When the guys found out, they confronted them and forced them all to step down. Since Ryker graduated in the Spring, he took over his father’s position as CEO of the company.
Holland has a share of the company too, as well as Pat and Mason. But Mason and Holland decided to finish school before they took their official positions.
It amazes me that Ellie, Haley, and I had no idea any of this was happening right under our noses. But Gwen kept it pretty hush hush for Ryker’s sake.
Their fathers were all part of the Ellington Elite when they attended Ellington University. The guys arewhat they call “legacies”. Born into a life of wealth and popularity.
The Elite is the most powerful group on campus. Everyone knows they hold a lot of power here, and that means people fear them. Although not all the girls got the memo.
Women are constantly throwing themselves at them. I wonder if they know they’rewasting their time.
Chapter 3
Holland
The sounds of metal on metal, the grunts that fill the large space, and the blasting music in my ears aren’t enough to drown out my racing thoughts. My arms are sore, and my legs are on fire as I finish my last set.
Mason moves out from spotting me, running his hand through his hair.
Grabbing my water bottle off the ground, I chug a good amount of water before setting it back down and wiping my face off with a towel.
I’ve been pushing myself a lot harder recently since I’ve come back from my injury. I’ve been out of commission for six weeks now. Since our rugby season already started, that means I’ve missed valuable time on the pitch.
I fucked my knee up pretty bad at practice, and I’ve been recovering ever since. It’s been absolute hell not being able to play with the guys. Having to sit on the sidelines and watch my team play without me.
So, when my physical therapist and my doctor told me I could ease back into my gym routine and back into practice, I didn’t even hesitate.
I’ve been sitting on my ass for too long now, and I was beginning to go stir crazy.
This season’s already weird as hell without Ryker. Ryker was our fly half, and a damn good one at that. Now that job was given to Ryan Hirshnick. He’s not bad, but he’s nothing compared to Ryker. Our buddy Patrick was our captain. When he left, that position was handed down to me.
Since my best friend graduated, it’s been kind of weird to be here without him. Of course, I still have my cousin Mason, and Ryker’s brother Logan. But Logan’s nothing like Ryker.
In fact, for a while, Ryker and Logan didn’t really get along. They didn’t totally dislike one another, but they weren’t like normal brothers.
With their dad being a total dick and turning out to be a criminal, they’ve grown a lot closer.
Last semester ended pretty fucking weird. Ryker, Pat, Mason, and I all found out our fathers were doing some illegal shit, and we shut that shit down real quick.
My father and uncle, Mason’s dad, were part of a big crime circle in New York. There was a lot of illegal activity involving money laundering, drugs, andprostitution going on behind the guise of their night club business.
They owned six night clubs in the city. Each one was searched thoroughly for anything that could be illegal, and when they were cleared, Mason and I took over.
Being seniors in college still makes it kind of difficult to run six different night clubs, especially since we’re in Connecticut. We hired the best of the best people to run the clubs while we’re away at school.
It’s been working so far. We haven’t had any problems, and we’ve made a lot of changes to the clubs, so they have no remnants of our fathers.
All I know is that I have to crack down this semester and at least try to pass my classes so I can graduate and start my life away from Ellington University.
The university itself is great. It’s old and the architecture is crazy. The professors are some of the best of the best, and most of the students come from wealth, fame, and legacy.
The guys and I are all legacies. Our fathers went to Ellington back in their day, and they were part of the Ellington Elite, the big men on campus.
Being part of the Elite was a privilege, or so they say. Professors let you get away with shit other students would probably get shit for. Kids on campus either worship the ground you walk on or run the other direction in fear.
You can’t be an Elite unless your father, grandfather, or great grandfather was a member, making this ‘club’ really exclusive.
To me, it didn’t make much sense. We’re basically just a glorified fraternity. I wouldn’t even say that we do anything important. We just have a shit ton of money and respect. I guess I can’t really complain about that, can I?
