Chapter 3 Payback

The halls were empty, but the classrooms’ doors and windows weren’t. Faces gawked from every window as I was escorted to the principal's office, but I kept my head high. 

I wasn’t the one who should be ashamed. As our footsteps echoed through the hallway, I caught sight of my classroom. Unlike the other rooms, that one didn’t have any eyes focused on us. 

I looked to my left and made sure that the rest of my escorts saw what I did. I found Angela’s bloodshot eyes filled with shame. Her face flushed like an over-ripped tomato as she glared at me.

I smiled in return and raised my hand to wave. To my surprise, Professor Davis, the one who tried to sabotage my presentation, stopped by our classroom’s door.

“Excuse me, Sir Adam. We need Ms. Angela Hawthorne to come with us to the principal’s office.” She stated, not caring enough to ask for permission as she grabbed Angela’s arm and pulled her outside the room.

They kept us apart, guards blocking our view of each other as if afraid that things would escalate to a fight.

But they wouldn’t be able to stop the inevitable.

We arrived at our destination and just as I had expected, Jamiel was also there. He sat on the couch, his legs crossed and arms spread out over the sofa’s backrest. He took up the whole space, as if the entire school hadn't just heard him banging with his schoolmate.

The principal sat in a single chair, hands trembling over his knees as his eyes kept glancing up at the towering man standing by the window. 

Calix Vaughn, the man I made a deal with, gazed out over Preston Academy through the window.

The guards remained outside as Professor Davis, Angela, and I went inside. 

“Go sit over there.” Professor Davis said and nodded at the remaining seats in the office’s living area.

Angela took the opportunity and sat beside Jamiel. The shame she'd worn earlier was gone, replaced by her usual prideful look. 

I sat across them and took a short glance at Calix before meeting Jamiel’s eyes.

Calix broke the short silence. “Shall we start?” He turned around and looked at each one of us, his gaze staying longer on me.

“Yes! Of course!” Principal Heidi almost stuttered. The nervousness dripped from his voice. “Angela, Jamiel. What in the world was that?” 

Jamiel didn’t respond, and he kept his gaze on me. Angela noticed his reluctance and spoke, “That was an intrusion of privacy! Zhavira recorded us while we were making love, and now look at what she’s done! Not only did she do something wrong, she even destroyed the academy’s reputation and broke the rules!”

I broke eye contact with Jamiel and turned to Angela instead. 

“Did I?” I cut her off before she could go on. “First of all, that wasn’t an intrusion of privacy. It was a recorded phone call between Mr. Jamiel Vaughn and me. And yes, I did break the rules of using the broadcasting room during classes for my own personal purposes.” I paused. Calix, who was strolling around the room, stopped behind me.

His warmth pressed against my neck and down my back. 

“And yes, I may have damaged the academy’s reputation. But what I did was damage control. A way to stop things from escalating even more.” I reasoned.

I kept my back straight, and my voice leveled. I wasn’t here to brawl over my mistakes. I was here to fight for my rights and revenge.

“What?! How is what you did supposed to be damage control? Are you fucking listening to yourself?!”

“Language, Ms. Hawthorne!” the principal shouted.

Angela flinched; her body froze as her eyes looked over the man looming behind me. Her shoulders slumped, and her head hung low.

I opened my mouth and glanced at Jamiel behind her. Shivers ran down my back. 

There was something about his eyes. Was it suspicion? Doubt? I couldn’t quite name it, but it made hairs rise on my nape. His eyes shifted from me to the man behind me and vice versa. And I could almost hear the gears moving in his head.

“Ms. Russo.”

I turned to Principal Heidi. He held my gaze, and for a few seconds, silence stretched between us, each of us trying to read the other's mind. 

“Could you explain properly what you mean?” He asked and momentarily broke our eye contact to glance at the man who resumed his walk.

“Well, I didn’t want anyone to know… but now that it’s come to this, I have no choice.” My attention shifted to the two people sitting across me. “Jamiel, as an heir to the Vaughn Dynasty, you should know how much value loyalty brings to a business. But if you can’t show that to your own partner, then you’re not qualified for the position.”

His lips parted an inch, and his relaxed back straightened. The small actions made the corners of my lips twitch upwards.

“But you don’t have to worry.” I leaned back; the back of my head rested against Calix's chest, tilting my chin up. He had returned and claimed his spot behind me. “There is still someone competent and holds greater values that can make your family’s empire rise and not just stay afloat.”

“You!” Jamiel slammed his hands on the table.

“Ahem!” Principal Heidi interrupted before Jamiel could continue his violent reaction. “Ms. Russo, you didn’t answer my question.”

“Vaughn Dynasty holds a huge share within our Preston Academy. And it seems that it will grow even bigger. Didn’t my actions benefit the other investors? Now they have something to hold against the Vaughns. And you will no longer be held in a chokehold by the herd.” 

Principal Heidi cleared his throat once more. Louder and more deliberate, as if trying to drown the truth I just said.

“I shall punish you for such mistakes. And you’ll be held accountable for staining the Vaughn family’s name. I shall leave that side of the punishment to—”

“There is no need.” 

My breath hitched. I twisted my spine and tilted my head back to look at Calix, who for the first time spoke since the entire duration of the meeting.

“She’s right. There is no need to punish someone who told the truth.” 

His finger grazed my shoulder; heat flared where we touched. 

“I’ll be responsible for Jamiel’s mistake. And Zhavira?”

“Yes?” I answered.

“I’ll see you later.”