CORINNE”Well, you have my attention, Ms.
Sterling.
Why did you ask to see me?”
I scolded myself for letting my thoughts wander and stepped farther into the office, stopping a foot or two from his desk.
Close enough that leaving suddenly felt impossible.
I squared my shoulders and met his gaze.
“It’s about the fundraising event.”
He leaned back in his chair and released a slow, tired sigh.
“If that’s what this is about, you’ll have to excuse me.” His eyes flicked back to his screen.
“I already told you I’m not going to make it.”
”But—”
”But if it’s that important,” he cut in, “I can send George to represent me.”
We both knew George would be competent and completely unremarkable but I’m also very sure the so-called sponsors weren’t coming for him.
“I’m sorry, but it has to be you,” the words slipped out before I could stop them.
His brows lifted, just slightly.
Heat rushed to my face.
“That came out wrong,” I added quickly.
“I mean, your presence matters.”
He didn’t respond.
I pressed on.
“You wouldn’t need to stay long.
An hour, maybe less.
Even thirty minutes would be enough.
You arrive, make an appearance, shake a few hands, then leave.”
Still nothing.
“And it’s on the weekend,” I continued, hands curling at my sides.
“At night.
I seriously doubt you’ll be in a board meeting at that time.”
Silence stretched between us as he spun slightly in his chair before pushing up to his feet.
His movement was unhurried as he rounded the desk until he stopped directly in front of me.
Too close.
Close enough that I caught that distinct scent of his again, it nearly made my focus wobble.
Then he leaned back against the edge of the desk and crossed his arms.
“One reason,” he said.
I tightened my grip on the strap of my bag genuinely thrown.
“What?”
”Give me one reason to attend,” he clarified.
Oh.
Well.
Fuck.
Stella definitely did not give me a script for this part.
“Um…” I stalled, scrambling. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“Your presence would be… very important for enhancing the school’s reputation and overall success…?” The words trailed out at the end.
“And if you don’t show, the room will feel it.”
What was I even saying?
His mouth twitched, not quite a smile.
He shook his head once.
“I can promise you I don’t lose sleep over awkward rooms,” he said.
“And I couldn’t care less about the school’s reputation.”
Same.
“And if that’s the best reason you have,” he continued, uncrossing his arms only to gesture vaguely toward the door, “to expect me to drop what I have going on and show up, then I think we’re done here.
My PA will see you out.”
Oh shit.
Yeah, this was definitely not how this was supposed to go.
He straightened and started back toward his chair, already done with me.
“Wait.” I blurted out.
He stopped and turned, the look on his face had shifted from indifferent to clearly irritated.
“Haven’t I made myself clear enough?”
I swallowed.
“Just—what do you want?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I wanted to shove them right back in.
Okay, Corinne.
Where did that even come from?
He stared at me like I’d just spoken another language.
He looked momentarily thrown, his brows knitting together.
“What?” he asked.
“The school,” I rushed to clarify.
“What would the school have to do for you to attend?”
I pushed more because backing out now would be worse.
“They’d do anything.”
…or so I think.
Stella did say I should use any means possible, she’d have to pay the price.
Something changed in his expression.
His eyes lit up in a way I didn’t like at all as he stepped closer again, lowering his voice.
“Anything?”
My stomach dipped.
Why does he sound… excited?
“Yes.
Of course.
The school would be willing to—”
”Not the school,” he interrupted.
“You.”
My jaw slackened.
What is this psycho on about now?
“What?
No, that’s not what I meant—”
He clapped his hands together. This story is hosted at g.com.
“That is my condition,” He interrupted again, grating on my last nerve.
“If you want me to attend, you will do anything I want.”
I stared at him, completely floored.
Yeah.
This man was absolutely not beating the five-year-old mentality accusation I’d been building against him all along.
What exactly is he hoping to get from a teacher?
I doubt I look like someone with riches that he’d want to struck a deal with.
“Well?” he pressed when I didn’t answer.
I folded my arms, mirroring him more out of instinct than confidence.
“Unless you’ve suddenly developed a fascination with overworked educators, I don’t have money, trust fund or anything worth striking a deal over,” I said.
“So if you’re expecting anything like that from me, you’re going to be very disappointed.”
He didn’t even blink.
“Is that a yes or a no?”
I frowned.
“Did you not hear a single word I just—”
”Yes or no,” he repeated calmly, like my explanation had been background noise.
My jaw clenched.
I hated the way he did that.
Like he’d already decided the outcome and was just waiting for me to catch up.
“Fine,” I said, the word snapping out of me.
It can’t be anything insane, right?
But the smirk that curved his mouth immediately told me how wrong that thought was.
“Then it’s a deal,” he said.
My stomach twisted.
“What do you want?”
He chuckled softly and turned away, strolling back to his chair like this was already settled business.
“There’s no need to rush, Ms.
Sterling.” He dropped into his seat, leaning back.
“You’ll find out in due time.”
”What—” I started.
The warmth vanished from his face in an instant, replaced by that cold, unreadable mask.
“You can see yourself out.”
I stared at him, anger buzzing under my skin, then spun on my heel.
My fists were tight at my sides as I stormed out of the office, down the hall, past his PA and straight through the glass doors.
Only when I reached the front of the building did I stop.
I stood there, staring at nothing, replaying every second of that conversation like a bad loop.
“…Fuck,” I muttered to no one in particular.
“I think I messed up.”