Page 30 of Breaking Rules
Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alec enter, and my heart gave an unsteady thump that immediately became a sinking sensation when Keli appeared at his side, Evanne holding both of their hands. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Keli was here. Evanne was her daughter, and from what I understood, it’d been Keli’s decision to enroll Evanne at Kurt Wright. I also shouldn’t have been jealous that they’d arrived together. It just made me wonder if they’d spent the entire day together, and if that was the case, did it mean Alec wasn’t over his ex?
As I watched, he scanned the crowd, his gaze stopping when it found me. He took a step in my direction, and I realized that I really didn’t want to have a conversation with him and Keli in such a public environment, especially since I didn’t know what had happened after I’d left this morning. I couldn’t imagine Keli being okay with seeing me come out of Alec’s room or Evanne’s enthusiastic greeting. I didn’t even want to consider how she was taking his clear determination to get to me.
“Excuse me,” I said to Mr. Buchannan with a smile. “I need to go find Siobhan before the meeting starts.”
I cut around Mr. Buchannan and walked through the crowd as if I had a specific destination in mind. I’d seen Siobhan over here, but if I couldn’t find her quickly, there were plenty of other people around. Pretty much the only person I wanted to talk to less than Alec right now would be Vice Principal Harvey.
I’d even take a conversation with Mrs. Crenshaw at the moment.
Fortunately, I didn’t need to resort to such drastic measures. Siobhan and I talked for a few minutes as I stayed out of sight behind a decorative planter, and then Principal McKenna called the meeting to order.
I risked a look around as people moved to find seats and saw that Alec and Keli were sitting a few rows away. He didn’t look happy, but I told myself that it wasn’t my problem. I wasn’t here for him. I was here to talk about keeping everyone at Kurt Wright safe.
By the time Principal McKenna closed down the official meeting more than two hours later and invited anyone who wished to discuss things further to remain, I’d had enough. With so many wealthy and connected families, putting new security measures into place should have been easy, but most of the meeting had been spent in second amendment debates, as if this was the time or the place for politics.
We had a chance to make our school safer, and all anyone cared about was being one hundred percent right. No one was willing to get off their high horse and offer a compromise that both sides could get behind. Despite not wanting to draw attention to myself, I’d even tried suggesting that we try something on a short-term basis and then reassess at a later date to see if it’d helped.
The snort of derision had come from the direction of Mrs. Crenshaw, but she hadn’t been alone in her scorn of my idea. Others were just a little more polite, choosing to smile condescendingly as they’d told me that when I was older and understood how these things worked, I’d know why that wasn’t feasible.
I’d kept my mouth shut through the rest of the meeting, and as soon as Principal McKenna said it was over, I was on my feet and heading for the door. I’d probably get reprimanded for leaving so quickly, but I’d felt Alec’s eyes on me the entire time. I needed to get out before he caught up with me.
I should have known better than to lose track of my surroundings.
In my rush to get away from Alec, I practically ran through an open door and smacked face-first into someone who smelled like cigarettes and too much cheap cologne.
Shit.
“Whoa there, Lumen. Where do you think you’re going?” Cornelius Harvey’s hands closed around my upper arms, and he moved me a step to the side.
It wasn’t far enough.
And he didn’t let go.
“I’m leaving, Vice Principal Harvey,” I said with the best smile I could muster. “I’ve got a really bad headache.”
“Is that so?” He released one of my arms only to pat my cheek. “Come on, we can get you something to cure that hangover.”
My jaw dropped. “I don’t have a hangover. I have aheadache.”
“Sure you do.” He winked at me. “How about you let me get my coat, and I’ll take you home. I’ll show you what these magic fingers can do.”
I wasn’t hungover, but I was starting to suspect that his overpowering cologne was to cover up the fact that he was drunk. I took a step back and managed to pull my arm free. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m fine to get home on my own, and my roommate will take care of me.”
His expression darkened. “Is that how your parents taught you to thank someone who offered to help you?”
If I hadn’t already known he was one of those sleazebags who thought buying a woman dinner meant she owed him a sexual favor as repayment or gratitude, that comment would’ve made it clear.
“I’m going to go now.” I went to step around him, and he grabbed my arm again. I stiffened and met his gaze full on. “Let me go.”
“Don’t forget,” he said, eyes narrowing, “I’m your boss. You should think carefully before you speak out of turn, or you might find your contract not being renewed come spring.”
How the hell had this asshole ended up second-in-command at a school?
I didn’t have time to consider the answer to my question because someone grabbed Harvey from the other side and jerked him around. I heard knuckles hit flesh, and then Harvey dropped to the ground, revealing my savior to be none other than Alec.
The fury on Alec’s face was like nothing I’d ever seen before, and every ounce of it was directed at Harvey.
“If I ever hear of you harassing Lumen or any other woman, for that matter, you’re going to be answering to me.” His voice was even, his words clipped and precise as he maintained control. He clearly wanted to make sure Harvey understood everything he said. “Believe me when I say that you will not find that a pleasant experience.”