Page 210 of Filthy Elites

And Royer? Well, it’s no surprise his father bailed him out and hired a prestigious lawyer to defend him from the charges. They’ve appealed his Whittmore suspension, and a hearing will be held before the end of the semester. I want to say he’ll never win, but guys like Royer Atkinson rarely lose. I’m just thankful he’s spending his time getting out of this mess and not making my life miserable.

I arrive at the building and climb the front steps. The house looks the same, brick with white columns. The letters are gone, although the faded imprint is still visible. There’s a chain and padlock looped through the brass doorknobs. A lone figure waits on the front porch—tall and lanky, glasses perched on his nose.

My heart flip-flips in my chest.

“Hey,” Grayson says. His eyes scan up and down my body. “It’s still weird seeing you like… you know.”

“A girl?”

“Yeah.” We meet halfway up the steps, and he hugs me, pulling me close. He smells great. “How are you?”

“Nervous.”

“Any chance you want to tell me what this is about?”

“Not yet.” I look back over the yard. No one else is here yet. There’s no guarantee they will show. All of this is a long shot.

“Our job is to monitor and encourage Greek life on campus,” the Chancellor said. “Obviously, we’re down two at the moment, and that doesn’t look good to the national Council in terms of philanthropy and funding.”

“It looks better than being in the news for abusing recruits,” I shot back. “But I guess what you’re saying is you don’t like empty houses. You want to add them back.”

“Well,” she said, giving me a small smile, “we want to add something back. Something a little different.”

I tilted my head. “Different how?”

She rests her elbows on her desk. “A co-ed group, focused on networking and service. No formal rush, just applications. Zero tolerance on hazing.” She must see the skepticism on my face. “The goal would be to recruit students that have no desire for typical Greek life.”

“Why are you telling me about this?” I ask. The dust may have settled, but my nerves are still raw. “I have nothing to do with Greek life or building occupancy.”

“Because the Council wants you involved—they’d like you to be on the executive board.” She gives me a confident grin. “They think you’d be the perfect face and stamp of approval for this new venture.”

At first, I said no. Who wants the hassle? And it felt like a slippery slope back into trouble. But later, after I’d thought about for a while, a plan started to formulate. If the Chancellor really wants this to happen, she’ll go to someone else—someone who isn’t as invested in making a change. Why not take the opportunity for leadership to do this the right way—my way? So, ultimately, I agreed.

But with some stipulations.

I glance at the time. Two minutes until this meeting is supposed to formally start. I think for a minute none of them are going to show and I’m going to have to go back to the Chancellor and tell her it’s off.

“It may be easier if I knew who and what was about to happen,” Grayson prompts, resting his hands on my shoulders. His thumbs make tiny circles to relieve the tension. I almost cave, but I know if I do, the whole thing will blow up, more than I already expect it to.

I take a deep breath and look up at him. “I need you to be patient, just for a few more minutes.”

He nods, but his eyes flick over my head and he mutters, “What the fuck?”

I spin, heart already pounding in my chest before I even see them. Miller and Knox are at the end of the sidewalk. Miller’s face is expressionless as he pretends he didn’t just miss a step when he sees the two of us on the former Zeta Sig front steps. Knox is the opposite. With his hands tucked in his pockets, a small, curious smile tugs at his mouth.

Grayson, on the other hand, has pushed past me and rushes down the steps. “Leave now or I call campus security.”

Miller nods at me. “She invited us, isn’t that right, kitten?”

The nickname lights my spine on fire, but I do everything I can to maintain composure. What happens in the next five minutes could change my—our—lives.

“Is that true?” Grayson asks, but he already knows that it is.

“Yes, I asked you all to meet me here.” I stay on the step, liking the way it keeps me elevated. “The Chancellor has asked me to start a new organization, non-Greek, one that brings out the best in Whittmore. There would be a focus on service and philanthropy. She’s given me this house to run it out of.”

“So what?” Knox asks. “You brought us here to rub it in our faces that you’re creating a little club in our old house?”

“No, actually.” I take a deep breath and then exhale. “I’m inviting you to join.” I look at Grayson. “And for you to be our on-site liaison to the Council.”

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