I hadn’t been able to get the mother of my kid to consider marrying me; I wasn’t going to win over Natalia’s family.
Natalia
“Henry’s on line one,” came Ms. Branson’s crisp voice through the intercom.
I raised a brow and tore my gaze off the spreadsheet in front of me. Henry must’ve made his call sound critical. New week, new mood had been my motto until Ms. Branson had bypassed our messaging for the intercom. And it was only Monday.
My gaze shifted to the ominous phone. Oh, I knew what the call was about. Frederick Wentworth had gone nuclear when I’d told him Dresden was suspended. The entire board had probably heard his case before the weekend. Coach Sammie had turned beet red and blustered his way straight out of my office and likely right onto Henry’s lap to complain about how mean I was.
“Cheater,” I muttered. I’d counseled Coach Sammie and expressed that I had one hundred percent confidence in my ability to find a qualified coach who’d hold our students to Preston’s standards and not lie for them. I should’ve fired him, but he was tight with the powerful families who communicated through their pocketbooks. Enraging one family was inconvenient, but I’d be a fool to upset the horde.
I gave the phone one last hard stare and picked it up. “How are you, Henry?”
“I’ve had better weekends.” His tone didn’t make my hopes rise.
“I should’ve notified you what might happen when I started disciplinary action on Jaycee Halliwell and Dresden Wentworth.”
“And Coach Samuelson. Look, I’m not interested in a he-said-she-said, especially when my phone kept ringing with more hes and shes.” I didn’t dare chuckle. Nothing was funny about the situation—but maniacal giggles were fighting to get out. “Based on the claims and accusations, I’m calling an emergency parent meeting tomorrow evening. Six o’clock.”
I let my eyelids drift shut. Would I walk into a room with gallows and rotten tomatoes? Henry wasn’t interested in excuses. He wasn’t a guy who cared to play intermediary between me and upset parents and faculty.
Hanging up with him, my stomach roiled. The meeting was going to be a brutal trial filled with accusations and well-aimed targets about my character. And unlike when Lauren PenaltyCall had tripped me and I’d knocked my head on the floor, I would be hurt and alone.
Chris wasn’t going to be around to support me through this mess.
Chapter 15
Natalia
I pulled on my suit jacket. I lined the cuffs up with my sleeves and straightened the bottom. The meeting started in twenty minutes. Henry had arranged for the gathering to take place in the conference room.
My stomach fluttered, harder than last time. I was going to be nauseous by the time the meeting started.
Earlier in the school year, when I’d first arrived, I’d spoken in an auditorium with hundreds of young faces staring at me as I introduced myself and outlined my mission statement and plans for the school. I’d assured them their days wouldn’t be disrupted as they restructured minor areas of programming and extracurricular activities.
I had channeled Valaria the whole time.
For the most part, I’d told the truth. Jaycee’s and Dresden’s actions should’ve only affected themselves, but the staff that had overlooked the boy’s indiscretions had created consequences for the entire student body. What other behavior had been overlooked?
Gazing into the mirror mounted on my wall, I shoved on my freshly cleaned glasses. My hair was bound in my preferred bun, and not one strand dared stray from the fastening. The maroon suit I wore was the perfect color—not too bright and cheerful, but not funereal either.
I’d done nothing wrong.
Or had I? My shoulders slumped, matching the fatigue from sleepless nights in my tired eyes. A sense of failure haunted my steps, and it had started when I’d failed miserably at introducing Chris to my parents.
But my personal life had no place here. I was Ms. Shaw at school, not Natalia Preston Shaw, who clawed at a collapsing slope trying to live up to her parents’ expectations.
I stared at myself for several more minutes, pondering where I’d gone wrong. My profession? My personal life? Growing up acquiescing to my parents’ wishes? All of the above?
The timer went off on my computer. I spun around and reached over my desk to shut it off. I planned to arrive ten minutes early.
It was time to go.
