Page 22 of The Invite
Since I don’t have the patience for her, I open my mouth to rebuff her.
But she’s quicker, and quietly says, “I told you.”
My shoulders slump, my throat gets tight, and I hoarsely say, “You did.”
“Those boys’ last names hold a lot of sway in this town, Miss Davenport.”
“What’s going to happen?”
“I don’t know,” she replies. “Not because it’s happened before, but because you’re the first person to stand up against them.”
Her answer scares and crushes me. Whatever is happening behind those closed doors and whatever the outcome, I do know I just made enemies.
Greta returns to her desk and half an hour later, I’m called back inside the office.
As soon as I step in, my gaze is drawn to Augustus and I see him leaning against the bookshelf, arms folded across his chest and ankles crossed. Under naturally hooded eyes, he studies me as I move to the seat across from Mr. Crane.
His emotionless face gives nothing away.
Strangely, when we’re alone, his eyes tell me everything.
Our stare-off breaks when my spine touches the chair and I wait for the other shoe to drop. I cannot afford to go to court and fight a battle if that’s what they’ve decided. Because there’s no way they’re admitting the truth.
“Miss Davenport, we’ve decided to suspend Augustus and Maverick for a month. At Fallthorne Elite,we believe in givingour students second chances. To learn from their mistakes and become better human beings,” informs Mr. Crane.
He sounds more like he’s parroting someone else’s words.
Doesn’t take a genius to know who.
“If I decide to go to the authorities and file an FIR?” I counter.
“You would’ve done that already and we wouldn’t be sitting here,” arrogantly points out Mr. Sinclair. “This is the best you’re going to get, even if you go to court. I suggest you take the win.”
Mr. Crane leans forward and sighs. “If you can’t accept this, I’m afraid the alternative is letting you go. However, if you decide to stay, I can guarantee you this incident will never be repeated.”
Penniless and orphan with no living relatives, I have nowhere else to go. At least, not for the foreseeable future.
I have no choice but to accept this, though it’s not an offer but an ultimatum.
Deliberating for any other option and coming up empty-handed, I seal my fate as I lock eyes with my boss, and say, “Okay.”
I’ve never felt more humiliated and inconsequential than I do now.
“One more thing,” interrupts Elizabeth. It’s a miracle I don’t cower when she finally meets my gaze, and demands, “You will sign an NDA and never speak of this again.”
“And if I refuse?”
She smiles and it’s deadlier than her son’s as she warns, “You don’t want that, Miss Davenport.”
I believe her.
CHAPTER – 7
Nessa
Paranoia becomes a lonely person’s best friend.
I don’t know which is worse.
