My contract love story

The chill that Cassidy’s words sent through Ashleigh’s heart became more than a mere shiver-it turned into a bone-deep truth she would come to understand fully. The days following the orientation were a whirlwind for Ashleigh. Between her newly commenced classes and a mountain of coursework that loomed over her with the mid-semester exams just two weeks away, she also had to contend with the icy, indifferent attitudes of her classmates. The biochemistry department she had joined was the largest in the department’s history, with fifty students, her inclusion being the final count. The senior classes, by contrast, had fewer than twenty students each. Despite their small numbers, the collective presence of these students was overwhelming, their attitudes creating a palpable sense of exclusion.

From the moment she arrived, it was clear that Ashleigh was not welcome. Her classmates made it apparent through their actions and dismissive attitudes that she was not invited to interact, walk, or even sit with them. The sense of alienation was compounded by derogatory comments about her being inferior, given that they knew neither her surname nor her family background.

Ashleigh soon discovered that Robin College catered to the elite, with power dynamics that could be as ruthless as they were influential. The effort required to establish a presence in such an environment was grueling, and competition was fierce. Each lecture or lab period turned into a spectacle of academic prowess, where any perceived weakness could quickly become a target for scorn. While Ashleigh didn’t mind the competitive atmosphere-indeed, it kept her on edge-what she dreaded was the aftermath. In a place where geniuses were known to be sore losers, any slip could turn her life into a torment.

Today was poised to be one of those critical days. The chemistry laboratory was bustling for their final class of the day. Each student had their own station, but the desks were positioned close enough to allow conversations among the groups. Ashleigh, still an outsider, chose the desk nearest to the door. The professor for the session, the kindly but formidable Professor Patel, entered and stood before the class.

“Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the final lecture for today. I know you’ve all been through a series of lectures, but think of this as the pinnacle of your efforts. Give it everything you’ve got,” Professor Patel’s deep voice resonated in the now silent room, broken only by the hum of the air conditioning.

“As you may have seen on the class forum, today’s session will include a mini-quiz to prepare for next week’s mid-semester exams. I trust you’ve reviewed your notes, as this quiz will be closed-book and will account for a quarter of your grade. Points will be awarded subjectively, so I’ll be determining the final scores based on today’s performance,” he continued, met with nods and murmurs of agreement from the students.

“This quiz will be conducted in groups of five. Each row represents a group, and you’ll be working on one station together. The group that gives the most accurate answer first will receive the full mark, with scores decreasing by five points for each subsequent group, so I wouldn’t want to be the last group if I were you,” he added with a light tone, though the gravity of his words was clear to everyone.

The room buzzed with activity as students discussed their feelings about the group work. Some were pleased, seeing it as an opportunity to share the workload, while others, particularly those in Ashleigh’s row, expressed their displeasure. Ashleigh overheard the sighs and whispered complaints from those around her.

“The topic for today’s quiz is…” Professor Patel paused, drawing the class into a tense silence. The choice of topic would significantly impact their grades.

“Enzyme Kinetics!” he announced. The class split into a mix of excited squeals and disappointed groans.

The excitement came from the middle row, known by the students as the ‘Jewels’-a group of five students who were among the top ten most influential new arrivals at Robin College. Gerald Alastair, Diane Julian, Samantha Millicent, Cameron Watson, and Alana Russell made up this well-known group. Ashleigh had seen their pictures online and admired them from afar, but her first week at Robin had been a harsh wake-up call.

Alana Russell, in particular, commanded attention. As the daughter of a retired Hollywood couple turned industrialists, she was not only a legacy but also a prodigy in science. At just sixteen, she had the highest GPA in her high school, was the valedictorian, and had received offers from five Ivy League colleges before choosing biochemistry at Robin. With her striking appearance and impressive background, Alana was as arrogant as she was talented, ignoring anyone she deemed beneath her, including Ashleigh.

“Alana, this is going to be a piece of cake!” Diane’s overly enthusiastic voice rang out, oblivious to the surrounding students. She clung to her boyfriend Cameron’s arm. Alana merely glanced at them, her indifference palpable.

“Alright, let’s settle down,” Professor Patel said, regaining the class’s attention.

“The objective of this quiz is to determine the Michaelis Constant and maximum velocity of the enzyme provided by the lab assistants using three substrates. The group with the most accurate values will win.”

Once the lab assistants distributed the materials, the students gathered at their stations to begin. As Ashleigh approached her group, she could feel the palpable hostility from one particular student, causing her heart to race.

