“Thank you, sir,” I choke out.
He takes a sip from his coffee cup and sets it down. “I’ll be honest with you… Many qualified candidates applied for this job. After reviewing the other students’ resumes, you’re my top choice.”
I smile so brightly my cheeks hurt, but his change in expression causes me to worry, the smile slowly slipping from my lips.
“This class is part fact, part subjective. I need to see how you would grade an assignment before I decide.”
“That’s fair.” I choke back the bile rising from my stomach and force a smile. “I’m up for the challenge.”
He rests his elbows on his desk and leans forward, his gaze intense. An awkward silence passes through the room. Then, he opens his desk drawer and shoves a manila folder across the desk in front of me.
“You have until the end of the week. Drop it off with my secretary after you’re finished. I’ll make my decision next Monday.”
Assuming the interview is over, I stand and extend my hand for him to shake. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
He flashes a closed-mouth smile, his fingers stroking my hand. “Good luck, Samantha.”
Chapter 9
Tucker
Phones ring in the cafeteria, one after the other, with a new notification from The Queen. She’s become so popular over the last few months that everyone on campus jumps at the chance to see who she will dethrone next.
“The bitch is back,” I say to my friends. “Maybe she’s moved on from us.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Jamie says.
Drake, Preston, and Jamie sit at our usual table with me, phones in their hands.
Dethroned: December Edition
Ahh, Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year. And yet, at Strickland University, it’s the most scandalous. While everyone is out shopping for the holidays, the spoiled brats of Strick U are up to their usual debauchery.
* * *
From the looks of the dick pics Drake Donovan has been sharing with a certain someone, he has plenty of lovin’ for his mystery woman to unwrap. But who’s the lucky girl? Or should we say girls, you nasty dick-pic-sending-creep?
* * *
XO,
The Queen
I can’t stop laughing as I read her latest post. Jamie’s laughter pierces my eardrum, his body shaking the bench from laughing so hard. Preston wears an expression that says, Thank God it’s not about me with a slow smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Drake looks as though he’s about to snap. His face reddens by the second, and his nostrils flared in anger.
Everyone in the cafeteria who’s seen this already is now shooting glances in our direction. Our table usually garners a fair amount of attention from women, but today, everyone’s staring at Drake. Whispers flow through the crowded room like smoke hitting the air.
“Who’s she talking about?” I ask Drake. “Not Bex’s friend. Right?”
“She would never go for that shit,” Preston says as if reading my mind.
Ever since Drake met Taylor Bradshaw, he’s been acting like a pussy-whipped loser. I’ve never seen him crush this hard on a girl before. Preston’s girlfriend is always around, and with Bex Bryant comes her best friend, Taylor, who seems to enjoy teasing and torturing Drake. It’s funny as shit to watch, though.
“Taylor already thinks I’m a player…” Drake growls, “… and now this.” He balls his hand into a fist. “Fuck, she will never talk to me again.”
“But you are a player,” I point out.
