The door clicks as all the heads in the room turn to see my wife enter. Black suit cut as sharp as a diamond across her taut figure. Face stern with a heavy warning. Hair slicked into a tight bun. And her glasses.
I cannot get hard right now.
Icannot…
“This isn’t. This... Yourappointedis not— This woman was in the Wellness Center?—”
“Oh, yes. That slight misunderstanding.” Scout smiles ferociously as she takes a seat in front of me. I lean over the table and reach for the remote control to the projector screen.
Hopefully, Valen got this all to work on cue.
“Yes. TheWellness Center…I have somenews about that,” I say, pressing the power button and pulling up the broadcast. My heart thuds harder as Elle Joseph, Northview News’ premiere anchor, comes into full view.
Let them hear it from someone they can’t silence.
“…false medical imprisonment of a student from Northview University. From our investigation, it appears that President Damon herself requested the student to be admitted. Was attempting to dictate treatment and pushed for a longer stay than was medically indicated per physician’s report.”
Collectively, the deans and elders shift in their chairs uncomfortably. One gets red in the face. Another coughs as if choking and reaches for a glass of water. The hood of an elder practically flies off his head as the old man scurries from the room toward the door. Likely to alert someone.
But the reporting continues.
“We at Northview News were able to obtain a copy of the conversation between the victim’s husband and the president. Under duress, the victim’s husband was forced to sign paperwork that he couldn’t understand, due to his disability.”
Scout reaches up and squeezes my hand in solidarity. I know she thinks I’m embarrassed. And perhaps I am a little to let others figure out my issue. But it’s for the best. I’m willing to take the hit to my ego to save her.
To save us all.
“Further investigation is necessary, but in response, the Dean of Student Affairs agreed with Northview News that the internal executive board, as well as the elders, would take the matter seriously. We’ll keep you updated on any developments.”
The silence in the room is stifling. Pressing in on myears. All the fears that had flooded my guts have evaporated, replaced with cold determination.
For years, these men ruled in the shadows. Today, the light finally reached them.
“So…shall we get started on some student pairings, or what?”
One of the elders waves his hand beneath the robe, and Dean Chauncery finds his voice. “Uh… Yes, but I think… Perhaps, we need a recess. Recess? Adjourn next week? Same time?”
Without a word, I let my sharp gaze do my talking. He finally meets it with a look of acquiescence. “And, of course.Welcome, Mrs. Griffin. And greetings to our new co-student leader representatives. Your opinions will help us shape the next level of pairings.”
I smile and nod. “Meeting adjourned.”
Taking Scout’s hand, I lead her from the room, arm-in-arm.
Strolling like we just blew up the building and walked away from the smoke.
“Now what?” she asks as we enter into the daylight just outside the glass doors.
“Head to our new place? Wait for the next news break?” I suggest.
Her phone dings with several notifications. She glances down at the screen. “Theyregradedmy exam! One hundred perfect percent!”
And with that, we know we’ve claimed a small victory. A battle, not the war.
She and I can’t help the grins that spread between us.The wider hers gets, the broader mine is. Until she jumps into my arms, and I squeeze her tight. “We won, baby.”
“We won.”
And it feels too easy. That’s what worries me.