“Hey, new girl! Don’t mess this up for us. We don’t want our grade compromised after all the hard work we’ve put in,” he spat, glaring at her with disdain. The other group members muttered their agreement, their harsh stares making Ashleigh feel even more unwelcome.

“I’ll try my best,” Ashleigh replied, trying to keep her voice steady as she reviewed the protocol sheet. She had only briefly studied enzyme kinetics the night before, not expecting it to be the quiz topic.

As the timer began, the work commenced. While some students struggled with the problem, others worked quietly. For Ashleigh’s group, it was a mix of confusion and cooperation, with some members unsure of the next steps but receiving help from those more knowledgeable. Ashleigh chose to work silently, preferring to compare answers later rather than risk making a mistake and incurring the wrath of her group.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

An hour into the session, Professor Patel and the lab assistants moved around, checking progress and offering guidance. After an intense period of beakers clinking and pipettes working, a group finished and confidently submitted their results. Diane submitted their work to Professor Patel, and the class watched enviously as she returned to her seat. Alana, seated in the middle, wore a small smirk of satisfaction.

As the other groups completed their submissions, Ashleigh’s group finished second to last. When Professor Patel began reviewing the submissions, the tension was palpable.

“Impressive work from all of you,” he began. “However, the group with the most accurate values and therefore the full marks is Cameron Watson and Alana’s group!”

The class erupted into applause, with cheers echoing from those who admired the ‘Jewels’. Ashleigh’s group, seated in the front row, was disheartened to hear their placement. Ashleigh lowered her head, eager for the class to end so she could avoid any further confrontation.

“Cameron Watson, could you please come to the front and show your classmates the workings so they can learn from this?” Professor Patel requested. Cameron made his way to the front, enduring the usual swoons from the female students. He rolled his eyes but took his place to explain their method and results.

As Cameron spoke, Ashleigh’s gaze remained fixed on her workbook. Something wasn’t adding up. Her eyes widened as she realized that Cameron’s group had used an incorrect buffer concentration value, rendering their results invalid. Unable to stay silent, she raised her hand amid the applause.

“Professor, I need to say something,” she said, her voice cutting through the room.

“Speak on, dear,” Professor Patel encouraged. Ashleigh swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice.

“I believe that, based on the explanation Cameron provided, they used an incorrect buffer concentration value, which invalidates their results,” she said. Her words elicited gasps from the class.

The ‘Jewels’ immediately lost their smiles and turned their disdainful gazes toward Ashleigh. The guy who had spoken harshly to her earlier leaned in and whispered, “If you’re not sure about this, just shut up.”

“Just wait!” Ashleigh retorted, standing up to present her workbook to Professor Patel.

Professor Patel adjusted his glasses and scrutinized her workbook carefully. After a tense moment, he looked from the book to Ashleigh with a skeptical expression.

“Ashleigh is correct,” he declared. “The buffer concentration value used by Cameron’s group was incorrect, rendering their results invalid. Full marks will go to Ashleigh’s group. The scores for the rest of the class will be adjusted and sent later today after reevaluation.”

The room fell into stunned silence, and Ashleigh’s face broke into a triumphant smile. Cameron’s face reddened as he erupted, “Is this a joke? Professor, check again!”

Ashleigh, maintaining her composure, returned to her seat and began to gather her belongings quietly.

“If you’d like, I can have the questions forwarded to the senior classes for further verification,” Professor Patel said firmly. “But it remains a fact that Ashleigh’s observation was correct. Be more meticulous next time.”

Displeasure was evident among Samantha and the others, but Alana, who had remained silent throughout the ordeal, finally spoke up. Rising from her seat, she walked over to Ashleigh’s desk where the workbook lay.

She examined the workbook before turning to Cameron, whose fury was barely contained. “Cameron, it’s important to accept correction gracefully,” Alana’s voice was smooth but carried an edge. “It was our mistake this time, and we will learn from it.”

Alana then turned to Professor Patel and offered an apology. Carrying the notebook, she closed it with deliberate care, glancing at the name written inside. With a measured but firm motion, she placed the book down on Ashleigh’s desk, causing Ashleigh to look up in surprise and recoil slightly under Alana’s intense gaze.

“We should also learn to give praise when it’s due,” Alana said coolly, her smile both pretty and unsettling.

“Well done, Ashleigh Hartman.”