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"Yes, sir I wanted her and wasn't going to let up until she subrin, and only Zach and I truly knohat he means by "submission"

"Randall I'm so sorry," I tell him "I totally breached your trust I have no excuse"

Giving me an amused smile, Randall says, "Well, the way Zach tells it, you had no choice in the matter"

I stand froe to help balance e of a panic attack "But see I did I did have a choice, and I chose to give in to , and I have no business even staying here another et someone else to take over for me, and I'll share all of my notes so far There are plenty of qualified people that can continue to help Zach"

Turning fro room even as Zach calls out to me, "Moira wait"

I can hear the scraping of his chair against the polished hardwood floor and I speed upup it I expect Zach to be in hot pursuit, and I need to reach my room to lock both doors before he shows up

Once I'ure out what to do It was the right thing to do to resign I can't, in good conscience, continue on and, frankly, I should have quit the very first time that Zach fucked me

But I was selfish

So selfish

I didn't want to give Zach up Not for the scientific opportunity, but I didn't want to give him up because I selfishly wanted him and wanted as much time with him as possible And to do that, I had to prey on Randall's trust in enerosity

A soft knock sounds on the door, and I hear Randall's voice filter through softly "Moira I'd like to talk to you a moment"

Oh, shit Shit, shit, shit I don't want to face this

With leaden feet, I walk to the door and unlock it When I swing it open, Randall is standing there with a kind smile on his face "Can I come in?"

I nod and stand aside so he can enter, shutting the door behind him

"You're absolutely right," Randall says as I turn to face him "There are other people qualified In fact, some are way more qualified than you are I intervieo other anthropologists that had dual PhDs in psychology in addition to their PhDs in anthropology They certainly would have been far better choices than you to deal with any psychological stressors that Zach would be experiencing"

I nod in understanding "I agree I'm sure one of theolden opportunity"

"Yes, it is," Randall concurs "But I don't care about the opportunity for their benefit, or yours for that matter What I care about is the opportunity for Zach"

My eyes lower to the floor in shame, that I've ruined this for Zach

"And I believe you are the best person to make the most of this opportunity for him," Randall concludes

My eyes rise to his in confusion "I don't understand"

"I chose you very specifically, Dr Reed Do you think I was just sending so for the best? No, I knew everything about the Caraican tribe before I even started looking at anthropological help I spent a great deal of time with Father Gaul and other scientists that had studied indigenous tribes, learning about Caraican society and their customs and nor before he carasp what I was facing, then I startedhim out"

I'm stunned silent but even if I had the power of speech, I have no clue what to say

"You were the person, Moira The best person for Zach"

Understanding starts to dawn on me "Because I was a woman?"