Page 672 of Filthy Elites

Ruined – Charlene Raquel

ONE

Fate Revealed

“Suspend him from the team.”

The words hung in the air and weighed heavily on Adrian’s chest. He barely heard the verdict over the pounding of his heart. He wondered if the others in the room could hear it.

It didn’t bode well for his future if the first vote cast was to suspend him from the rowing team. His fate at Blackstone University was being determined by seven austere people in front of him.

That first verdict was from an elderly professor who should have retired a few decades before. Professor Marcella’s public speaking class was a horrible graduation requirement that students were forced to take. The crazy woman made students write their own obituary and read them in front of the class. Who would ever want to talk about their own death?

Adrian locked his legs and crossed his arms over his muscular chest. His father had always told him to never show any outward emotion. A mildly bored expression was to be displayed to the world. Nothing else would be tolerated. A Colton must always demonstrate the proper decorum. What a bunch of bullshit.

He kept eye contact with each member of the student disciplinary council in front of him as he clenched his jaw to keep from saying something that was sure to get him kicked out of college all together. How many times in his life had he swallowed down a reaction or comment that would have diverged from his perfect persona? How many times had he edited a remark in his head so he wouldn’t say it out loud?

“Not guilty. He should stay on the team.”

Two down. Adrian was a little surprised Dr. Bannister, the dean of students, had sided with him. He had not had much interaction with the dean, but he had heard the man was stiff and structured. That description fit in with his appearance. Tall, thin, slightly balding, and wire-rimmed glasses were just the start. He also sported a pinstriped suit with deep creases in the pants and a bright white shirt that had enough starch to stand on its own. The look was completed by a bowtie. Oddly enough, it worked for the guy.

Alone in the center of the Blackstone University Board of Trustee’s chambers, he was now second-guessing his decision to decline representation. He would face his future on his own. He didn’t have anyone to stand with him anyway. All his so-called friends had either been arrested for committing unimaginable crimes or had abandoned him. They didn’t know if he had really been unaware of what had been going on or if Adrian was just as guilty.

The two guys he had hung out with the most had manipulated, lied, coerced, and even killed to get what they wanted. Parker and Eric were sitting in a jail cell after trying to kill a student named Gwen Mason at a gala a few weeks ago. The president of the university, Parker’s father, Eric’s mother, and several others were also arrested for a multitude of offenses including embezzling university funds, blackmailing a US senator, and murder. Everything was a mess, and he was in the middle of it.

Adrian had not taken part in their plans, but popular opinion found him guilty by association. Maybe he was? Adrian had never cared enough about what was going on to ask questions. He never actively participated or had knowledge of any crimes, but he sensed something wasn’t right. It had been easier to ignore the world and pretend he had the perfect life.

He just didn’t care. Thinking back over the past few years, he couldn’t remember the last time he cared about anything. Until now.

He didn’t want to be thrown out of school or off the rowing team. The only peace he found was on the water, rowing his sleek boat, and racing against time or the other team. On the water, he could just be himself.

A throat cleared, bringing his attention back to his trial. Two verdicts down and four more to go. The vice president of academic affairs, Dr. Rex Osborne, would render the final vote in the case of a tie or uphold the majority’s wishes.

The entire council sat in tall-backed leather chairs behind a long, curved desk on the raised dais in the front of the room. Some looked out of place, while others, like the dean of students, appeared to belong.

The one student on the council shifted in her seat, looking everywhere but at Adrian. She looked vaguely familiar, possibly from one of his classes, but he couldn’t place her. The girl’s chocolate-brown hair was pulled up in a messy bun, making it impossible to tell how long it was, but Adrian thought it would probably flow down to the middle of her back.

Her wide, deep brown eyes were framed by luscious lashes that were not enhanced with mascara like many girls on campus tended to cake on. She would not need any make up to increase her attractiveness. Adrian wondered why she wouldn’t look at him. Hopefully, it was not a sign of how she was going to vote.

A short man with a goatee, who Adrian had discovered was in charge of the counseling center, cleared his throat again. “We should postpone these proceedings until additional information is presented.”

The vice president shot the man a dirty look. “Harold, you’ve seen all the evidence and information we have discovered. You’ve been given the opportunity to ask questions, which you have done. We’ve wasted enough time with this matter. It needs to be finished.”

Hearing that, Adrian was even more convinced than before that the entire hearing was a complete sham. Dr. Osborne had overseen the investigations into the members of the Onyx Society who had not been immediately arrested. Adrian had cooperated as much as possible, even going against his parents’ demands that he remain silent.

He had done nothing wrong, and he didn’t have anything to hide. Keeping quiet would have made him look even more guilty than everyone thought he was.

“Harold. Your verdict.”

Harold Green glared at Dr. Osborne. “Mr. Colton, I don’t believe that you knew nothing of what was going on, but I do believe in giving second chances. Rex, I insist Mr. Colton perform community service regardless of the outcome of this disciplinary council.”

Dr. Osborne’s face turned red. “Harold!”

Harold folded his arms across his chest. “I do not vote in favor of suspension at this time.”

Dr. Osborne rolled his eyes, and it took extreme effort for Adrian not to do the same thing. At least it was another vote in his favor. He didn’t like the idea that he could be punished either way and hoped no one else on the council joined in with Harold.

Professor Patrick McGregor had been in the army for a couple of decades before he joined the university as a member of the political science department. He was one of the toughest faculty members on campus, not accepting any excuses or cutting the students any breaks. Adrian knew he would vote for suspension. There had not been any question in his mind how the cranky, old curmudgeon would vote.

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