I clean the sink, wipe the cabinet doors and make sure everything is in its place before heading upstairs where I need to shower and get ready for work.
Luckily, I carried my phone upstairs with me, and before I stripped my clothes it rang. Picking it up, I frown as it’s Myles.
“Myles! What’s wrong?” I quickly ask.
“You need to come to the school, because I’m ready to punch this asshole,” Myles snarls.
Now this is not my laid-back Myles who will do anything for anyone, so he’s more than a little upset. “I’m on my way.” I quickly close the call, grab my gray suit, which has me placing my work head on, and once quickly changed I head into battle.
Walking into the principal's office thirty minutes later I quickly step over to Oren who is sitting on one side of the room. “Are you okay?” I quickly ask Oren, and he gives me a nod but looks upset.
Myles who is sitting with his arms folded across his chest and glaring at Principal Glenshaw looks ready to blow a fuse. I take a seat next to Myles, reach over to him and open his arms, then place my hand in one of his, lacing our fingers and giving a small squeeze.
Turning to the principal, I ask calmly. “Okay, so what is going on?”
“Oren punched a pupil…”
Before the principal can say more Myles snarls, “Yeah he did, because your teacher did nothing to stop bullying in her class. I am not reprimanding my son for doing the right thing. If I taught him to watch a female being bullied by a male, I would fail as a father. He did the right thing, and let’sbe upfront here, I will be rewarding Oren for being a good young boy.”
Turning to Oren, I give him a small smile. “What happened, Oren?”
“Stewart was pushing Lily, and she told him to stop three times. She shouted to Miss Grainger, but Miss Grainger did nothing. When he pushed her and she fell over, I punched him before helping Lily get up.” Oren is frowning at Principal Glenshaw now, and I have to tell you I have a frown on my face now, too.
“Okay, Principal Glenshaw, you know I am a lawyer, and if you insist on any punishment for Oren, I will take this as more than an insult. I will take this to the school board and further if required,” I state firmly, along with my fiercest glare.
“I cannot allow physical activity to go unpunished…”
Now before he can say more, I’m on him. “And what punishment are you metering out to Stewart?”
“Well, well, Stewart has gone home after the nurse treated him with his mother. His mother wants Oren expelled from the school for violent behavior…”
Now, Myles jumps to his feet before the principal can finish speaking, and he still has my hand grabbed in his, so he basically drags me onto my feet with him. “You…”
“Myles, take Oren home, and I’ll be home in a few minutes.” I turn and after pulling my hand from his I take holdof his cheeks and force him to look at me. He calms some as he looks into my eyes, and I lean forward and touch my lips to his before murmuring. “Take Oren home.”
As soon as Myles has taken Oren out of the office and closed the door, with a bang which has me cringing I retake my seat and give my attention to Principal Glenshaw.
“Okay, I am not going to waste my time and energy here. The perpetrator was obviously this Stewart. Your teacher was negligent in her duties. You are not going to punish Oren for being a decent person. Now, you give out punishment to Stewart for bullying. You check Lily is fine. You reprimand your staff member. If you don’t do all that I’ll take the school to court. What’s it going to be?” I give him my best lawyer-determined look, and wait.
“I actually agree with you Miss Ferndell, and as you are down on his records, which is why you were contacted I can bend to your requests. I agree that Stewart was bullying, and Miss Grainger should have stepped in and stopped it. The physical was my issue, and I ask you to speak with Oren about this. I cannot have him hitting other pupils.”
“Shall we call Lily’s mother in and see what her opinion is, or the other mothers that would like a voice as to the issue of bullying and a boy that stands up for their child?”
Now, the principal is squirming, and I know a parent-teacher evening is coming up soon, and I’m more than happy to put a spanner in the works.
“You speak to Oren, and I will deal with the other issues.” I can see he is not going to bend, so I don’t agree as that would be like signing a contract to me.
I stand, flick invisible fluff from my suit jacket, and turn, leaving the office quietly. I hear Mr. Grimshaw ask. “Is that agreed?”
But, me being me, takes a solid stance, and he’s going to find out that this woman doesn’t bend.
Chapter 2
Maylee
Walking into the office, I switch on my laptop, check emails and then re-open the file I have for Mrs. Carmichael. It seems after thirteen years of marriage she has had enough of her workaholic husband and his horrendous family. The one grace she has is that she refused to have children with him.
The file shows that he can get a little handsy. Not enough to break bones, but enough to leave a bruise here and there. Something I can use against him in this divorce settlement.
