Page 689 of Filthy Elites

“Aww. He loves her and can’t stand to see her beg.”

“She wouldn’t beg for more food if he set boundaries.”

“I guess not.”

Dr. Hogan leaned a hip against the side of the pen. “I wanted to talk to you about tomorrow. I know it’s your day off, but I was hoping you would come in for a little while.”

Kelsey shook her head. “You know I hardly ever say no, but I have two tests this week.”

“The university is sending a group of students over to help out. I just need you for a little while and you can study here after you get them situated. Please. I’m desperate. Gretchen quit today.”

Kelsey wasn’t surprised to hear about Gretchen. The girl had been so completely focused on her new boyfriend, nothing else existed. “I can’t pick up all her shifts.”

“I’m not asking you to. I’m going to give Rebecca more responsibility. Please.” Dr. Katherine gave her a beseeching look. “You would really be helping me out.”

Kelsey groaned. “Okay, but I do need to study.”

Dr. Hogan beamed. “Thank you, Kelsey. I owe you. I’m putting you in charge of all the students. Show them around and get them started on the various jobs around the shelter. You can study here and just be available for any questions that arise.”

Kelsey got a bad feeling, but she dismissed it. She could be the leader, and they would have to listen to her. Having worked at the shelter since her freshman year, she had a great relationship with Dr. Katherine. “I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will. We’re lucky to have them right now when the shelter is nearly full. You can’t do everything by yourself, and I can’t afford to pay anyone full-time. We need to make this work.”

“I’ll make sure they all love it here.”

NINE

Situation Unknown

Adrian wanted to punch something.He tried to check into a motel near campus, but his credit card was declined. When he called the credit card company, he discovered his account was frozen as well. There didn’t seem to be an end to the shit that was piling onto him.

He couldn’t rent a decent room without a card, and he didn’t want to stay in any of the places that rented by the hour for cash. He was completely screwed. He had a ninety-thousand-dollar Porsche and no place to live. He wondered if the authorities would try to seize his car. It would be a fitting end to his demise.

He pulled out his phone and dialed his mother. She answered right away, probably because she had nothing to do at the moment.

“Adrian dear, are you coming home for your father?”

Adrian rolled his eyes. Everything was always about his father. “Hello, Mother. I’m doing okay. Thanks for asking.”

“No need to be rude, son. Your father is beside himself with worry over this mess the Laudons got themselves into. I told him those people were no good. Now, look at what they did to us. I can’t show my face at the club. We might have to move when all this nonsense is over!”

“That would be tragic.” Adrian sighed. His mother’s main worry in life was her standing with her social circle. “What’s going on with the investigation? Is it nearing an end?”

“You would know that if you came home to help your father.” Mrs. Colton clucked her tongue. “Your brother is trying to take over the business, but it’s not going well. Your father is worried about backlash and the stock prices sliding while this unpleasantness is being resolved. The shareholders are demanding answers your father can’t give.”

“Is Dad around?” He didn’t want to talk to him, but he wasn’t getting any answers from his mother.

“He’s playing golf. He doesn’t seem to care about what people say at the club.”

“I’ll give him a call. Talk to you soon.” He hung up before she could tell him to come home again.

Adrian paced a few times in front of his car to gear up for the call. He took a deep breath and clicked his father’s number on his phone. It rang enough times that Adrian thought it would go to his voicemail, but his father answered in his abrupt and condescending voice.

“I was wondering if you had the guts to call after being almost thrown out of school and off the team. Coltons are better than that. We wouldn’t be in this situation right now if you hadn’t befriended those people.”

Adrian clenched his jaw so that he wouldn’t lash out. He wouldn’t get the answers he needed from his father if he said what was running through his mind. His father would take no blame or culpability in his friendship with Parker’s father. Adrian had only begun hanging out with Parker because of their fathers.

“Are there any updates?”

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