I left my office and strode out the back door of the main office to get to the conference room. Sneaky like Valaria, or cowardly because walking through the accusing and smug faces of those I dedicated my work to was more than my pride could handle?
No answer was needed.
The clicks of my heels echoed on the floor as I approached my destination. My stomach flipped and I dragged in a ragged breath. Two hours tops and I could go home and drown my sorrows over how it turned out.
I strode through the door. Dresden’s parents sat next to Coach Sammie on the longest side of the rectangular table. Dresden was flanked by his mother and father. Henry was at one end, speaking to Claudia. Douglas, Guy, and Murdock flanked her other side. Henry tipped his head to a chair next to him. Across from the Wentworths was an older couple I didn’t recognize. Their regal postures and haughty expressions marked them as Preston grads. Given the Wentworths’ presence, I had one guess as to their identities. Nana and Papa.
I swallowed hard, adopted a stern face, and strutted to the chair.
Silence descended in the room. The burn of their stares pounded into me. I settled in my chair and dared to lift my gaze.
I sat on Henry’s right side, lessening the feeling of being on trial. Avoiding their gazes, I quickly scanned the room. It was too small to have missed Chris or Jaycee. Neither one was present.
A figure turned into the doorway, his broad form filling out the opening. He cut a fine form in his charcoal tailored suit, and he would’ve had to tailor it for his size and width. Chris’s borderline shaggy hair was now neatly trimmed, parted on one side, and combed across his forehead. His style was professional, yet contemporary and relevant. He could be walking straight out of a GQ magazine cover into the conference room.
His gaze lifted to meet mine. The gravity in his eyes told me all I needed to know about how things were going in his life since Jaycee had been expelled.
But why was he here? To petition for his daughter’s return? Or to help launch an attack on me?
Hurt wound its way into my heart. Either way, we were adversaries now.
Two hours. I clung to that thought. I would be at home in my bed and could cry if I needed to. I dropped my gaze from Chris as he lowered himself into the chair opposite Henry. He straightened his silver-patterned tie, and god, it was unfair that he’d shown up looking that good.
Yeah, I’d probably need a good sob.
Henry muttered, “We’d better start on time.” He cleared his throat and captured everyone’s attention. “Welcome. Thank you all for coming. As you know, meeting the needs of our students as they develop into future leaders is our priority. We’ve gone through a period of changes after we discovered some unsavory behavior from a man we previously trusted with the role of guiding our students and staff, changes that we entrusted to Ms. Shaw to direct. But it’s been brought to our attention this has resulted in conflict and grievous accusations.”
Heads bobbed in the audience. I snuck a peek at Chris, but his gaze was directed at Henry.
Henry continued. “Let me say before we get started that the board and I won’t hesitate to dismiss anyone who acts in a less than appropriate manner. What the board wants to hear is serious complaints about the professional decisions Ms. Shaw has made and how you think they have negatively impacted the student body. Please, no interruption from those waiting to talk.”
My respect for Henry grew. If he could keep the meeting on track, then maybe I wouldn’t be so figuratively bruised and battered by the time I got home.
Dresden’s dad leaned across the table, h
is tweed suit coat stretching over his shoulders. “My son has experienced a personal, targeted attack from Ms. Shaw. He’s had to do detention, now he’s been suspended, and after he’s contributed his time morning and night to bring the Preston Knights another trophy.”
I was running through ways of addressing the accusations without dragging Dresden and Jaycee’s dirty laundry out in front of people who didn’t know the situation when Claudia spoke.
“Would you mind telling us why you feel it’s personal? Ms. Shaw has provided the necessary documentation and proof that her actions were warranted.”
Mr. Wentworth’s upper lip curled and his dark gaze pierced her. “Because she’s dating the father of the girl she said Dresden allegedly skipped with.”
Ice crystals formed in my veins. Had he really waved my personal life around? I didn’t have to wonder how he knew. Jaycee must’ve either let it slip or she had gleefully spread the news after the breakup.
