Page 600 of Filthy Elites

“Too late. I already got the rude welcome before I made it through the door.”

Her brows disappear into her hairline. “God, what happened?”

“He roughed me up a bit and told me to be gone by tomorrow, so I’m not sure I could manage any more surprises.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted to know who he was first. I don’t want any trouble here, and I don’t want anyone causing it for me.”

“I understand that. I think you might get trouble from him the most, though.”

That piques my interest. “Why?”

“Most people here are probably just going to gossip about you because of the scandal, but he’s the only one in the school whose family was impacted by what your father did.”

Oh God, no. I knew it had to be something like that.

“In what ways?”

“It was his mother. She had cancer. Part of the money your father stole belonged to her research foundation. She was shut down after it happened and tried to campaign to get funding but failed. A month later, she died.”

Fuck. As if I didn’t feel bad enough already.

I never wanted to believe my father was the bad person the media portrayed him to be.

But he is. People make mistakes. I believe that, and I believe he did, but it will never change what he did.

Now I’m here on the other side of the country with a bully who hates me because of my father’s sins.

“You don’t want trouble with him, Billie. Trust me. Chad Volkova is despicable.”

“I wanted to report what happened this morning.”

“You can.” She sighs. “My father will listen, and I’m sure he’ll do all he can to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again. I also imagine he’d try his best to issue some punishment and maybe speak to Chad’s father. But, I’m sorry to say, it won’t do a damn thing to stop dear old Chad from most likely coming back for you with a vengeance.”

“So, what am I supposed to do?”

She raises her shoulders into a little shrug. “I’m the last person to advocate bullying in any form, and I’d never dissuade you from taking action on something like that. Just know you’ll have to fight fire with fire because whatever you do, it will make it worse for you here.” She squints and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, revealing a gold rose barbell I hadn’t seen before. “Your stepfather is in the Bratva, isn’t he?”

“He’s not my stepfather yet.” I don’t like that she knows things I haven’t spoken about. Things like that make me uncomfortable.

“Sorry. That was insensitive of me because I don’t know the kind of relationship you have with him. I’m fortunate enough to have a stepmom who’s nice.”

Cal’s nice too, but he’s not Dad, and I could never be okay with my mother’s affair with him.

“That’s good.”

“I hope that doesn’t sound like I was bragging. I wasn’t.”

“I know. And you didn’t sound like you were.” I offer a little smile.

“Good. Anyway, I ask about the Bratva because I know you must know their ways.”

“I do.”

I knew about them long before Mom hooked up with Cal because Dad had all sorts of clientele. My father is one of the best investment bankers in the country. That means he’s important to a lot of people.

Those people had all the right connections. The kind ofconnectionswhich have made it possible for his massively reduced sentence. That’s one of the reasons people are all riled up. They know he’s getting out of prison far too soon.

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