Bully King - J.A. Huss Page 0,9
didn’t have anything. But—” I shake my head, trying to gather my thoughts. “That doesn’t even make sense. Why would—”
“Listen, Cadee.” He makes one of those smiles that is nothing but clenched teeth. Like he’s got something to add to that, but he doesn’t want to. Then he inhales quickly and reaches across the table and takes both my hands in his. I’m so startled, I pull away. But he just grips them tighter. “I’m not sure any of this matters.”
“What are you talking about? Of course it matters! You’re telling me that my life was just packed up in a truck and it’s now on its way to North Dakota!”
“Perhaps you have relatives there?”
“I do not!”
“Stop it now, Cadee.”
A chill runs down my arms. I don’t like the way he’s saying my name.
“You’re going to work yourself up into a frenzy, Cadee. And there is no point in that.”
“I’m—”
He lets go of my hand and the next thing I know two fingertips are touching my lips. I’m so startled that he did this, I go quiet immediately.
“Shh. Stop talking, Cadee. I’m telling you, this doesn’t matter. You will not be leaving for North Dakota. In fact, you will not be leaving this campus.” He pulls his fingers away.
“I won’t?”
“No. I called you here to make you an offer.”
I blink at him. Stunned. Desperately trying to catch up with this conversation because I feel like I’m still stuck on the words ‘North Dakota.’ “What kind of offer?”
“School, of course. I heard some rumors that you were having trouble getting accepted into the community college?”
“Oh.” I sigh, then look down and realize he’s still holding one of my hands. And his thumb is caressing my wrist. I swallow and look up. What the hell is happening?
“You don’t need community college, Cadee.”
“I don’t?”
He’s still caressing my wrist and I’m trying to come up with an idea to make him stop when he says, “No. You’re going to college here.”
“I am?”
“Yes. We have a special scholarship program. A summer internship. In the kitchen of the Glass House.”
“The what?” I’ve never heard of this place. And I’ve lived on this campus my whole life.
“There is a lake across the lake.” He smiles at me. I want to pull my hand out of his, but it’s like he’s reading my mind and grips just a little tighter. “Behind my mansion. You’ve probably never been over there.”
“I haven’t,” I admit.
“And a really interesting club house for the residents of Monrovian Lake Estates. We call it the Glass House because, well, it’s made mostly of glass. That’s where the job is. Would you like it?”
“The job?”
“All of it.” He finally lets go of my hand and leans back in his chair. Smiles at me. “The job, the scholarship. The education that will propel you into a completely different life.”
“Well… um. I guess? I mean, I wasn’t expecting this when I came up here, so I don’t quite know what to think about this.”
“Say yes.” He smiles again. “And then we’re done here. Your life is settled. I’m truly sorry for your loss, and I know this won’t make up for it, but anything I can do, just ask. I feel like you’re… one of mine. I’ve known you since you were born.”
Hmm. I think about that for a moment. It might be true. I have lived here all my life. But… before this meeting I can’t say that I have ever even been in the same room as the Chairman. He feels like a stranger to me.
“Now,” he continues. “The only thing left to settle—”
But he’s cut off when his office door swings open and crashes against the polished wood paneling behind it with a bang.
And Cooper Valcourt—his fuck-up son—stands in the doorway.
He throws up his hands. “I’m sorry, OK? Is that what you want to hear? My apology? Happy now? Can you just… please be a decent fucking human being for a moment and give us back our cottage for the summer? We’ll do your stupid job, all right? I’ll get it done. And you don’t have to hear from me at all.”
“Cadee,” the Chairman says, standing up and buttoning his coat. “This is my son, Christopher. Christopher, this is Cadee. She’s going to be living with us this summer.”
“What?” Cooper and I say it at the same time.
“Escort her over to the mansion. Show her into the southeast guest suite and help her get settled.”
“What?” we say again. This time, Cooper and I are looking