The entire room goes silent, the only sound the clattering of Renee’s fingers on her keyboard.
A vein pulses on Carlisle’s forehead when she speaks through clenched teeth. “My office.” She whirls on her heel and stalks away.
I share one look with Atticus. One look, to bolster me and remind me this isn’t the end of the world. That I’ll find another job. That after this entire, embarrassing mess, I’ll start over again. And he’ll be there with me.
“Families are starting to show up,” Denise remarks. “Might want to head to your classes now, everyone.”
There’s a reluctant shuffle out of the office.
Trey bites back his own amusement, coughing under his breath. “Trashy reality TV show,” he mutters. “I almost lost it.”
“You won’t let anything happen to Atticus, will you?” I ask.
“Oh, not a damn thing,” Trey replies. “Nobody’s touching my friend while I’m still standing. I dunno how people do it here in St. Morgan, but in New Carnegie? Nuh-uh. You fight one of us, you fight all of us. Nobody’s being destroyed, decommissioned, or thrown in a dump.”
I see the warmth in Atticus’s face at being referred to as a friend. I steel myself and move toward Carlisle’s office.
* * *
I’ve been on debate teams. I’ve been in active classrooms, I’ve played sports. I’ve even considered serving in the U.S. military. But right now, this office is the closest thing to a battlefield I’ve ever stepped foot into.
Carlisle isn’t sitting at her desk—her bastion, her fortress. Her arms are folded as she stands near her window, watching as happy families and excited students file into the school for the fundraiser.
“You’ve ruined everything,” she says softly. “I have no choice.”
“I didn’t ruin anything,” I say. And to push my point further, I sit in a chair, appearing completely at ease, even though I’m as taut as a tightrope. “Atticus and I are adults. It’s not my concern whether you consider our actions sinful. I really couldn’t care less what you think. But it’s never been about that, has it? You’ve had it out for me ever since I came here.”
“That’s not true.”
“Actions speak,” I reply. “And you don’t like me. Never mind the fact that I’m essentially saving this school from falling apart on itself and bringing in much-needed revenue for these repairs that you all have been ignoring for god knows how long. And instead of thanking me, you disrespected me in front of the other faculty.”
Carlisle frowns. After a moment, she comes to sit down. “Things got out of hand,” she admits. “We’re all very upset by your actions.”
“You’re not upset at my actions,” I reply. “You’re upset because of someone else’s actions against me that you’re currently blaming me for. But I’m not going to get into that with you. I know you don’t care. I want to talk about Atticus.” I lean forward. “He’s mine. And I’m taking him with me.”
“You can’t. You don’t have the ability to do that. Even if you had the funds to try to take the school or me to court, by the time you prove it he’ll have been destroyed,” Carlisle answers impatiently.
“No, he won’t,” I say, ignoring the urge to cross one leg over the other. I’m not going to close myself off from her. I have nothing to hide anymore. “Because you’re going to give him to me without a fight.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because I know about your affair with Sullivan,” I reply.
Carlisle’s shoulders tighten. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I thought we weren’t playing stupid,” I say. “Because I’m not. Everyone knows.”
“That’s—” She scowls. “An unfounded rumor. You’re deflecting from your own guilt.”
“Not really. I’m not guilty about anything,” I say. “But unlike a lot of folks here, it seems, I have class. I know when to stay out of business that isn’t mine. I wasn’t gonna say a word. But if you keep threatening Atticus’s life, one text is all it takes to plant a seed in your husband’s mind about what you’ve been up to. I mean, he might already have suspicions. And how hard is he going to have to dig before he finds something?”
Carlisle’s knuckles turn white as she clenches her hands together upon her desk. “You’d try to ruin a thirty-year marriage over a machine?”
“You ruined your own marriage. You brought this on yourself. Youterminatedme. In front of everyone. You gave me no allowance, no semblance of any kind of dignity. Which allows me to file against you for unlawful termination and unemployment. Thank you, by the way—that will make my job search so much easier. I’m sure the school board will love that.”
Carlisle scoffs. “Please. Now you’re being dramatic.”
“Not really. I had every reason to be civil before. Now, not so much. There’s nothing to keep me here, no reason for me to get on my knees and beg you for anything.” I lean forward. “I was going to marry a politician. You think I don’t know how to play games?”
