Page 46 of Not A Whisper

He may be intimidating, but this is a topic I know all too well. I fucking nailed this.

Garry nods, his expression one of polite interest. “Thank you, Miss…”

I want to roll my eyes. Not only does he already know my name from our previous run-in, I just gave it to him. It’s a tactic to belittle me. I smile, unfazed. “Wilson.BriellaWilson.”

Beside Garry, Grant sits unmoving. I don’t risk a glance at him as I hold his father’s gaze.

“Miss Wilson,” Garry repeats, practically purring. A smile tugging his mouth wide. “That was a very informative speech.We’ll give the Atwater Library the proper consideration as we decide how to proceed with funding.”

I sit down slowly, my heart racing. Ms. Barbara places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze of reassurance as Garry gives a small concluding speech. When the meeting is adjourned, I’m quick to get to my feet. It’s one thing to give a presentation on things that I’m knowledgeable about, it’s another to bump into Garry on the way out of here.

“I’m going to head back and make sure anarchy hasn’t taken over under Jonathan’s rule,” I tell my boss as I try to slip away from her side as she lingers to talk with Stanely and Jenny.

“Good call. Let him know that?—”

“Ms. Barbara, Miss Wilson, a second of your time?”

I freeze at the voice coming from behind me. Oh no… My stomach drops as I slowly turn around.

“Mr. Gipson! What can we do for you?” my boss asks, grinning ear to ear.

Garry smiles at her. It’s strange how charming a man like him can be. But I suppose he has to be. How else does he win people over before destroying their lives? First his wife and her family, and from there, countless others. Including Carlos and the Nani’s.

Behind him, Grant waits. Again, I don’t look directly at him, only taking him in through my peripheral. While I would love to be reassured and comforted, the Grant standing in this room isn’t the same one that was hanging out in my apartment the other day. This is Garry’s prodigy, a spoiled rich kid being forced to learn the inner workings of his father’s day-to-day business dealings.

He’s going to be no help to me right now.

“I was wondering if maybe we could grab lunch? I’d love to hear more about the AERO program. It sounds like it mightcome in handy not just for Groveton but for some of my business ventures as well.”

Lunch? I turn to my boss as panic threatens to consume. “I should let you two talk. Jonathan can’t be left alone for too much longer?—”

“You’re right he can’t,” she agrees with a nod. “I’llgo back and help him. You know AERO better than I do and can articulate it better than I ever could. Would you talk to Mr. Gipson? You’ll be able to answer all the questions he could possibly have.” She pauses to look at Garry. “If you’re alright with that.”

The smile that stretches across Garry’s face is frightening. “I’m perfectly happy with this arrangement.”

Of course he is.

Garry turns around toward his son. “I hope you got what you could from this meeting. You can head to class now.”

A single auburn brow raises but Grant simply nods before pushing off the table. “See you later?”

Garry nods before turning his back on his son. With Garry no longer looking at him, Grant’s mask of contempt shifts. His eyes dart to my face as his mouth brackets and face visibly pales. I ignore him as I give Garry a polite nod. “Let’s go have lunch, Mr. Gipson.”

Twelve

Walking across campus with a cheery Garry Gipson is like strolling beside a hungry alligator. When we get in line at the Thai Fusion place in the main cafeteria, I have to force myself to get something. Food is the furthest thing from my mind right now.

I think the worst part of this simple interaction is the polite conversation he manages to hold—as if I don’t know what’s coming the minute we sit down. He talks about his relationship with the dean, how much he enjoys donating to such a fine school, and how helping the community this way shapes so many lives.

It’s astonishing how much he thinks of himself. The entire conversation revolves around him. Though I don’t really mind too much. The less he knows about me, the better. As I order and wait for my meal, my stomach knots painfully. Can he hear the way my heart is pounding frantically in my chest? I’ve kept my hands clasped in front of me to keep them from shaking but it only makes them sweaty.

When we both get our meals, we make our way over to a fartable, away from the students, near the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look out to the center of Groveton College.

“Ah, this smells amazing. I don’t get to eat here often.” He stares down at his meal, slapping his hands and rubbing them together. “It’s nice to take this opportunity to try out what this campus has to offer.”

I nod slowly, thinking quickly. “Yes, this campus has some great food. It also has great resources for the students. And I think adding AERO will just be another fabulous resource that will make Groveton better.”

Garry chuckles. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll be investing in the Atwater Library.”

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