Page 80 of Unbidden

“I would say it's nice to see you, but I don’t like to lie.” I give him a small smile.

How could a man as sweet as Elijah be the grandfather to such a vile girl?

His lips smirk but quickly flatten out. He takes a seat next to Ingram, and everyone turns towards Principal Harris.

“It has come to my attention that since Ms. Miller’s arrival here at Brighton Academy, she has had an issue with Ms. Humphries.”

“Excuse me?” V, Tinsley, and I shout.

“That’s fucking rich,” Keaton exclaims.

“You’re wrong,” Reed tells him with a steely calm voice.

“Now, now. Calm down so we can settle this.” Principal Harris tries to placate us.

Someone knocks on the door.

“I told everyone in the office to please leave us be until our meeting was over,” Harris says out loud while looking perplexed as to why someone didn’t listen to him.

“But I didn’t,” Reed tells him while standing. He strides over to the door to reveal Sterling on the other side. “You get it?”

“Yep, all here. And I also went back and grabbed a few more clips from earlier altercations.”

“Thanks, bro.” Reed slaps his shoulder before shutting the door and coming back around to take his seat. “Please continue,” he tells Harris.

“Yes, please tell us why we’re here,” Richard deadpans.

“Ms. Miller has been acting out, and quite frankly, I’m going to have to suspend her until further notice. We do not tolerate the kind of behavior she exhibits. According to the nurse, she broke poor Ms. Humphries’s nose today.

“Why?” Elijah asks me softly with his head cocked to the side.

“Does it matter?” I reply with a raised brow.

“There is one thing I know for sure. A Covington doesn’t snap. I knew your mother and Alice. I know it takes a lot to make one lose their cool, but that’s one thing Ingram is good at,” he tells me without breaking eye contact.

“I’m not a Covington. My last name is Miller, and according to Principal Harris, I’m beneath all of you.”

Reed reaches over and squeezes my thigh in support under the table.

“How about we get a few facts straight, Harris, shall we?” he asks Keaton while sliding a USB stick across the table to him. Keaton snatches it off the table and heads to the mounted flat-screen TV.

“My pleasure,” Keaton tells him with a devious grin.

He plugs the USB stick into the TV, and security footage from the hall starts to play, sound and all.

You can clearly make out every horrid word Ingram tossed my way. How she pulled my hair like a little bitch and yet I didn’t do anything. Not until she broke the skin around my chin with her nails and visibly spit in my face. Alice gasps, and Richard has his fists flexing on top of the table. Principal Harris looks a little chagrined while Elijah takes it all in. When I spring into action, Richard tries to cover his chuckle with a cough, Alice looks like a proud momma bear, and Elijah’s trying not to smile.

“Clearly this is one time. I have reports from Ms. Humphries of other altercations,” Principal Harris tries to backtrack and save face.

“Is it though?” V asks ominously.

“Harris, you really shouldn’t be trying to save Ingram just because you’re sleeping with my daughter-in-law. Take it from me, they’re both vultures and only using you because it's convenient,” Elijah tells him while staring at his granddaughter.

Harris sputters and tries to protest, but Alice raises her hand to stop him, then turns and looks at Elijah.

“This has to stop,” she tells him softly.

“It does.” He nods towards her and Richard. “Ingram’s the one who needs to be suspended. And don’t worry. I’ll be the one dishing out the discipline. Sage, if you would like to go ahead and press charges, we won't fight you on it.”

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