“Is there a certain incident that triggered this?” I ask.
“I’m not sure, but we’re getting to the bottom of it.”
“How is this the first I’ve ever heard of it?” Julian snaps. “This isn’t good enough. I pay thirty-thousand pounds a year and the school doesn’t even keep me informed when my daughter is suffering under their watch.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Masters, I’m sorry, but you’ve never been to a parent-teacher evening before. Nobody in this school knows you on a personal level. Willow’s previous nannies attended any functions or galas we had. We didn’t even know that Willow’s mother had passed away.”
Julian drops his head and stares at the carpet, I see him internally start blaming himself.
“This isn’t his fault,” I snap. “Don’t try and blame him. The school counsellor, which is you, should have been aware of a problem long before I got involved. She is in your care and one of you should have noticed and called Mr. Masters to discuss what’s been going on here. If a child has no friends, it’s a huge issue.”
The counsellor lifts his chin defiantly. “I can assure you that I’m aware of it now and we will be handling it.”
“How, exactly?” I snap. “And I want to know what you are going to do about the bullying. Willow is being attacked daily about her mother’s passing and we will not tolerate it.”
The headmaster and counsellor exchange looks.
“Are you aware of the destructive effects of bullying on young teenagers, and how deeply it’s linked with depression?” I ask.
“Yes… but-”
“There are no buts! I want the girls reprimanded for saying what they did to her.”
“It wasn’t on school grounds.”
“I don’t care,” I hiss, losing my temper. “This simply isn’t good enough. I warned you before that if I have to bring the police into the school to press charges, I will.”
“Miss Johnston, please calm down.”
I glance over at Julian who is still staring at the carpet, lost in a world of regret.
For God’s sake, he’s useless.
I scramble through my handbag and retrieve the piece of paper I have brought from home. “Here, these are the three girls involved. I would like a meeting with their parents as soon as possible.”
Emily Edwards
Michella Topan
Kiara McCleary
Teigan Hoslop
Bethany Maken
Karen Visio
The headmaster’s face falls as he sees the names. “I’m sorry, this isn’t going to be possible. This matter is confidential, and until something happens on school grounds, the parents and children won’t be involved.” “What?” I snap in horror. “This is simply not good enough. I don’t want another incident. She can’t take another incident. More to the point, she shouldn’t have to.” I hit Julian on the leg to drag him out of his daze.
“There won’t be another incident, because if there is, I’ll personally have you charged with neglect of a minor who has been placed in your care.” He growls.
The headmaster sits back in his seat, unsure what to say next.
Julian stands. “I’ll be back next Thursday evening at 6:00 p. m. to meet all of her teachers in this office.” He pauses as he glares at the two men, and they wither under his glare. “Are we clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“If one thing-one more thing-is said to my daughter about her deceased mother, I’ll bring Hell and all its fire down on those involved.”
The two men glance at each other.
Julian glares at them intensely, and then he turns and storms out of the door.
I smile proudly. That’s my man.
I power walk to catch up with him. He marches to the car, not forgetting to open my door for me.
Ah, ever the gentleman even when furious.
He gets in the car and pulls out into the traffic like a maniac.
“You handled that well.” I smile over at him.
He shakes his head. “I didn’t even know. What kind of a fucked up father am I?”
“Don’t say that.” I reach over and take his hand to comfort him. He rests it on his thigh while we drive in silence
His hand is warm, strong, and I feel myself begin to weaken.
We stop at the lights and he glances over at me, his eyes dropping to my lips.
“I’m furious with myself,” he whispers.
“I know.”
Oh God, take it out on me.
He slowly lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. This is the first time he’s ever touched me outside of our arranged night together.
“You should really get some of that anger out,” I breathe.
He closes his eyes, as if he’s imagining the same thing.
The air in the car begins to buzz. Hot, hard sex is all I can think about.
What would he be like when he’s angry and naked?
“We should get home,” I whisper.
His eyes darken, and he pushes down on the accelerator, sending the two of us flying back in our seats. “We should do a lot of things Miss, Brielle.”
The adrenaline hits me hard. Let’s do this. Let’s fuck at home.
We tear up the driveway, and my stomach drops when I see his mother’s car waiting there.
Damn her for interrupting my angry sex.
Julian exhales heavily, obviously annoyed, too.
“Your mother is here.”
“I see that,” he mutters flatly. “I am not in the fucking mood for her shit today.”
I wince. “Be nice, please.” He glares at me.
“Let’s take the kids out for dinner tonight?” I try to diffuse his annoyance.
“Fine.” He gets out of the car and slams the door, marching into the house without me. I find myself smiling goofily after him.
I think he’s even hotter when he’s angry.
How is that possible?
We walk down the busy street together. I’m holding hands with Sammy and Will is walking behind with her father.
“Where is this restaurant, Miss Brielle?” Julian calls from behind.
“Just up here.” I crane my neck to look up the street. “I hope,” I mutter under my breath.
It’s Friday night. After our meeting at the school earlier, I talked Julian into taking us to a new Texan restaurant that just opened up in town. It’s the opening week, so they have extra attractions there. It seemed like it could really be fun from what I read in the brochure. Hopefully, it will cheer Willow up.
“What exactly is Texan food?” Julian calls.
I smirk and wink at Sammy. “Horse.”
“What?” Will snaps, outraged. “I’m not eating horse.”
I giggle.
“They do not eat horse,” she calls. “You twit, Brell.”
Sammy and I giggle. Moments later, we arrive at the restaurant.
TEXAS RANGERS
The restaurant has huge double wooden doors, and the décor has been set up to make it look like a big barn. It seems so out of place compared with the snooty parts of London Julian insists on frequenting.
“Oh, wow, sick,” Sammy whispers, looking around in awe.
“Yes, there’s no doubt what we’ll all be after eating here,” Julian mutters dryly.
I elbow him. “Stop being such a snob.”
The attendant walks up to us. “Table for four?”
“Yes, please.” I smile as I go up onto my toes, completely excited to be here.
The attendant hands me a small silver bucket of beer nuts. “Nuts are on the house.” She begins to walk off. “This way, please,” she calls over her shoulders.
The children follow her, but I hang back, hunching my shoulders and smiling broadly at Julian. “I love it when nuts are on the house.”
He looks at me, deadpan. “Or in your mouth.”
I laugh. “That, too.”
We weave through the busy restaurant and take a seat at a bench seat. Country music is blaring through the space, and the back area of the restaurant opens out onto a huge courtyard. They have attractions out there, obviously because it’s the opening week. There are donkeys, horses, and a baby animal petting zoo, with a bucking bull set up in the corner.
“I love this place.” I smile as we sit down.
“Me, too.” Sammy beams. I hold my fist up and he punches it with his.
Julian turns his attention to his daughter. “What do you think of the place, Will?”
Will looks around and sees the peanut shells on the floor. “It’s a bit feral, if you ask me.”
“Thank you. At last, someone who knows what they’re talking about.” Julian sighs, relieved.
Sammy and I pull a face at one another, and we open the menus.
“Wow, I’m definitely getting the ribs.” I keep reading. “It’s called The Huge Rack.”
A look of disgust washes over Julian’s face. “I have to sit opposite you and watch you chew meat from a bone that’s called the Huge Rack?”
I giggle. “Aha, and I’m drinking beer straight out of the bottle, too.”
Willow giggles. “You are so uncouth, Brell.”
“That’s why you all like me so much.” I bat my eyelashes playfully. “What are you getting Sammy?” I ask.