Fabian didn't even look up, but his voice was utterly self-righteous.
"Sara, you have countless papers under your belt. Awards and honors coming out of your ears. You don't need this one."
"But Doris is different."
"Without this paper, she might not graduate."
I almost laughed from the sheer absurdity. I grabbed my experiment records and slammed them onto the table.
"Three months of all-nighters for this data. Thirteen rounds of revisions."
"This is my life's work, Fabian. You think you can just tell me to hand it over and I will?"
Doris hid behind him, timid as a frightened rabbit, her eyes rimmed red as she looked at me.
"Professor Pruitt, please don't be angry."
"It's all my fault for being so stupid. Professor Morton only did this because he felt sorry for me..."
"Don't call me that."
My voice cut through hers, cold and flat.
"Doris, if you want a signature work, if you want to graduate smoothly, you should focus on your actual research."
"Not on seducing your professor."
"Enough!"
Fabian couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed my wrist.
"Doris doesn't know any better. She's just a young girl. You're a grown woman—why are you still making such a fuss?"