Page 11 of Wicked Surrender

I walked into the suite of offices, head held high and not bothering to lose my swagger. They could call me cocky all they wanted. I was, and I wasn’t ashamed to show it.

These fusty old assholes didn’t scare me.

“Mr. Reeves,” an assistant said when I showed up and announced who I was here to speak with. He didn’t even flinch when I referred to his boss asfucking Dean Chen. “Right this way. They’re expecting you.”

They?

Normally, it was just Dean Chen. I looked forward to another faculty member to harass.

In the conference room, I spotted the dean, pompous and polished as ever. The man looked like a rigid statue and had a personality to match. Next to him was another man in a suit who looked like he was never patient. But the secretary pouring coffee for them, she got my smile.

“Hey, Stella. Long time, no see.” I waited until she blushed at me before scampering out of there.

“No need to hurry away. Will we see you at the next party?” I asked, loving how embarrassed she was to have come to my Professors’ Nightmares party last year. She’d looked fantastic riding my dick that night.

That was how little I worried here. I might be a pain in the ass, but everyone fucking loved me. People from town wanted to visit the frat house. Even the faculty on campus were tempted.

I wasn’t here to get love, though.

As I narrowed my eyes at Dean Chen, I remembered my goal to make him suffer however I could. And I wasn’t leaving until I accomplished that. Making Chen pay was the least that I could do in vengeance for William.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I asked as I pulled out a chair to sit. They’d only get one version of me—rude and smug.

“Cut the shit, kid,” the other man said. He spoke with a no-nonsense tone like I was a soldier in the military.

“Well, hello to you too,” I quipped.

“Mr. Reeves,” Dean Chen said in his cool, monotone style as he gestured at the other man, “allow me to introduce you to the new assistant dean, Mr. Gormer.”

“Allow you?” I scoffed. “I didn’t realize you were so hell-bent on being consensual.”

Mr. Gormer didn’t budge. He was more of a gargoyle than Chen, and I wasn’t sure how to consider that. It hardly mattered. This new guy wouldn’t change anything. I’d blow him off just the same. He’d learn sooner or later that I was untouchable.

“Let me guess,” I said, drawling like it was such a chore to be here. I didn’t want to sit around and waste time, after all. “You’re concerned about the recent extracurricular activities at my frat house?—”

“Belle Ramirez has declined to press charges, so no, you cocky son-of-a-bitch, that’s not why you’re here,” Mr. Gormer said. “We are here to discuss the other allegations of more misconduct at your ‘parties’ and your failing grades.”

He just had to use air quotes, as if to mock my parties.

I clenched my teeth, perturbed that this assistant asshole could play hardball in a way Dean Chen never did. Still, that stoic man was the source of my wrath. He always would be.

Figuring they needed to feel self-important via lecturing, I sat through the meeting while they both listed and showed documentation of all these rumors about misconduct and reports of my low grades.

Without a single reaction, I gave them a chance to air their grievances, silently blowing them off and waiting for them to get through their spiel. Once they did, I smiled.

“Chen,” I said calmly, “you know the deal. Tell me how much and I’ll get a check to you this afternoon.” Putting my hands on the table, I got ready to stand and leave.

“Not so fast,” Mr. Gormer said.

I raised my brows. “I realize you’re new and all, but this is how it goes. Count on a donation this afternoon, and we’ll sweep this under the rug.”

“You misinterpreted the reason for this meeting,” Dean Chen said in his too-cool tone, like nothing would ever make him sweat. He thought he had all the power, but I was determined to ruin that belief.

I sat back, sighing. “What, you want to try to make me cry? You want a sappy apology? Come on, I’ve got other things to do.”

“Oh?” Mr. Gormer sat back, at ease. “Like what?”

I stared him down, furious when he only smiled.

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