what she did.
As messy as things currently were for her, she was glad that she had Ryan with her. So long as she had him by her side, she would keep fighting.
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