My Thesis Advisor Destroys Me By Day, Begs Me By Night

After Professor Reid tore apart my work in the meeting, I sent my online boyfriend a photo of my legs. Show your master what you've got. I looked up for Calum Reid, who never smiles, who keeps every button done up to his throat, whose entire personality is controlled contempt. His jaw tightened, his ears went red I glanced at his phone screen out of pure curiosity it was my message. Oh my god, my brain stopped working. And then my stupid hand went ahead and called him on video. Callum's phone buzzed during the review. I still can't believe itthe coldest man in the department, the one who makes PhD students cry in the hallway, the one every girl says is too beautiful and too mean to exist. He's my online boyfriend. He tapped his screen; my heart shot into my throat. He's going to pick up. Please pick up. Ten minutes ago, he told the room my analysis was embarrassingly underdeveloped. Once he knows it's me, he'll have to back off. Oh my god, I'm going to graduate. He declined. My phone lit up in a review right now. Can I message you later? I froze. I was still smiling. Then Callum's voice cut through the room. "Jade, what exactly are you smiling at? " I flinched.

Jade, what happened in there? Why were you literally calling someone on video during the review? Because I just found out Callum Reed is my online boyfriend. In that moment, I was insane with happiness. Now it just feels surreal. I looked around, no one nearby. Do you think Callum could be in an online relationship? Callum, he's like a sealed vault. The man doesn't date; he doesn't even look at people that way. Online relationship? No. Then her expression shifted. you didn't find one of those posts online, did you the ones that say if your advisor's blocking you just confess feelings and they'll back off. those are rage bait. Don't touch them. Callum already doesn't think highly of you. If he thinks you're messing with him, you are done. My stomach dropped; I thought I'd hit the jackpot. From Callum's side, I look like I was messing with him on purpose. He cannot find out it was me. I was just curious; I'd never actually do that. Maya relaxed. Back at my apartment, Callum messaged me almost immediately, "Are you free right now? "

Everyone looked at me. you have no major publications, no relevant research background coming in. I didn't want you on my committee, your supervisors vouched for you, said you were worth developing. And your data is a mess, your writeup is incoherent, you haven't said one useful thing today, and now you're on your phone. Do you actually want to finish this degree? I'm done, I'm so done. The other students went very still. I've been a top student my whole life, teachers loved me, classmates looked up to me. Then I started my PhD and well, Calum Reid became the person whose opinion decides whether I graduate. My face was burning, my eyes were full, but online he's so different, warm, patient, genuinely kind. I tried to say something. My voice came out shaking. I was messaging someone. He's actually... No one in this room cares. Zero people want to know about your personal life. Callum's voice was just so flat. Next time you can't manage basic professional conduct, request a different professor. I won't sit on your panel. Callum isn't just the youngest faculty member in the department; he's the youngest person ever tenured here. His name carries across the whole field. His recommendation can open any door. Losing his backing, that could close every one of them. He chairs my committee, if he walks I rebuild the whole thing from scratch new chair, new timeline years I don't have I'd be finished understood. It won't happen again My whole body went cold Eventually, well I got the words out.