By the time I make it to Johnson's office, the school has pretty much cleared out. Even Gertrude is gone. I like her. She wears the most garish colors just to torture Principal Johnson. At least that's what we all think. She never cops to anything, but she takes way too much pleasure in picking out horrible colors he'll hate for it to be anything less than a public service.
"Enter," Johnson says when I tap on the door.
I barely avoid rolling my eyes at his pompous tone. Who says enter like that? Elderly despots, that's who.
"You wanted to see me?" I ask, stopped right inside the door.
He's seated behind his desk, waiting for me with his hands steepled together. I already know he's going to make me sit because he hates having to look up at anyone, but I try to get away with standing up anyway. Maybe this will be quick.
"Have a seat," he says, dashing that little sliver of hope.
I fight the urge to sigh, perching on the edge of a chair across from his desk.
He watches me for a moment, his brows pulled together. "How long have you worked here, Miss Lassiter?"
"Four years."
"Hm. And in that time, have you ever known a teacher to date another teacher here?"
Icicles start forming in my veins.
"I don't keep up with who is dating who, sir."
"Have you ever seen me dating a teacher?" he asks.
Oh no. He knows.
My heart thumps hard against my ribcage.
"Have you?" he asks.
"No, sir," I mutter. And then, because he annoys me and I can't resist, I add, "I don't believe any of the teachers here are your type."
His expression sours further, a groove appearing between his bushy brows. But there's something almost…satisfied to the twist of his lips and the gleam in his eyes. As if he's enjoying whatever this is. He probably is. He takes far too much pleasure in being cruel.
"And yet," he says, spearing me with a look that makes my stomach churn, "You thought it appropriate to carry on an affair with the superintendent. Why is that?"
My heart stops beating for a split second before it jolts back into action. Anger mixes with dread, sending pure fury pumping through me. How dare he insinuate that what's happening between me and Sebastian is an affair, something cheap and tawdry, hidden because we're ashamed of it. I'm not ashamed of Sebastian, and I know he isn't ashamed of me. We've been discreet because we didn't want to cause an uproar that might hurt the kids, not because either of us is embarrassed.
"I don't believe my relationships are any of your concern, sir," I snap, digging my fingers into the arms of the chair to keep myself seated. I really want to yell at this man. Tell him exactly what I think of him…but I can't. I won't give him the satisfaction of making me lose my temper. If he wants a reason to fire me, I won't hand it to him on a golden platter.
"Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, Miss Lassiter," he concedes as if he's being benevolent or doing me some sort of favor. Oh! The nerve of this man! "But when you're carrying out an affair with the superintendent at my school, it is absolutely my concern."
"What does or does not happen between myself and Dr. Thorne is our business."
"So you are in a relationship with him?"
"I didn't say that."
Jeez. He's like a hyena, circling around, looking for any opening he can get.
He eyes me silently for a moment, perhaps sensing that I'm not going to tell him anything. I'll swallow my own tongue before I confirm anything to him. If he weren't such a dick, I'd almost feel sorry for him. Because when I tell Sebastian about this, he's going to lose his mind.
"I understand that you enjoy teaching," Johnson says, his lips twisting on the word enjoy as if it's foreign to him or leaves a bad taste in his mouth. "You're quite happy to continue toiling in the classroom for the entirety of your career."
"Teaching is an admirable profession," I grit out.
"Indeed." The sneer on his face makes it clear he doesn't really feel that way. He didn't go into education to teach. He wanted his own little world to rule. "But not everyone is content behind a desk. Some, like Dr. Thorne, belong in administration, helping shape the future of the school."
He lifts his tablet from his desk and turns it around for me to see it.
My soul shivers. I think a piece of it dies.
He has pictures of me and Sebastian kissing in the parking lot at the restaurant today. They're…not good. I mean, we look hot, but we also look like he's going to throw me up against the side of his truck and fuck me in the middle of the parking lot. He has his hands on my ass, gripping it tight.
"We weren't even on campus. We haven't done anything wrong," I whisper…but that's not exactly true, is it? That picture might not have been taken on campus, but we aren't exactly innocent. That first day, he made me come in his office. We've made out on campus. Repeatedly.
"Perhaps that's true, but do you think it will matter? The scandal probably won't affect you much because you're not going anywhere. People will give you a free pass. You're young, well liked. Do you think they'll give the same consideration to Dr. Thorne?"
"What do you mean?" I ask, leery as hell. He's up to something. I know he is. I feel that certainty roiling in my stomach like a hurricane blowing in.
He makes a mocking sound in the back of his throat. "Come now, Miss Lassiter. We both know you're intelligent enough to know where this is going. You're a teacher under his tutelage. You're younger than he is, impressionable. Do you really believe they're going to allow him to continue in his position as superintendent when this gets out?"
Oh no. He's going to release that picture.