I have been blinded. Blinded by emotions. Feelings. For her. That young, emotional woman.
Henry chuckles and says, “I did not have any sense at that age either. Something as beautiful as annoying.”
I draw up an eyebrow.
“Would you like me to order some dinner for you?” he asks to evade the topic.
“No,” I say. “I am in dire need of some sleep.”
“Very well,” he says and takes the bag.
“Wake me if something of relevance happens, we’ll see what the morning brings,” I say when I walk up the stairs.
Morning comes, and I feel very much unrested when I enter the breakfast room, where everything is set as usual.
Henry brings me my tea and a laptop.
“You might wish to read it yourself,” he says and opens the laptop in front of me.
I read through the proposal for Mia’s dismissal, and my face hardens with every line.
“They’re going after her for converting children to radical ideologies?—”
“Yes, not unexpected after the reaction of the headteacher. Like I said, very traditional.”
“Call Bill,” I say. “We need public uproar for this, so I want the lawsuit framed for such.”
“Should I also call her?” he asks me.
“She’ll never allow it,” I say.
“And probably never forgive you for it,” he says.
“I would rather have her despise me than have her lose her safe place for the misdeeds of others.” Even if I disagree with her rather mediocre choice of work.
“Tell Bill to go after them,” I say. “Full force.”
Henry nods and withdraws.
The next two days pass, and I head from call to call, speaking to lawyers, calling in favours, and making a case with the Equality and Human Rights Commission within the government. I am used to dealing with all sorts of media outlets, or rather, my lawyers, but Mia is not, and I do not want her affected anymore. The farther I get from what happened at Glenmore, the more I see it was all my fault.
I am on a call with my PR-Specialist when I hear shouting outside the door.
Mia.
“I have to call you back,” I say, hang up, and hurry to the entrance hall.
“Where is she?” Mia shouts at Henry in a rage that I have yet to witness. Her face red, her hands aggressively gesturing. “Where?!”
Henry tries to calm the waves, quite unsuccessfully.
“Here,” I say and walk into the entrance hall.
Mia looks at me, murder in her eyes.
“You!” she shouts and walks up to me. “You!”
“What me?” I ask calmly, nodding for Henry to leave. He’ll hear this anyway.
