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“Yes, well,moststaff sign up for both without needing to be encouraged.” He was such a liar. I knew many teachers who had participated in only one.
“If I’d been informed, I would have gladly done so.” I smiled sweetly at him when I wanted to pick up the stupid paperweight with the school logo and chuck it at his head.
“I’m so happy to hear that. We, in fact, do have one committee in desperate need of a co-chair.”
My mind flashed to the email I’d received yesterday.Crap.
“The Winter Festival needs a teacher to round out the committee.”
“And you want me to do this.” It really wasn’t a question.
He nodded.
“The event is in six weeks,” I said, trying to keep the despair from my voice. This was a private school. The families that attended would expect big, extravagant activities that would take months to plan.
“It is. And I’m sure you will do an excellent job running it. Especially since it will be part of your upcoming mid-year review.”
My muscles froze. He was attaching my review to the outcome of a school activity? “Sir, that’s…”
“The board seemed to think you were the better candidate for this position. Now is your chance to prove them right. To show us you’re not just a pretty face.”
Fucking asshole.
I drew in a deep breath and let it out. So the rumors were true. Principal Olsen had wanted someone else in my position, and I’d been chosen instead. He’d been prickly toward me since I started but not outright rude or hostile. Apparently, the gloves had come off, and he was using this opportunity as a reason to fire me.
“It seems you believe I’m not a good fit for this job.” I’d worked hard to gain the degrees I needed to teach. At the time, I didn’t have my trust fund and had to bust my ass to afford my education. It took longer than I had liked, but by the time I’d turned twenty-five and could access my inheritance, I’d learned to live without it.
“There are others far more qualified than you.”
I nodded. A slow smile stretched my mouth wide. Little did he know I’d come up against worse than him and come out the other end victorious. I’d do the same here.
“Perhaps,” I said noncommittally. “When do I start?”
“Barbara will give you the information you need on your way out.” He picked up his phone as it rang, effectively dismissing me.
I forced myself not to stomp out of his office. No reason to show him he’d gotten to me. When I reached Barbara, she gave me a tentative smile, and I realized she’d heard what Principal Olsen had said.
She picked up a folder and handed it to me. “The details from last year’s event are in here,” she whispered, glancing at the open door I’d just walked through.
I nodded my thanks.
“The first meeting is in five minutes.”
“What?” I practically screeched.
She flinched. “The parent volunteers and your co-chair are waiting for you in the conference room.”
“But I have my Gemstone Club meeting starting in five minutes.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think you have a choice with this one.”
I pursed my lips. “Thank you.”
I tucked the folder under my arm and ran to Ana’s classroom. I poked my head into her door, gasping for breath. “Can you please go hang out with my Gemstone Club?”
She squeaked in surprise. “Sure. Is everything all right?”
I waved the red folder and sucked in deep breaths of air. “Got pulled into a committee.”