Gracie doesn’t break, though. She holds the girl’s gaze with the same venom, and I can’t lie… it’s impressive. But then the dark-haired guy the girl is sitting next to turns in his seat to see what she’s looking at. With his attention on Gracie, all the life seems to drain from her face.
He smirks, too, and it’s almost as if they’re taunting her. Turning back to face Gracie, I slide over so that all she can see is me.
“Who is that? What was that all about?”
“Christina Lindsey.” She seethes, her bubbly persona an afterthought. “You wanna know how to make it at this school? Stay away from them.”
I frown, my curiosity stronger than ever.
“The girls or the guys?” I question with a glance back at their table, my eyes connecting with Everest.
His jaw ticks, and darkness flashes in his eyes. He really is different from the boy I knew. The sound of Gracie’s plate scraping the table grabs my attention, and I turn to see her standing to leave.
“All of them.”
CHAPTER FIVE
ALEX
“There’s plenty of me to go around. I’m a lover, baby. The more the merrier.”
And just like that, they’re putty in my hands. It never fails. Show them a little attention, and the panties practically melt off. It doesn’t hurt that I’m a beast on the ice.
“And why would we say yes to a threesome?” Maria asks in return, a flirty smile tugging at her lips.
“Don’t you have a lineup of girls already?” Erika adds.
I smirk, staring at the taller of the two directly in the eye. “The only girls on my mind right now are you. So, what do you—”
“Ahem.” A throat clears behind me, stealing my attention away from the girls.
I glance over my shoulder to find Ms. Johnson standing in the threshold of the administrative office with her arms folded and a stern expression on her face. She’s unimpressed if the pinched lips and cocked brows are any indication. It’s that way every time she sees me. Hell, at this point, we should be best friends.
“Ladies.” I smile and back away. “Think about it.”
With a wink, I spin on my heel and give Ms. Johnson a nod. The sound of the girls’ whispers are followed by their shoesclicking against the marble floor as they walk away. And I’d bet a grand they’ll be taking me up on my offer.
They always do.
“I’d like to get this meeting going. Is that all right with you, Mr. Williamsburg?” Ms. Johnson asks.
That’s the most personality I’ve ever gotten out of her. Which isn’t surprising since she’s garnered the name Ice Queen for her sunny disposition. I personally think she needs to get laid. Maybe some good dick would loosen up those tight-ass laces.
I turn to face her, taking in every line on her face and each gray hair on top of her head. Unlike everyone else here, she hasn’t changed much since my freshman year.
As far as staff goes, she’s probably the only person who still looks the same. Everyone else has either aged rapidly or moved on to jobs elsewhere. Even some of my old professors are gone now. That’s what happens under my father’s tyranny. People get tired of his shit.
Except for my mother. Somehow, she manages to see the good in him. She’s the only one, that’s for damn sure. Don’t get me wrong, he provides designer clothes, can open any door with just one phone call, and kept us in a lavish mansion that was more like a golden cage. But those things are all for show. A show for others to see him as untouchable.
Actual parental support from him only comes in the form of suspended accounts, constant lectures, and emotional abuse. He’s a powerful man with a penchant for treating the people who work for him like second-class citizens. He’s managed to go through his forty-five years of life unscathed by consequences. There should be a course on how a person can be an utter asshole and still be so successful. But it’d probably be summed up with one word:money. I’m honestly surprised Ms. Johnson hasn’t dipped out like the rest of them.
“Of course.” I shake away my thoughts and brush past her. “So, Tanya, how are the kids?”
She makes a sound and scrunches her nose, telling me without words that I should watch it. So I do what anyone would do—I egg her on by holding up my hands defensively. If I were anyone else, I’d be kicked out before this meeting ever started. But because I am who I am, there won’t be any repercussions.
There never are.
I can feel her gaze burning through me, but I ignore it, knowing exactly what she wants to say. I also know she won’t dare speak those words aloud. Not unless she wants to lose her job. And despite everything, I wouldn’t want that for her.