The heads of all five members of the board swiveled to face me. I looked down the length of the table, my gaze steady. Show no fear. It might be one of Valaria’s mottos, but it worked here. Pretend I’d done nothing wrong even if I felt differently.
“Like Claudia said, I documented the reasons behind my decisions for your son’s disciplinary measures, and while I won’t go into specifics about another student, I will add that the girl you referenced also faced consequences for her role in the tardiness and skipping.”
Mr. Wentworth’s cheeks deepened to a red, highlighting what was the main problem in my opinion. The man wasn’t told no very often. Between his bank account, his size, the consulting company he owned, and even the solid dose of charm guys like him were born with, he was a man people wanted to please.
The woman I suspected was Nana lifted her hand almost like she was going to request to speak.
Henry lifted his chin to her. Mr. Wentworth eased back into his chair, but we weren’t done hearing from him. His body language was too tense, and his wife was shooting him “fix this” daggers in her gaze.
Nana’s hand went to her chest. She wore a crisp lilac pantsuit with a taupe shawl draped across her neck, and her no-nonsense expression said she could probably go toe to toe with Mr. Wentworth if they weren’t on the same side.
“That girl,” the woman said, her voice firmer than she looked, “is my granddaughter, who was expelled after my granddaughter’s father broke up with Ms. Shaw.” Venom dripped from my name.
My face burned. My personal life was getting thrown around and the meeting was going worse than I’d imagined.
A stifled sigh escaped Henry and I could almost hear him mentally yelling, “You could’ve warned me.”
On the bright side, I only had to experience the humiliation of the big reveal of my privacy once.
“The two are exclusive,” I said. Truly, one didn’t have to do with the other. “Ms. Richards?” The woman nodded. “I can also provide proper documentation and evidence that would back up my decision, along with citing the relevant Preston Academy policies regarding student punishments. However, I can only discuss school-related material with you. Anything regarding the student in question can only be discussed with her guardian, which to my knowledge is not you.”
Ms. Richards recoiled. The hit was below the belt and I knew it, but I got enough shit from parents and guardians. Entitled grandparents were not on my list of people I had to put up with. I chanced a glance at Chris.
His eyes had closed and his mouth was flat. Damn. I’d made it worse for him.
Mr. Richards put an arm around his wife. His graying hair was smartly styled like Chris’s, but he won the most casually dressed award in the room. The man would blend well on a golf course with his gray slacks and white polo.
“We paid Jaycee’s tuition. We’re invested in her education—she’s a third-generation Preston student. While we may not be her official guardians yet, we are heavily invested in her education.”
I winced. Chris cut a glare in the direction of the Richards. How could a good dad lose his daughter?
Henry cleared his throat. “When the paperwork is official, we’ll be happy to discuss your granddaughter’s return with you.”
My eyes widened and I swiveled to look at Henry. Chris was in the room and these people were talking about his daughter’s future like he was insignificant. None of them knew Jaycee like her own father.
Henry had my documentation of the incidents, but he didn’t know Jaycee. Coming back here would be a move backward for her development. She might mentally shut down, act out again, maybe let another boy use her emotions to his benefit.
Claudia blinked at Henry, her gaze shifting to Chris. Murdock did the same. They didn’t know the lack of power Chris faced. Maybe they assumed he was giving up on his daughter like her mom had.
Henry returned my stunned gaze with a hard stare. He wasn’t my ally. He wasn’t Jaycee’s either. The big picture for the academy was his focus, and the Richards were regular donors.
Chris’s voice caught my attention. He was sitting straight, his hands folded on the table, looking like he ruled the boardroom. I could envision him on a poster that wouldn’t have to say “vote for me” because I’d want to anyway based off the picture he presented.
“Two days after Jaycee was kicked out”—he briefly met my gaze, then looked each board member in the eyes—“she started at the high school in our school district. The transition hasn’t been easy, but her excitement and optimism every day has been enough to tell me we’re on the right track. No matter what her mother and I decide, I don’t think Jaycee returning to Preston is in her best interest.”
