Page 121 of Devilry

“I will show you just how far this nonsense of yours will get you.” He looks down at my name tag and back at me, deep disgust etched on every single crease in his face. I hear his thoughtsbefore he voices them, and I know now there is no level too low for this man.

Without another word he storms out of the room, Elijah’s mother right behind him, and the three of us are stunned into silence.

Elijah sinks back onto the chair in relief, but I feel it in my bones, it’s too soon to celebrate.

“Can you excuse me a second?”

Elijah looks at me perplexed. “Are you okay?”

“Yep. I just need to check something really quick.”

Leaving the room, I practically run out to the main floor of the ballroom. Looking through a sea of faces, I try to find anybody that resembles Elijah’s parents.

“Professor Huxley,” I try to ignore the voice and resume my search, but whoever it is, is persistent.

“Professor Huxley.” Turning around, I find Aiden walking toward me.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see Elijah.”

Unable to focus, I frantically keep searching for them, when a better idea comes to me. Where the fuck is Dean Billings?

“Have you seen Dean Billings?” I ask Aiden.

He looks around. “I don’t think so, why?”

“I’m pretty sure Elijah’s parents are about to rat him and me out.”

“Elijah’s parents are here?”

“Focus, Aiden,” I chide. “Can you see him?”

I turn my head. Left. Right. Left. Right. Searching the room. Begging that I’ve got this whole thing wrong.

“Found him,” Aiden says.

Following his gaze, I find Mr. and Mrs. Williams staring at me. Their mouths moving at a million miles per hour. Dean Billings looks like he’s ready to kill.

Aiden stands in front of me, blocking my view and wraps his arms around my neck.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Put your hands around my waist,” he instructs.

“No.”

“Focus, Huxley,” he says, throwing my own words at me. “Elijah or the job?”

“What?”

“Who do you pick? Elijah or the job.”

“Elijah,” I answer.

“I’m so glad I was wrong about you.”

He tilts his head, and his next move registers.

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