by Primo, Jaz
I looked back over my shoulder at him with a withering expression, only to be met with amused expressions on both their faces.
“Why, thank you for the fashion advice,” I said. “Ralph Lauren?”
“Well, if you don’t own Tom Ford, I suppose Lauren will suffice,” he said.
I rolled my eyes.
Tom Ford?
I wished.
Fashion snob.
* * *
The flight to New Haven had been a direct charter flight via Sunset Air, an international carrier that was vampire-owned. It operated a dual fleet; one fleet catering to traditional human patrons and the other catering to their sunlight-sensitive clientele.
Their vampire-centric fleet consisted of exclusive, regal aircraft sporting individual cabins, likely nicer than many hotel rooms.
It was simply amazing; decadent comfort at its best.
Most surprising, however, had been an unexpected gift from Kat that awaited me in the cabin; a tailor-fitted black Versace suit, complete with crisp white silk blend shirt and black silk tie.
“How did you manage this on short notice?” I asked.
She shrugged, as if it were nothing.
“It’s not Tom Ford, but it should do quite well,” she said. “You look amazing, nonetheless.”
She’d been correct about the suit, of course. As soon as I put it on, I felt like a million dollars, a facet that immensely boosted my self-confidence going into the meeting with Dean Eddings.
Alton never explained how he managed to secure the meeting. I wondered, not for the first time, if there was anything he couldn’t do or arrange.
Of course, he couldn’t make my meeting go well. That much was left up to me.
Yale? Never in a million years.
On the limousine ride to the campus, Kat discreetly whispered in my ear, “Just be yourself, my love, and you’ll charm everyone’s socks off. You certainly did mine.”
Lusty thoughts accompanied her revelation as I appreciated her silver silk dress; her cleavage tantalizingly displayed her dress’ plunging neckline. Her hair was pinned up in a particularly elegant and alluring fashion.
She kissed me while slowly tracing my calf with the sharp heel tip of her stilettoes, sending a shiver down my spine.
Kat easily drove me to heights of desire most of the time, but that night I found her to be particularly tempting. I wanted to have her right there in the back of the limo, only I was certain that Alton wouldn’t have appreciated the display.
Dr. Harry Eddings was a distinguished looking, gray-haired gentleman who appeared to be in his mid- to late-sixties. He looked every bit like a dean, and spoke in a precise cadence of speech, as if each word were measured and presented just for that moment.
Halfway through our meeting, though I definitely thought of it more as an interview, things seemed to be going quite well, and I began to wonder why I’d felt so hesitant.
Then a pointed question froze me in my tracks.
“Mr. Taylor, our program is highly competitive to be accepted into, much less on such short notice. In particular, I rarely grant such meetings as this after hours. In truth, I’m only here per an impromptu request from our president,” he said. “Given that, what unique and valuable qualities do you bring to the table that not only enrich our school’s fine heritage but advance the study of history? In essence, what makes you worthy of being a Yale man?”
My breath caught in my throat, and I thought my brain might cease its operation entirely.
I swallowed hard and forced my mind back into action. The passing seconds felt like hours as I struggled to formulate a viable response.
“Through my personal life experiences, I bring an entirely fresh perspective on the world around us,” I said. “One that I doubt many students, if any, could claim.”
One of his eyebrows arched and he regarded me with a sincere-looking air of curiosity.
Oh, shit. How do I follow up on that with specifics?
I’ll be killed if I reveal any vampire-specific details to him whatsoever.
It was at that moment I believed my interview was destined for complete and utter failure.
Better failure than death, right?
“That’s a decidedly vague, yet tempting, answer, Mr. Taylor,” he responded. “Despite our short time together, between the information in your file and our meeting this evening, I sense you’re quite an intelligent, competent young man in your own right. However, to be quite honest, we’re currently at a full complement of students in our post-graduate programs.”
My heart sank.
