Page 12 of Wicked Surrender

“I won’t take your crap like my colleague has been forced to,” he said in reference to Dean Chen. “I am new to the job and I haven’t yet had to suffer the inconvenience of getting to know you personally.”

Fuck you, asshole.

“But enlighten me. At this point, I’m merely curious. Why do you even bother? You’re failing. You only care about being the lord of the party, known as the fun hot-shot.”

“Well, don’t be jealous now,” I replied coolly.

“Jealous of a spoiled asshole who’s in college but doesn’t give a shit about succeeding?” He slitted his eyes, digging in more with his taunting tone. “Jealous of a rich trust-fund punk who’s dragging out his college experience because he’s afraid to grow up and act like a real adult? Hilarious,kid.”

I wouldn’t have any enamel left on my teeth at this rate. But he—or Dean Chen—wasn’t worth this. They didn’t know me. And I wasn’t a fuckingkid. I’d be damned if I gave them the satisfaction of seeing me mad, though.

Hearing this bullshit gnawed at me. I was staying in college just to make Dean Chen’s life hell.

“So. Again,” I said flippantly as I studied my cuticles. “How much this time? I’ll tell my parents.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Reeves will not bail you out this time,” Dean Chen said. “We have already contacted them about these allegations of misconduct and your grades and they have made it expressly clear that they have no intention to let you off the hook again.”

I laughed once and looked at the ceiling. “Bullshit.”

“Contact them as you wish,” he intoned firmly. “And feel free to inform me otherwise.”

That was what they did. My parents paid to erase these worries because they had no intention of dealing with me in their lives. This fucker was wrong. Just like he was wrong about William.

“It appears that your parents have never bothered to attend any of the disciplinary hearings or meetings,” Mr. Gormer said, checking over a paper. “And I doubt this time will be any different.”

“How much?” I repeated.

Dean Chen shook his head. “A check won’t save you this time.”

Fuck you!

I refused to believe that my parents wouldn’t come through. They always did. “I’ll get you a check.”

“From what funds?” Dean Chen asked icily. “Your father explained that your trust fund isn’t accessible until your graduation.”

Fuck!I wasn’t offering these pricks an IOU.

“They are, and I quote, ‘fed up with your behavior.’” He raised his brows, judging me. “And they refuse to fork over another penny to cover for the damages of your behavior.”

Dean Chen stood, smoothing his hand down the front of his impeccable suit. Mr. Gormer rose to his feet as well, shoving one hand in his pocket.

Being seated and having them look down at me was a power play. I hated it. But the only emotion I could try to overcome was shock.

They mean it.

My parents weren’t covering my ass this time.

“The only payment you can provide to stay in college and maintain your presidency at the fraternity house is if you go through with and commit to the university’s academic recovery program.” Dean Chen almost scowled with his sentencing.

“Or you’re gone.” Mr. Gormer shrugged, as if he didn’t care how I felt about this at all.

I shot to my feet, snapping to. “What? The recovery program?”

Red-hot indignation filled me at the thought that these two assholes expected me to be tutored.

5

LAURA

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