Page 86 of Obedience

Greta:

‘Pretty little head’? Is that The Dylan of the House speaking?’

Dylan:

‘Haha! This Nine Inch Nails ache in between my thighs is fucking unreal. I love it! Every bump on the tram is SO exciting!’

Squirt emoji

Greta:

‘Jesus Dylan. I’m about to have my HR meeting.’

Eye roll emoji

Dylan:

‘Full of empathy for me and my public transportation plight, bouncing along in blissful agony with the great unwashed of Manchester. The bloke next to me smells like a cheese and onion pie FFS. Anyway, think about me in your meeting and how you’ll have the same ache tomorrow’

Greta:

‘How very professional’

Dylan:

‘Go away please. I’m very busy and extremely important.’

Dylan:

‘Remember not to panic. Dx’

Greta:

‘See you later. Gx’

Dylan:

xx

***

The all-consuming anxiety that Greta had carried in the pit of her stomach abated a little following her meeting with HR. They were satisfied to wait for the findings from the university’s student wellness and safeguarding teams before deciding on recourse, a delay that afforded her some breathing room. The woman she met with was kind, nodding and smiling in all the right places. She was particularly relieved that Dylan had never worked with Greta at the Trust, acknowledging Greta’s exemplary career and formidable reputation. After leaving the meeting, Greta was left with a tangible sense of calm, as her growing concerns began to lift, for the first time in weeks. With the university safeguarding team due to meet with Dylan at some point soon, she told herself that once her side was heard, things would surely have to calm down.

Greta waited in line at Vanofee and thumbed open her WhatsApp messages, opening Dylan’s latest text.

Dylan:

‘Let me know how it goes with HR. Dx’

Greta moved forward in the queue and typed her reply.

Greta:

‘Better than I had anticipated. Fill you in later’

Dylan:

‘Nope, sorry. I can’t handle any more filling but I will gladly listen to you tell me about your day’