The silence is toooverwhelming.
“Are you ready for the meeting?” he asks, standing up straight.
I stare at him. Is he going to ask me about Julian? This seems like it’s too good to be true. I thought for sure I’d get a verbal lashing from him.
“Yes,” I answer, my voice brusque.
Following him out of my office, I close and lock the door. We make our way to the boardroom in silence, and I wait for him to bring it up.
He doesn’t.
The bastard knows how to keep me on my toes.
Victoria is already waiting for us. I wave to Bradleigh, who is playing on her Nintendo Switch a few yards away, with headphones over her ears.
Her bright, goofy smile makes me huff a laugh, and it reminds me of why I’m here.
And whyI’m doing this.
The meeting is short. I hardly pay attention, too frazzled from what just happened, and too worried that Rod is about to be a big dick to Victoria Evans.
In the meeting, Victoria states that she doesn’t want to move Bradleigh to another school, and I agree. Rod gives his side of the argument, but it’s over soon. Victoria starts to pull legal documents out, and I have to hide my smile when she passes us both a section of the code of conduct for Saint Helena. The passage highlighted is about discrimination, and when she leans forward, practically burning Rod alive with her ferocious expression, she tells him that she’s very happy to get the opinionof her lawyer—or rather, the lawyer I put on retainer for her to use, should she need legal advice.
So, the meeting is adjourned.
Rod huffs about it, and I can tell he’s pissed.
But Victoria and Bradleigh both give me a grateful smile before they head home.
Much to my chagrin, Rod follows me back to my office. Like before, we walk in silence, though I can feel his irritation radiating from his body as we walk across campus.
“Is this what Saint Helena has come to under your leadership?” he asks just as we walk up to my office door.
I stop walking, meeting his glare head-on with one of my own. “If you have a point, Rod, I suggest you get to it.”
His lips curl into something that might possibly pass for a smile if he weren’t so full of malice. “Oh, I have a point, Mr. Ravage. Several, in fact, after that flagrant injustice of a meeting just now. But let’s start with the incident from earlier.” Gesturing to my closed door, I nearly break my teeth clenching my jaw so hard. “I’m concerned about the image you’re presenting to our community. To the parents. And to the donors, who keep this school running.”
My jaw tightens even further. “Whatever you think you saw is none of your business.”
“Oh, but it is very much my business,” he counters, stepping closer. “You’re the headmaster. This is a religious institution. Parents entrust their children to this school because they believe in its values. If they were to find out that their headmaster is… how should I put this… divergingfrom those values, it could cause quite an uproar.”
He means for the implication to hang heavy between us, but I don’t flinch or take the bait. Rod’s mistake is simple, he thinks I’m playing by the same rules he is. He forgets that I’ve been headmaster long enough to know every backdoor deal and everyname that carries weight in these halls. I don’t need to shout to be heard.
“Funny thing about values, Rod,” I say softly. “People like to think they’re set in stone, but they’re more like scripture—open to interpretation. And right now, I’m the one holding the pulpit. And as long as I’m here, Saint Helena’s values will always be about education, inclusion, and compassion,” I say firmly.
Rod’s eyes twinkle with something predatory. “That might be your interpretation, but I can guarantee that others might not agree. And while your brother’s policies may have tied my hands on certain matters, you can’t control what parents choose to do with their children if they were to find out,” he finishes, his voice dripping with bitterness.
The veiled threat lands right in the middle of my chest, but I refuse to give him even more fodder. “Is that a threat, Rod?”
“Of course it’s not,” he retorts, arching a brow.
I stare at him. “If you’re trying to intimidate me, you’re wasting your time,” I finish, my voice hard as steel.
Reaching around to the handle of my door, I hear Rod clear his throat. “As for the matter with Ms. Evans, I can assure you that she will not be the only student with these issues. We have now set a precedent, it seems. I trust you understand the concerns that might cause?—”
“Let me be clear,” I growl, stepping close enough for him to feel my breath on his face. “If you threaten my students again, I won’t stop at policy changes. Bradleigh Evans is and always will be welcome at this school as long as I’m headmaster. As will any other student, no matter their gender identity, race, ethnicity, or religion. Saint Helena is committed to creating a safe environment for all students,” I practically yell. “And while we’re at it,” I add, stalking closer to Rod and getting in his face. “You should know that you’re not the only one with connections, Rod,” I say smoothly, leaning back. “The board and I have hadvery productive conversations lately. If you so much as think about pulling this shit again, I will fuck your life up so hard that you won’t know what’s up and what’s down. Trust me when I say, I have my ways.”
Rod’s eyes flicker, just for a second, betraying the first glimmer of doubt. He thought I was the kind of man who prays away confrontation. He forgets I’ve spent years wielding the faith he hides behind like a sword.
