Lyra strode into the dean's office with her head held high, despite the storm brewing within her. Dean Richards sat behind his massive mahogany desk like a king on his throne, his thin lips twisted in a smirk that made her blood boil.
"Ms. Moreau," he said, not bothering to stand. "I expected you'd come running."
Professor Avery stood by the window, his normally kind face tight with worry. His eyes met hers, filled with apology.
"I'm here to clear up this ridiculous accusation," Lyra said, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "Professor Avery's research is his own. I've only assisted him."
The dean leaned back in his leather chair. "That's not what our evidence suggests. According to Covington Group's investigation, you accessed company servers on unauthorized days. Days that coincide perfectly with the theft of Dr. Payne's research."
"That's absurd," Lyra replied. "Correlation doesn't equal causation. Basic scientific principle."
