Page 44 of The Royal Flame
Here goes nothing.
“I need to know if Maddison Averly is at risk for getting expelled?” I get straight to the point.
The corners of her lips dip downward. “Oh, I assure you she is. We’re also pressing assault charges against her.” She overlaps her hands on the desk. “Rest assured, I’m not about to let a scholarship student bring violence into this school.” She smiles, as if reassuring me.
She thinks I’m here because I want Maddy kicked out.
“I want you to revoke the expulsion,” I inform her. “Maddison didn’t hit Eli. He lied about it.”
Her forehead creases. “Are you saying Eli lied? Because he saw the nurse earlier and there were signs of an assault.”
“You really believe that a north side girl could beat up a Royal man?” I question, loathing that I have to use this tactic, but I see no other choice. “And besides, Maddison was with me today. We went to class then had lunch with my father. He knows Maddison is important to me and he wanted to meet her. Hewas really impressed that she made it into the academy. He was actually talking about making another donation this year.”
She perks up at that, her eyes brightening. “Well, that’s very generous of him.”
“Well, he’s very generous when he’s impressed,” I lie through my teeth, fighting my instinct to bounce my goddamn knee up and down. It’s an anxious tick of mine and it’s increasing my anxiety by my not being able to do it. “But I think if you kick his son’s girlfriend out of the academy, he may not be so generous.”
Yep, I called Maddy my girlfriend and she’d probably be so pissed at me, especially after my idiot ass broke up with her.
I’m so stupid.
I panicked when my father threatened her. But at the same time, I never thought about blackmailing him either.
I should’ve talked to Maddy.
I should’ve talked to someone instead of simply reacting. I’ve spent my entire life, though, making my decisions based on protecting the people I care for.
“I see.” She gives a short pause then shifts in her chair. “I’ll open an investigation then so we can clear this up. Until then, Maddison will simply be on discreet probation, which will erase one we get this straightened up.”
“You should just check the security footage,” I tell her. “He said he was punched in the main corridor at around eleven o’clock. There are cameras everywhere there.”
“That’s a great idea.” She reaches for her phone and pushes a button. “I’ll make the call to our tech team.”
“Thanks for working so hard to get this taken care of.” I smile at her as I stand up.
She smiles back then gets onto the phone with someone.
I leave the office, waiting until I’m in the hallway to send Noah a text.
Me: Did you get it taken care of?
Noah: Yep. And with Maddy erased from the footage, it looks like he just tripped over his own feet and fell into the floor.
I breathe in relief as I start down the hallway. I’m glad Noah and I are on somewhat of speaking terms again. I’d gone to him before I went into the principal’s office to see if he’d help me out with the video footage. He agreed but told me he was doing it for Maddy, because she helped him out.
Noah was always like that, the kind of friend that would help you out in a sticky situation. It’s nice to know that part of him still exists.
As I’m heading back to my dorm room to try call Maddy for the millionth time, my phone rings. At first, I worry it might be Noah, telling me that he made a mistake and didn’t get the footage fixed. But Maddy’s name flashes across the screen of my phone.
My heart leaps in my chest as I answer.
“Hey,” I say as I open my dorm room door.
“Hey,” she replies. “We need to talk.”
We really do.
I need to apologize.