“Perhaps if you—”
A knock at the door behind me interrupted Dr. Eddings. He frowned and rose from his chair.
I heard his office door open but I couldn’t see who it was. I was still reeling from what he’d told me.
Still, at least I had tried my best. I hoped Kat and Alton wouldn’t be too disappointed in me after all the trouble they’d gone to.
“I do apologize for the interruption, Dr. Eddings, but you simply must meet my guest,” said a gentleman behind me.
“President Yarborough,” said Eddings. “Um, yes, please do come in. I was just interviewing a prospective student; the one you’d asked me about, in fact.”
“I assure you, we’ll only take a moment,” said Yarborough. “Dr. Eddings, permit me to introduce you to Mr. Alton Rutherford, President and CEO of Rutherford Enterprises. He’s come all the way from London to invest in our college. In fact, he has some amazing news to share with you.”
My eyes nearly popped from their sockets as I peered around the side of the high-backed reading chair I was sitting in.
“Dr. Eddings, a pleasure to meet you,” Alton offered in typically charming fashion.
“Mr. Rutherford, the pleasure is all mine,” replied Eddings.
“Your books on eighteenth century Quaker culture are quite impressive,” Alton said.
“Why, thank you,” Eddings said.
“I’m particularly intrigued by a member of your faculty, Dr. Samuel Gowan,” Alton said. “His research into American and European Enlightenment figures is renowned. I attended one of his guest lectures at Cambridge some years ago; quite impressive, really.”
“We’re very proud of Dr. Gowan; he’s one of our most competent and devoted professors,” Eddings said. “He lives for his research.”
Alton appeared pleased. “Good to hear that. Speaking of research, I was just chatting with your president at the foundation dinner about an investment I’d like to make on behalf of your history department,” he said. “I understand you’re developing a fund toward a new museum of history on Yale’s campus?”
“What? Oh, yes, the project’s a labor of love of mine, but we’re only fifteen percent funded at this point,” said Eddings. “I suspect we’re years away from construction. There’s a master list of strategic foundation priorities, you see, and the museum is closer to the bottom of that list. Hopefully, I’ll live long enough to see its completion.”
“Indeed?” Alton asked, strolling into the office as if he owned the place.
He casually glanced down at me.
“Why, Caleb,” he said. “Are you still here? I thought you’d been interviewed already.”
“No, I---”
“Well, I won’t interrupt you for long,” he said, quickly returning his attention to President Yarborough and Dr. Eddings.
“You know this young man?” Eddings asked.
“Why, yes, he’s my nephew,” Alton replied.
“Your nephew?” Eddings asked. “But I thought his name was Taylor.”
“Oh, I’m from his mother’s side,” Alton said.
“Ah,” Eddings said.
“Now, Dr. Eddings, you mentioned your museum’s funding level. Well, I’m particularly passionate about history myself; one might say I’m a student of it, in fact.”
I had to grin over that.
“Nevertheless, I’ve been so impressed by this university
and your memorable career here in particular, that I’d be interested in seeing the construction come to fruition,” Alton said.
“Oh, well, that’s most kind of you, Mr. Rutherford,” Eddings said. “I’m certain that any donation would be welcome.”
“Specifically, I’m willing to fund the remaining balance for construction,” Alton said.
I watched the shocked expression on Eddings’ face. “Full construction?”
Alton shrugged. “Absolutely, and with a wing dedicated to your years of fine service here, I should think. It could serve as a repository for much of your research and artifacts surrounding Puritan culture.”
As Dr. Eddings ran his hand over his mouth and looked at Yarborough, I almost thought he was going to pass out. My gaze shifted back to Alton, who had a satisfied looking expression on his face; one that I’d seen a number of times before on Kat, in fact.
It was the look of a predator that just captured its prey.
“Oh, my,” Eddings said. “Mr. Rutherford, not only would your offer be immensely generous, it would be singularly amazing.”
