Page 63 of The Bleak Beginning

Her eyes narrow, and I can see the stubborn set of her jaw. She doesn’t want to back down, but it doesn’t matter, because I refuse to see it any other way.

“You keep saying that, but what exactly has she done?” Sutton challenges. “Besides existing?”

I lean back, crossing my arms. “It’s about protecting our own.”

“And who decides who ‘our own’ is?” she fires back, before shoving back her chair and storming out of the library.

I feel a surge of anger, but I force it down. Losing my temper won’t help anyone.

I finish my coffee before rising from my spot and shoving my arms back through my jacket. My mood has officially soured.

“Mr. Oliveri,” a familiar voice calls after me as I shuffle my way past a narrow row of bookcases.

“Professor O’Donnelly,” I say tersely, coming to a stop beside the check-out desk at the front.

“I haven’t gotten the chance to discuss how your one-on-one with Miss Prescott went the other night.”

My teeth gnash together. Looks like we’re both wondering the same thing, since she didn’t bother to show up. I waited sixty whole seconds past the scheduled start time before deciding to ditch it myself. I had better things to do than help improve Alex’s incompetence.

I force my features to remain neutral. “It went fine, Professor. Her academic disability is something I’m handling.”

She smiles, an eager glint in her eye. “Of course you are. You’ve always been one of our more…brilliant students.” Her hand brushes my arm as she reaches past me to grab her book on the counter.

I resist the urge to flinch away from her touch, maintaining my composure. I was going to need at least two more showers now.

She lifts her chin, her smile never wavering. “You know, if you ever need any... additional support with Miss Prescott's situation, my door is always open.”

“I need to get going.”

She nods but doesn’t move away. If anything, she gets closer. “Of course, of course. But before you go, I want to mention that you and I might have to spend a period or two together to formulate a plan if she continues to be an issue.”

My stomach turns. The last thing I want is to spend more time with any Professor, but especially O’Donnelly.

I force a tight smile, my fingers clenching involuntarily around the strap of my bag. “I appreciate your concern, Professor, but I’m sure that won’t be necessary. I have the situation under control.”

“Still,” she muses in a way that makes me want to throw up. The wrinkles around her mouth, a sign of her age, only make it worse. “I should probably stop by sometime to be sure.”

“Great…” My voice dies.

She leans in closer, her perfume—a cloying mix of lavender and something sickeningly sweet—invading my senses. “I look forward to it.” The smile on her mouth never faltering.

Lovely.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I sidestep around her, my shoulder barely brushing against hers as I make my escape. “I really need to get going.”

I hurry out of the library, my skin practically crawling from the encounter. Fresh air hits me as I step outside, and I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering unease.

Ugh! It was as if a thousand ants were crawling under my skin anytime O’Donnelly touched me.

As I make my way across campus, my mind races. Now, not only do I have to deal with Alex’s incompetence, but I have O’Donnelly breathing down my neck, looking for any excuse to get me alone.

Alex would be at our next session if I had to drag her there, kicking and screaming. There is not a chance in hell I was goingto be forced into individual time with O’Donnelly because the girl refused to actually show up and learn something.

Nuh-uh. Not happening.

Alex Prescott would be present at our next scheduled meeting, whether she agreed to it or not.

Thursday, she was mine.

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