Page 48 of Saving Stella

Or what if it came out she was a Lycan?

The bell at the end of last period portended Stella’s doom. She dragged her feet all the way to the headmaster’s office, though that didn’t help. As if it wasn’t bad enough, Osmond’s secretary told her to go inside the office as soon as she arrived, so it was obvious the headmaster was ready to give her a reprimand.

“Ms. Lennon,” Osmond began as she sat down and greeted him. “I’ll get straight to the point?—”

Stella braced herself.

“I want you to know I don’t want any legal trouble, so we will not speak of the video without any of our legal representatives present. However, may I remind you that if the video directly causes any disruptions that hinder your duties as a teacher, then we will have more formal talks.”

“I’m sorry—what?” She stared at him in disbelief. “What do you mean ‘legal trouble’?”

“No need to play coy, Ms. Lennon.” Osmond’s nostrils flared. “I spoke with your attorney, Harry Owens, who said that if I tried to dismiss you because you made that video asking for help, I would have a big messy lawsuit on my hands.”

Her jaw nearly dropped to the floor. Harry Owens called Osmond? But how?

“However, if things escalate, and if there are any major disruptions?—”

“I promise, I won’t make any more videos or cause trouble.”

He harrumphed. “You still can’t have your bodyguard in here.”

“I know. Can I go now?”

“You may.”

Relief sluiced through her. “Thank you, headmaster. Have a good evening.”

He waved her away and grumbled back a response, which Stella didn’t care to decipher—she was too happy that her job was safe. She was practically skipping as she made her way out to the parking lot.

“Things went well, I hope?” Cliff asked as she approached the truck.

“Yes, and—hey, how did you know?” A thought popped into her head. “Did you call Harry Owens?”

“No.” He snorted, then opened the door for her. “But I did tell Devon. He said he’d take care of it.”

Cliff told Devon about this morning? “But why?”

He shrugged. “Didn’t like the way he spoke to you.”

“Still, you didn’t have to do that.”

“You seem to like your job. I didn’t want to cause trouble.”

“Didn’t …” She sucked in a breath.

Cliff had done this for her.

Because he didn’t want her to lose the job she loved.

Oh Lord help her, her toes were practically curling inside her shoes.

“Do you mind?” He gestured inside the truck.

“Wha—oh yeah. Thanks.” This time, she took the hand he offered even though she was capable of getting herself into the cab. The little shock of electricity as their bare hands touched made her shiver.

“So, do you want to get dinner?” she asked out of the blue when he slipped into the driver’s seat.

“Excuse me?”

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