“I’m pleased to hear that. We can finalize the details of my donation in the near future with your foundation’s director,” Alton said. “I do apologize for interrupting your meeting. Shall we go now, Dr. Yarborough?”
“Certainly, Mr. Rutherford,” Yarborough said. “Good evening, Dr. Eddings.”
Alton shook the dean’s hand.
“My pleasure, Dr. Eddings,” Alton said, and then quickly led the president from the office.
Dean Eddings lingered at the door for a moment before closing it fully and returning to his seat across from me.
He momentarily stared across the room with a distant look in his eyes, appearing almost lost, and then returned his attention to me.
“Mr. Taylor, your uncle is quite an interesting man,” he said. “Remarkable even.”
Then he paused, appearing to fall into some sort of deeply reflective mood. He looked at me again and rubbed his chin with his fingertips.
“Where were we?” he asked.
I swallowed to relieve the tightness in my throat.
“You were telling me about how your program is full already,” I said, struggling not to wince from having to say it aloud.
“Oh, yes,” he said. “Well…”
I rose from my chair and extended my hand to him. “Thank you, Dr. Eddings, for taking to the time to meet with me. It’s been a sincere pleasure,” I said.
He rose, shook my hand, and said, “Yes, well, welcome to Yale and the program, Mr. Taylor.”
I felt my mouth gaping open.
“I’m sorry, I thought you said---”
“Ranking and placement is often viewed rigidly at the university. Fortunately, we deans have some discretionary latitude available to us. With one so deserving as you, we can always make room for one more,” Eddings said.
He must’ve noticed my perplexed expression.
“You’ll learn that’s simply how some things are done here at Yale, Mr. Taylor; just as it is in the real world outside these hallowed halls.”
“Er, thank you, Dr. Eddings,” I said, still somewhat numb from the swift turn of events.
“Your uncle appears to be a very savvy man,” he said. “It’s nice to meet men like you and him; both passionate about history, as well as focused upon what they want in life. Please convey my best wishes and appreciation to him, won’t you?”
If you only knew…
“Yes, sir, I certainly will.”
I was still in a near-stupor as he escorted me to the building’s entrance and held the door open for me.
“My staff will email you with additional placement information and program registration details, and the admissions office should contact you in the next day or so regarding your initial enrollment,” he said. “Good night, Mr. Taylor, and once again, congratulations.”
Moments later, I found myself standing alone outside in the cool night air, taking a deep breath to attempt to clear my head.
Unbelievable.
I only walked a short distance along a lonely sidewalk when I heard a momentary rapid click of heels, and then Kat was suddenly standing before me.
“Well, how did it go?” she asked excitedly.
I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out.
She looked down at me expectantly.
“I’m in,” I finally managed to say.
She enveloped me in her arms, nearly squeezing the breath from my lungs.
“I’m so very proud of you, my love,” she said.
“Really, it was nothing,” I said dryly.
Nothing I did, anyway.
Chapter 21
Caleb
We boarded a return flight to Atlanta later that night. Apparently, Alton had exclusive chartering of our plane, which must’ve cost a small fortune.
There seemed to be a lot of small fortunes being spent on my behalf lately.
While I settled in with Kat in our cabin, Alton was still outside the aircraft and hadn’t yet boarded the flight.
She reached out to grasp my hand in hers, and then leaned over to kiss me. Her stiletto clad foot once again lightly traversed up my left leg.
“Are you excited about going to Yale?” she asked with a glint in her eyes.
I grinned. “Who wouldn’t be?”
She turned as the cabin door opened to reveal Alton, still looking amazing in his fitted designer suit.
“We’ve taken on an impromptu passenger who’ll be staying on for Miami after we deplane in Atlanta,” he said.
“Really? Anyone we know?” Kat asked.
“Hm, I think you’ve met,” he said. “Does Sabira ring a bell?”
“Sabira?” she said. “Yes, she was an Arabic vampire from the Slovene conference.”
