Page 7 of Teacher's Pet

“You'd better get your act together. Do you have any idea how hard it was to hide your little sex scandal? Huh?”

His grip tightened, the pressure ghosting against my neck.

“You didn’t have to bribe him,” I croaked, my voice barely there.

His eyes hardened. “You wouldn’t understand. This is how you get what you want. The more you learn, the better. You have it too easy.”

I swallowed my retort.

He was right.

I was wrong.

Always wrong.

Finally, he let go of my chin and pushed my face away, just enough to leave a faint sting on my cheek.

The chauffeur pulled up beside him and opened the door.

My father reached into his pocket and handed me a black card.

I swallowed my spit. I knew what this was: a bribe. He probably had his secretary tracking every purchase again.

He was always stricter with me than with Sam.

I knew why, but it still annoyed me.

When I was younger, it used to crack something inside me, a deep resentment for Sam.

I used to think he stole the favoritism my father once had for me.

He used to love telling me how I was a lot like him.

Used to.

He stood over me, scowl deepening, brows drawn together, jaw tight.

“So help me God, I mean it. No shenanigans, no drama, and no men. Understand?”

I nodded. He wasn’t the type of man I wanted to fight with.

He shook his head, like he couldn’t even bother with talking to me a minute longer, and had his phone out before I could even say goodbye.

I looked at my schedule and cursed.

Intermediate psychology. Again.

I thought a D was passing!

The black card burned in my pocket. Before I could talk myself out of it, I tossed it into the nearest recycling bin.

I don’t need him. I can get what I want my way, no matter what it takes.

***

Fuckity fuck.

I was so lost. I walked around the entire campus trying to find this psychology class.