Page 49 of Caught off Guard

“I’m not. Since Cece died, I’ve been a wreck. The only time I’ve felt alive is when I’m with you.”

My heart was tender. I was serious about not wanting another man to bail me out of anything. I didn’t want Cairo to be with me out of pity.

“Tell you what. Let’s see how the board moves. If they come for me, and only if they come for me, will I allow you to step in. Please don’t judge me for being weak, though.”

“Nothing about you is weak. You’ve proven to me that you’re the strongest woman I know.”

He planted a chaste kiss on my lips. I hoped he was right about me.

Monday at 10 a.m.,as I caught up on emails from the previous week and reviewed my schedule for the week in my work office, I received the correspondence I’d been waiting for.

Subject:Leadership Decision

Dr. Langston,

Pending an investigation from an independent body, the Board of Trustees of Liberation University is suspending you, effective immediately, for violation of our public decorum agreement. Dr. Randall Andersen, Liberation University Provost, will serve as Interim President until we conclude our investigation.

Please do not respond to any requests from the media, or you will be terminated immediately. A security detail will arrive at your office at 10:30 AM this morning to escort you off the premises.

Marice Masters, J.D., Esq., Chairman of the Liberation University Board of Trustees

I couldn’t believethese bastards were being this petty. I forwarded the email to Whitney, my personal email account, and my attorney’s inbox. I believed in keeping receipts and wasn’t going down without a fight. Before I pressed send on the final email, the media hounded me for a comment about mysuspension. Of course, I ignored them. Ten minutes later, Whitney knocked on my door.

“Yes?” I placed several files in the banker’s box Whitney retrieved for me.

“Security is here.” She spoke softly behind tear-stained eyes.

Two armed campus officers I previously had positive exchanges with entered my office.

“Officers Atkins and Botega, you’re early. The email said ten thirty. I will not be rushed.”

“We’re sorry to have to do this.” Officer Botega’s warm smile did nothing to soothe me.

Whitney entered and helped me pile several valuables and pictures in the box. I turned and looked at my full bookshelves.

“I’ll text you with other instructions.”

I pulled out my phone and sent a text directly to Whitney.

Me:

Please pack up any other valuables. Keep them until I can retrieve them. Don’t let anyone touch my belongings. Thank you.*smiley face emoji*

Although Liberation leaders thought they could treat me like trash, they weren’t playing with a weak woman. I stared at the two officers dead in the eyes and raised myself as tall as I could in my black patent leather kitten heels.

“Please tell your cronies that if anything is missing from my office, I will have somebody’s behind on a platter. That’s not a threat. It’s a promise.” I rolled my eyes and walked out with my phone and Louis Vuitton purse.

“I’ll be in touch,” Whitney smiled and mouthed when the officers weren’t watching us.

I gave her an indiscreet thumbs up but knew she would soon have a target on her back because of her loyalty to me.These misogynistic snakes were out for blood. I wouldn’t put it past them to dismiss Whitney out of spite before everything was sorted out.

I sighed when I left the building. Fortunately, my driver Rocky waited to pick me up from my office and take me to the president’s mansion. When he dropped me off, I contacted my crew, first with a call to Lena.

“Lena, they got me.”

Only when she picked up did I feel like breaking down.

“You need me to come over there, love?”

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