Color drained from her face. “Yes. Exactly.”
“Interesting. Hmmm.” He scratched his chin. Winning had been his strategy ever since leaving his poor neighborhood in Vonevell. Against his father’s wishes, he’d left with nothing more than a natural talent for cooking and a dream in his mind. He’d paid a hefty price for his choices, but wouldn’t be where he was today if he had stayed there. “I wonder if I’ll be able to help you.”
She switched her weight from foot to foot. “Tell me what you want.”
He perched his hands at his waistline. “My daughter isn’t leaving the school. You’ll find a way to convince the coward principal to let her stay.”
“What?”
He lifted his hand. “I’m not done. You will personally tutor her, to help improve her grades.”
“Are you crazy?”
“I’ll pay you handsomely, of course.” The idea solidified in his mind. Why not? She’d have an extra motivation to help Marcelle succeed. She was a teacher. She should know enough to tutor his daughter.
Specks of silver flickered around her blue irises. “How do you expect me to convince Principal Clark? How do I go from not expelling her to tutoring her?”
Not my problem.“I’m sure an intelligent person such as yourself will find the perfect excuse.”
She quirked up her chin. “What if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll call the cops right now about this unfortunate fender bender and might as well let the school know.” And he knew she’d be finished. A newbie at the school who had hit the car of a student’s parent? The fact he had become persona non grata didn’t matter. It’d look bad for L’École. And this woman didn’t want to have to pay for his damage, let alone have her insurance rates increase. She needed him, as much as he needed her.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, glancing down. “I can’t believe this.”
“You better believe it. Which one is going to be, oui or non?”