Page 41 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

But I’m not sure how else to get what I want out of men. It’s all Momma ever taught me.

Your body and your looks will get you what you want. If you stop eating like such a cow, that is.

He clears his throat suddenly, blinking, and backs away, holding an arm out towards the door. “Since it’s the first day, I’ll let it slide. Our little secret. But you all need to get back to the assembly right now.”

Anika and Jennifer grab their bags and hurry to the door.

But I stay behind, feeling too nauseous to move.

The room is starting to spin slightly like a top half a second before it clatters down. I can feel the emptiness in my stomach roiling dangerously.

“Penelope,” Mr. Thomas says, his voice low and hoarse. “What aren’t you leaving?”

It sounds like he’s asking a simple question.

But I’ve dealt with men long enough to be able to interpret the dark look in his eyes.

All it would take is a little more pushing and he would pounce. One curl of my finger, and he’d close the distance between us and touch me in ways that would see him fired.

Maybe even arrested.

The realization sends a chill down my spine.

“This is still a bathroom,” I snap, pointing to the stall. “I have to pee.”

He continues to stare at me, disappointment and relief warring over his expression.

I open the stall door, clinging to it so I don’t fall over. “Did you plan to watch, or…?”

At that, Mr. Thomas snaps to attention, turns on his heel, and marches out of the bathroom.

The second the door is closed, I drop to my knees and dry heave into the toilet.

I wish there was someone to tell about the interaction.

Someone I could confide in who would get it.

Who would understand the invisible lines Mr. Thomas crossed and teach him a lesson about doing so again.

For a brief flash, I imagine Noah storming into the bathroom, fists at the ready, to teach Mr. Thomas a lesson.

But it’s gone before the edges can solidify.

Noah Boone wouldn’t come to my aid. Why would he ever bother protecting me?

He’s the one I need protection from.

14

Noah

Mom tries to have family dinners over the next week.

I’m not sure you can call two people sitting around the table a “family” dinner, but so be it.

My biggest question is,Why?

It could be because of the ripped up family picture she may or may not have found in the fireplace.

---