“Me neither,” Kingston agrees.
“Anyway...” Ainsley continues. “They’re calling an assembly in the gym in place of first period today. They’re going to introduce the new headmaster.”
“Well, that didn’t take long to find a replacement,” Bentley remarks. “Any word on who it is?”
“Someone from another private school in the area, I think.” Ainsley nods her head toward the building that houses the gym. Or Athletic Center as the Windsor snobs like to call it. “We should get in there so we can find seats together.”
When we get to the gym, it’s relatively full, so we wind up standing against the side wall instead of trying to find enough room on the bleachers. Mrs. Fuller, one of the administration ladies, walks up to the podium and waits for everyone to settle down before speaking.
“Good morning, students. As some of you may have heard, Headmaster Davis is no longer with us. He has... decided to pursue other opportunities.”
“Yeah, other opportunities up Mrs. Jackson’s vagina,” Ainsley whispers.
Based on the laughter amongst the student body, I’d say similar comments are being passed around.
“Settle down, boys and girls!” Mrs. Fuller demands. Once the room quiets, she continues. “Now, as I was trying to say, we have a new headmaster starting today, and I’d like you all to give him a warm Windsor welcome!” She motions to the middle-aged man sitting off to the side. “Please say hello to Headmaster Carrington.”
The man joins Mrs. Fuller at the podium and waits for the lackluster applause to end. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I’m very excited to be here. I’ve been headmaster at Cambridge Prep for the last fifteen years, and while I enjoyed my time there immensely, I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity. I was a Windsor wolf back in the day, and I’ve always wanted to return to the place where some of my fondest memories have occurred.
“It gives me great pleasure that my daughter will also be a Windsor wolf. I know it’s not typical for a student to start so late into the school year, but I’m grateful the board was willing to make an exception so she can graduate from my alma mater.” He searches the audience until his eyes lock on someone. “Go ahead, honey. Stand up.”
Bentley snorts. “Nothing like being called out by your daddy in front of the whole school.”
Ainsley smacks him with the back of her hand. “Be nice, Bentley.”
“Honey, don’t be shy,” the headmaster insists. “Stand up so everyone can see you.”
Everyone’s gaze follows the headmaster’s as his daughter rises from the bleachers. Damn . The girl legit looks like Zendaya’s curvier little sister. She pushes her long, corkscrew curls to the side and stands tall while the entire room stares at her like an animal in the zoo. I can’t exactly blame them—I’m staring too. She’s stupid pretty.
“I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes,” I say. “Gotta give it to her though, she’s holding her head high. That takes cojones in this crowd.”
“What the fuck?” Bentley whispers.
I feel Kingston stiffen beside me right before he throws his arm out in front of Bentley. “Don’t, man. Not here.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the headmaster continues. “I’d like you to meet my daughter, Sydney. She’s a senior this year.”
I look to my left and see Bentley’s nostrils flare while Reed joins Kingston in flanking Bent like they think he’s about to flip out or something.
“What is going on?” I whisper to Bentley. “Do you know her or something?”
“Oh, I fucking know her all right,” Bentley hisses. “But what I don’t know is how she’s a senior in high school when she should be a senior in college right now.”
I frown in confusion as I lean into Ainsley. “Do you have any idea what he’s talking about?”
Ainsley’s jaw is slack as she stares at the girl. “Uh...”
“What am I missing?” I’m asking anyone who will answer at this point. “Who is she?”
“She’s a goddamn liar and a whore, that’s who she is.” I’m thrown back by the venom in Bentley’s tone. “Fuck this shit. I’m out of here.”
Kingston and Reed chase after Bentley as he rushes out of the gym.
“Ainsley? What the hell was that? Who is that girl?”
Ainsley swallows. “So, you know the story my brother told you about that frat party? The night Carissa was attacked?”
“Yeah... but what does that have to do with this?”
Ainsley nods to that Sydney girl. “Because that is the supposed sorority girl who had Bentley’s dick in her mouth when Carissa walked into that party.”
“What?!” My jaw drops. “I thought he hardly remembers anything from that party. How does he remember what she looks like? How do you know what she looks like when you weren’t even there?”
“Because pictures were circulating all over Insta and Snap after it happened before they got flagged. I can’t even tell you how many times someone texted Bentley a screenshot of him getting his dick sucked in front of the whole party. Those idiots thought he’d appreciate the memory, having no idea we were dealing with Carissa’s trauma at the time.”
I turn to her. “But why does Bentley seem so angry with the new girl? I don’t get that part. She didn’t force him to put his dick in her mouth, nor did she have any idea Carissa would show up at that party. Hell, she probably had no idea Carissa even existed.”
Ainsley shrugs. “My best guess is because that girl is a walking, talking reminder of what Bentley considers his greatest mistake. He probably thought he’d never see her face again, and he was perfectly okay with that.”
I cup a hand over my mouth. “Oh, God. Poor Bent.”
Ainsley snorts. “If you’re going to feel sorry for someone, don’t leave out Sydney Carrington. Because I have a feeling, Bentley is not going to handle this very well.”
Oh, fuck. I can just imagine. I’ve witnessed Bentley’s mean streak on a few occasions now, and I would not want to be on the receiving end of it. Based on his reaction just now, I’d say he’s leaning in that direction.
“Shit,” I mutter.
“Yeah...” Ainsley agrees. “As in a shitshow is about to begin. I suppose it was only a matter of time before the drama got stirred up again. This is Windsor, after all.”
Lovely. Just what we all need: More drama.
Epilogue
JAZZ
“Hello?”
“Hello. Is this Jasmine Callahan?”
“This is she.” Until my name change is processed, anyway. “Who’s calling?”
“My name is Bryant Jacoby. Your father hired me to manage the estate assets. He asked me to reach out to you in the event of his demise.”
“Oh.” I frown in confusion. I thought the feds seized all of Charles’ assets. “What can I do for you, Mr. Jacoby?”
He clears his throat. “Yes... well, I need you to come into the office at your earliest convenience to sign some paperwork.”
Now, I’m really baffled. “What paperwork?”
Kingston walks through the front door as I’m pacing the living room. Who are you talking to? he mouths.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jacoby, could you please hold on a moment?”
“Yes, of course.”
I press the mute button on my phone to answer Kingston’s question. “Charles’ attorney. He says he needs me to sign some papers for the estate.”
Kingston looks just as confused as I am. “Put him on speaker.”
I take the call off mute and press the speaker button as Kingston and I sit on the couch. “Okay, I’m back. Now, what were you saying about some paperwork?”
“For the estate,” he repeats. “To disburse funds to you, I need your signature on several documents.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Mr. Jacoby, I’m going to be frank. I have no clue what you’re talking about. I’m assuming you heard about my father’s transgressions prior to his death?”
“Well... yes, of course,” he sputters.