Chapter 13: The Meeting

Ella Lattone's POV

I was sitting at the table in the conference room of the new faculty and graduates. I don't see that Hayes has come here. Maybe he was an exception since he was a TA and a very well-known alumni after all.

'You're not waiting for him, are you?' I thought before I shook my head. I was looking at the advisors that will be available to share your common interest in your research.

"First, we have Prof. Mauve Smith. She is interested in the oceanography of the past and how it can relate to the future condition of the ocean. Her best student is Azalea Johnson but she is known for Azalea MacWatters." The coordinator said as she was introducing the faculty.

"Then, we have Prof. Carol Swift who likes to talk about gems and their crystalline structures. Her best student is Barbara Brown when she was helping geologist Brandon Cornwall to uncover the new mineral in Reno," the coordinator put the next slide on and I was looking at my professor for my Volcanology Ecosystem 101.

"Next, we have Maxwell Swift who was known for his research of the plate tectonics and how it can be related to the shift in the magma concentration under the crust. His students have not accomplished out of ordinary but his current students are Silas Sokolsky and the newest graduate that joins his program is…" the coordinator said as she was looking at the name list. I was waiting with anticipation.

"Cameron Hayes that concentrated on the volcano system that might have disrupted the new ecosystem of the volcano," she said as I saw Hayes came inside the room then.

"Sorry, I'm late. Did I miss anything?" He asked as he absently took the seat next to me. The coordinator was smiling at him. And I think she was trying to seduce him.

I wanted to throttle her head now.

"No, you're just on time. We were just talking about you," she said as she was batting her eyelashes to him. I rolled my eyes at them.

"Oh, I see. Please continue," he said as he was urging the coordinator to continue. And then she continued, introducing the next advisor as we went. I did not have any time to think for my advisor when Hayes was whispering to me.

"So, have you decided which one will be the perfect advisor to you?" He asked as I was looking at him in the slightly darkened room.

"And why should you care?" I asked him as I was arching my eyebrow. He shrugged.

"No reasons," he said before we were focusing on the slides and I was looking at all the potential advisor that might hold the same interest with me.

Time to make my move.

"Sorry, I focused on more of the ocean stuff,"

"Sorry dear, I focused more on mineralogy. Ecology, however…"

"Have you considered doing some aerospace and maybe planetary experiment?"

I sighed as I was looking at the list that I was sure one of the advisors would be interested to get me under my wing. I have to find my advisor soon or I might explode right now.

"I see that you don't have an advisor yet?" Hayes said as he was leaning against the wall for I was closing my eyes.

"What do you want?" I asked him as I was leaning against the wall before I was opening my eyes, staring at him side glance.

"I was wondering what do you want to do for your Master's proposal. Maybe I can help you out?" He said as I scoffed at him.

"And work again with you as partners? You know how it always ended. Me, doing all the works, and you, getting all the credit," I said as he was smirking at me.

"Exactly,"

I gritted my teeth before I was out of here. If I stay any longer, I think I might get worked up and maybe did something that I will regret later. I was not ready to face any consequence of my action.

"If you need me, you know where to find me," he said as he was removing his lean body from the wall and walked away from there with a grace of a panther. I stared at his buttocks before I was looking away from that sensual move.

Damn, get a grip!

I was shaking my head before I was looking at the last name that I know that it will be working for both of us. Even though I have to endure the next presence that will be in my constant pleasure in my life now. I sighed.

I went to the second floor as I was searching for his office. I was staring at it before I was taking a deep breath and I was knocking on the door. I hoped that he was not in but my luck always a trick on me. The door opened and revealed a handsome man in his mid-30s. I cannot tell really how old he was.

"Oh, hello? Are you lost, doll?" He asked me as I was smiling at my potential advisor.

"Good evening, sir. I was wondering I can maybe talk to you for a couple of minutes? I wanted to talk about a potential proposal that might interest you in your research?" I said before Prof. Max's eyebrows shot up.

"Well, in that case, come on in. I was wondering when the recruits would come to find me," he said as I was smiling before I was getting inside the room. I hope that this was the right decision for me to do.

I can only hope that Hayes' presence will be bearable.

Cameron Hayes' POV

I was looking around the room where I was sitting at the table back of the crowd. I did not know that this place can be so crowded with so many youngsters that wanted to get drunk. Not that I would ban it but I would hope that they will be responsible afterward.

"I know that I can find you here," that annoying voice was coming into my eardrums as I was sipping on my gin and tonic. I sighed before I was looking at Dylan who was smirking at me.

"What do you want?" I asked him as I know he was here to bear news. Good news, I hoped.

"I see that you are miserable, cousin, so I will be giving the news that you wanted to know first," he said as I perked up.

"Is Camila Cabello concert will be here in the nearest time?" I asked him eagerly as he was staring at me, eyebrows furrowed.

"What? No, and I don't think that you would be one of her fans," Dylan said as he was laughing. I grimaced at him. What does he know about music anyway? He only listened to classical music of dead guys.

"Do not judge. Maybe after you listen to her songs, you might as well be calling yourself her fans after all," I said before Dylan shook his head at me.

"No, I have different good news. Guess who gets the new advisor this evening?" He asked me as I was rolling my eyes at him.

"I don't know. Recruits?" I asked him before he grinned at me.

"And who's among the group?" He asked before I was trying to remember. Someone that I know, someone that I liked to annoy.

"Ella Lattone?"

"Exactly. I saw her coming out of Max's office and I see that smile everywhere," he said as I turned sharply at him.

"What do you mean?" I asked as I was narrowing my eyes at him. He held his hands up.

"Woah, easy. It was not that kind of smile. This was more like an innocent smile and all. Besides, Max was married to Carol," Dylan defended his faculty before I sighed. I rubbed my face as I was looking at the drink.

"I would not be so sure if I were you. Even married couples…"

"And I know for a fact that Max loves Carol from the bottom of his heart. Even though he looked like a playboy on the outside," he said as I sighed.

"I cannot believe you just defend your brother over me," I said as I was pouting at him. Dylan laughed.

"Come on, coz. He's my brother. A lot of gaps but I think I would always see him as my brother, even if he would be my faculty on campus," he said with a cringe before he shook his head.

"Enough of my brother. Now to the good stuff, your Ella has decided to make Max as her advisor," Dylan stated as I was looking at him. My eyebrows furrowed.

"Why?" I asked before he sighed.

"Beats me but I think it has to do with the proposal, I think. Oh, and I have another news," he said as he was smirking at me.

"Which is?" I asked as I arched my eyebrow at him before I sipped on my drink.

"The family reunion next week. Don't forget to attend. And if you bring Ella, it might help from the question that you will get from Aunt," he said as he was smirking at me before I grimaced at him.

Damn him but he's right. And the only person that I ever wanted to bring was Ella after all.