Mr. Richards’s face flushed red. “You’re coming to Ms. Shaw’s defense even now?”
“I’m here for Jaycee.”
Mrs. Richards’s words were low, but they carried across the room. “Not when we’re done with you. A comic book shop owner is not raising our granddaughter.”
My back hit my chair. They were going to yank a girl from her father because of this fucking school? A place that made no apologies for failing her? Jaycee couldn’t even leave now that she’d refused to conform to Preston’s mentality.
Perhaps Jaycee still had a way out.
I had never gotten the opportunity to attend a different school. All along, I’d kept my private life and my personal one strictly separate. Why? I wanted to have a life, period. But I’d been trained like one of my parents’ staff to do their bidding, to think pleasing them equated with love and acceptance. All of it done under the guise of professionalism and leadership.
I spoke before I could think about what I was doing. “You’re right. I did let my relationship with Mr. Halliwell affect how I treated Jaycee.” Mrs. Richards’s eyes narrowed like she was looking for the catch. “Instead of suspending her and sending her out of my office, per Preston policy, I did something I don’t normally do with students—I listened.”
A faint smile graced Chris’s mouth, giving me the motivation to keep going.
“And you see, I think that’s what this school has been failing at. I think that’s the root cause of the problems that prompt someone like me to come here in the first place.”
Coach Samuelson snorted. “Aren’t you here because you’re the owner’s daughter?”
The room went silent.
“I’m here because my father wanted me to take over for him, and I’ve kept my ties to the school quiet because I knew any progress I made would be undermined by being ‘just the boss’s daughter.’ Of course, any mistakes would result in the same accusations. Kinda like how dating Chris was tossed into this discussion.”
“For good reason,” Mr. Wentworth said. “But I don’t see what that has to do with letting the kids run the place.”
Chris jumped in before I could. “Listening to kids and letting them have free rein are two different things. Jaycee wasn’t happy here and Natalia asked her why.”
I couldn’t flinch at his informality. Him not calling me Ms. Sha
w was a victory. “This educational system was designed around what a specific set of parents wanted for their kids—decades ago. I’ve never stopped to ask what the kids thought they needed to prepare for adulthood. They’re the ones associating with other kids who’ve had more exposure to what’s available beyond Preston. Many area public schools have technology labs. We don’t have more than five iPads in the building. Why don’t we consult the kids? They have more ideas than we give them credit for. Wait, I know the answer. Like you pointed out, Coach, it’s because I was one of those kids. No choice. No other interests allowed. Now, I’m an adult, and I’m finding this damn school still dictates what I should and shouldn’t like.” Who I should like. “I’m done with it.”
The epiphany hit me. I hadn’t said that for effect. I was done with it.
Blinking, I looked up at Chris. The whole room was watching me, but I focused on him. “I quit.”
“Ms. Shaw—” Henry said.
“No. I do. I quit. But you know what? I can walk away—finally! Jaycee can’t. She needs her parents and I’ve only seen one take an active interest in her life. Coincidently, he’s the only one here. I wish my father had taken a personal interest in me. Half the time”—ninety-nine percent—“I feel like the only purpose behind my birth was to run these oppressive, misogynistic, dictatorial schools, and I let it ruin all the good things in my life.”
Mr. Richards’s eyebrows dropped over his eyes. “Now listen here—”
I pushed back. “Nope. Not my problem anymore. Henry, I’m cleaning out my office.”
I rose and swept out of the room without looking back at Chris. The sight of him might’ve bolstered me or dropped me. Because my newfound sense of self had come two months too late.
On my way to my office, the click-click of my heels sounding as desperate for escape as I felt, I texted my parents.
I quit Preston. I refuse to be affiliated with this school. Call you when I have time.
No doubt one of the board members or the Richards was already dialing my father.
First to Fail: A Strictly Professional Romance (Unraveled Book 3) Page 15