She looked at me with an inquiring expression. “I’d like to go say hello, if that’s okay with you.”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
She exited the cabin as Alton settled into the free seat on the opposite end of our short row of four.
My thoughts immediately jumped to my meeting with Dr. Eddings. After a moment, I rose and moved to the empty seat beside Alton’s.
“You’re welcome, my boy,” he said with an easy smile.
I blinked and stared into his hazel eyes. “Why?”
He frowned slightly. “Why, what?”
“Why did you do this, Alton? Why go to all this trouble for me? You purchased a museum just to get me into Yale. You’ve spent a small fortune flying us here and back to Atlanta,” I said.
“Don’t you think yourself worthy of going to Yale?” he asked, cocking his head to one side with a quizzical expression.
“Yes—I mean, no; not at such a high cost,” I stammered. “They—the students—are way out of my league.”
His eyes flashed bright hazel and he laughed.
A second later, his eyes narrowed and his features hardened. “So, the poor, abused boy from Columbus, Ohio, doesn’t think he deserves to be at Yale? Is that right?” he demanded. “You’re from humble roots and that makes you more stupid and worthless than all of the snot-nosed rich kids; those favored sons and daughters of powerful CEOs, senators, and congressmen?”
“Stop it!” I shot back. “Don’t go there.”
“No, you stop it. You’ve been beaten down so much in your past you’ve bought into the ridiculous rhetoric, dogma, and stupidity of fools,” he said. “You’re already twice as intelligent, capable, and worthy than half of the spoiled, foolishly entailed students in Yale, yet you’re your own worst enemy.
“Consider that many of your soon-to-be fellow students are steeped in pretention, primarily gracing those halls because of whom they know or where they came from. I know you can best most of them in so many ways, if you merely assert yourself and try.”
My jaw muscles tightened.
“You listen to me, right now, and you listen well, my son,” he said, power virtually emanating from him
in waves. “I’m from a time when power was inherited, usually from the pampered and the favored. I’m also from a time when a good man with a strong arm who can swing a sword and comport himself with honor is worth ten times his weight in gold.
“I’ll stake my life and limb on just one honorable peasant’s boy over a hundred grovelers, manipulators, and political sycophants…every—single—time. Give me ten humble, ethical, sincere souls and I can build a kingdom; give me a hundred and I can rule an entire nation.
“Do you want to know who I see when I look into your eyes; when I divine the depths of your soul? You’re one of those sons of so-called commoners who could lead an army and be worthy of it; who could be king, and be worthy of a crown,” he said.
His hands darted out to grasp the sides of my head between his strong fingers. “You may not believe me now, but relatively soon those things I said are going to become self-evident to you, even if I have to flay the world bare and then set fire to parts of it to prove it to you. I’m going to make you see the truth, and then you’ll believe; because once you do, you’ll be nearly unstoppable.”
I felt awed; completely speechless.
“When I purchased a hospital wing to be able to perform live-saving surgery on you, you were worth it then. When I purchase a museum to give you a fair opportunity that you should by all rights have access to in the first place, you’re worth it. When you discover your tuition to be prepaid at Yale, you’re worth it.
“In all the things I have done for you or may do for you in the future, you’ll accept both my grace and my gifts as I deem them so, and you will be worthy of them. Do you understand me?”
I was speechless. Nobody had ever said anything like that to me before.
I tried to nod my head but his grip precluded it.
“But I—I could never repay you for all your generosity,” I said.
“Oh, you will, son. You most certainly will,” he said. “You’ll bear the weight of all those who’ll look down upon you when they deem you unworthy. You’ll excel in your studies, and believe me, I’ll be watching closely to see that you do. You’ll act in good character, even when you see an easier, less noble path before you. You’ll shine when the darkness falls upon you. You’ll hone your skills and you’ll harness your courage, and you’ll do it, not only because I demand it, but because it’s who you are, deep down inside where it counts most.