Page 217 of The Invite
“Mr. Grayson, I still can’t allow it,” Mr. Crane replies cautiously. “A teacher cannot openly date her student. It’ll make for another scandal.”
“It won’t be an issue because I’ve decided to finish the rest of the year through homeschooling.”
He’s what?
“August,” I whisper, pleading with my eyes as he glances down at me. “Don’t do it. I’ll get another job.”
His gaze softens briefly before he resolutely says, “No, you won’t.”
Turning to Mr. Crane, he says, “If anyone asks for a statement, you tell them it was me who seduced her and I’m no longer a student here.”
“Is your mother on board with this?”
Augustus stiffens, making Mr. Crane wither at his cold expression.
The NDA. How did it slip my mind?
Elizabeth—Augustus’s diabolical mother—can come after me for breaching the contract. I don’t have the resources to fight her. From what I’ve learned about her from Augustus, she probably won’t even listen to her son. Even if my job is secured today, how long will it stay that way?
Augustus tilts his head and arches a single brow at his principal. “I don’t need to remind you this town will be mine one day. Not my mother’s. Not anyone else’s. So, think carefully about where your loyalties should lie. In fact, let me make it easy.” A menacing grin darkens his face. “I met your boyfriend’s son, Kenny. Wonder if Mrs. Crane knows about it.”
The color drains from his face.
Even I tremble a little.
“Should I ring her up and tell her you’ve been paying his fees all these years?” continues Augustus smugly.
“No!” he hastily pleads. “Miss Davenport can keep her job. I’ll handle your mother. You have my word.”
“Glad we could come to an agreement.” Augustus tugs me to stand.
“Have a good day, you both.”
Lacing our fingers together, we walk out of the room. Greta climbs to her feet, rounds the desk, and rushes past us to peek into the office. As though she’s ensuring we haven’t killed Mr. Crane.
The moment we exit the building, I whip toward Augustus and slap a hand on his chest. “How long have you known about Mr. Crane’s affair?”
“Maverick texted me last night when I asked him to look into Kenny.” Shrugging, he says, “Didn’t know it’ll come in handy. So, I thought to kill two birds with one stone.”
“So, Kenny doesn’t have two fathers?”
“He does. One of them is having an affair.”
“Oh.” Everyone seems to have a skeleton in their closet in this town. “But why would you switch to homeschooling, August? Mr. Crane would’ve agreed to anything.”
Catching my wrist, he pulls me flush against him. “It was more for your benefit, not his. I know how much you love this job and I won’t give anyone the opportunity to question your integrity. My actions have damaged your reputation enough. It’s time I did something to fix it.”
How can he say he doesn’t feel when he thinks like this?
Hooking my arms around his neck, I stretch on my toes to speak against his lips, “I knew the risks of being with you, Augustus, and I went into this with my eyes wide open. I have no regrets and neither should you.” Kissing him softly, I murmur, “You didn’t damage anything. Instead, you healed me with every touch, every word.”
His gaze softens and he kisses me deeply to express his pleasure, then says, “Let’s get you home.”
“Let me go to the ladies’ room really quick. I’ll meet you at the car.”
Hurrying back into the building, I stroll to the teachers’ lounge. After relieving myself, I wash my hands and leave the rest room. As I’m passing by my desk, I screech to a halt. On the table sits a black envelope with a red capital letter ‘A’ engraved on the top.
Anonymous.
