Page 690 of Filthy Elites

“You have nothing to say for yourself, boy?”

“What would you like me to say?”

“I want you to take responsibility for your actions and your life. It’s time to grow up and be a man.”

Adrian clenched his teeth so hard he wondered if he would crack a tooth. “Are you going to tell me about the case, or should I call your lawyer?” Adrian wondered why he hadn’t thought about calling Aaron Schuller, his family’s attorney, in the first place. He would have avoided the confrontation with his father.

“Schuller thinks this will all be resolved in a couple of weeks. They can’t find any ties to illegal activities, so they’re going to have to drop it.”

“My credit card was frozen.”

His father cursed. “I didn’t think they were going after your assets. I’m going to have to call your brother.” He ended the call without saying goodbye.

Adrian stared at the phone for a second before stuffing it into his pocket. Just like his father to worry about his older brother and disregard his younger son. Adrian was going to get no help from his family. He was going to have to figure things out on his own.

It looked like he was sleeping in his car for the night. Hopefully, the morning would bring a fresh idea.

* * *

Kelsey turnedout the lights in the kennels and called out good nights to her furry friends as she made her way to the back door. Dr. Katherine Hogan had to work late in her office and had asked Kelsey to settle the animals down for the night before she left. The veterinarian was young to have her own practice, having completed school and training only a few years before. She had been lucky to join an established animal hospital with a vet who was ready to retire. The older gentleman had taught Dr. Katherine everything he knew and then turned the practice over to her.

During Kelsey’s fall semester of her freshman year at Blackstone, she had found a cat who had been hit by a car and she had brought it to the animal hospital. The two veterinarians had been so kind to her and to the cat even though they knew she couldn’t afford to pay for any of the medical procedures. It was that experience that made her want to become an animal doctor just like them. She had always loved animals and would go out of her way to help any who needed it, so becoming a vet was something she would love to do. Kelsey had worked at the shelter and animal hospital since then.

Leaving was always one of the hardest things she had to do. She wished she could take them all home with her and cuddle them close. It broke her heart to say goodbye after each one of her shifts.

Her car was parked behind the building where the volunteers could come inside to care for the animals when the shelter was closed to the public. The animals needed care every day, not just when the hospital and rescue was open.

She pulled the door closed behind her and gave it a tug so that the lock engaged. Sometimes Kelsey had to lift up on the handle to get it to catch. The older building needed a little fixing up and the door was on the top of the list.

Kelsey turned back around and screeched, her hand going to her throat. “What are you doing here?” She shouted the question in her fright.

Greg chuckled. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Kelsey’s heart was pounding. No one was ever behind the building at that time of night. The parking lot had a lamp against the side near the door, but it barely illuminated anything. The other light was near the grass in the back of the lot. She had parked her car under that lamp.

Greg was not a volunteer at the shelter, and she had never seen him show any interest in animals. She repeated her question. “What are you doing here?” She could see he was trying to appear casual, but there was a determined look in his eyes.

He shrugged. “I came to see you.”

“Me?” She shrieked, incredulously. “Why?” They were not friends. Greg hardly ever spoke to her, and they didn’t hang out with the same people. Running into him after class had been odd but seeing him at the shelter was strange and suspect. There was no credible reason for him to be wanting to see her.

Greg stepped closer to her, and she was forced to stay where she was. The door was at her back.

“I wanted to see if you needed a ride back to your apartment.”

She frowned at him. “I have my car.” She pointed to the lone car in the deserted parking lot.

He wrinkled his nose in disgust. “You shouldn’t park under that tree.”

Kelsey got irritated all over again when she spotted the globs of bird poop still covering it. She ignored his comment, since she refused to admit that one of his friends had caused the poop fest on her car.

She tried to sidestep him, but he shifted so that he was in front of her again. “I really need to get home. It’s been a long crappy day.”Literally, she thought.

“A drink with me might help loosen you up.”

“I don’t need to be loosened.” She took another step around him.

“Come on. I promise. Only one drink.” Greg gave her a smile that was only a slight bit different from a cocky smirk.

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