“Kylee, I understand this is a lot to take in right now. These offenses are quite serious, especially considering the nature of the complaint that Mr. Ruffin has filed. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to—”
“Wait. Did you say Mr. Ruffin? As in Jeremy Ruffin?” My gaze lands on Principal Asher. He pales, knowing he’s said too much. Heat begins to seep into my pores, filtering all the way down to my bones. My fists begin to clench and unclench of their own volition. “Jeremy Ruffin is a liar, a manipulator, and when women don’t give him what he wants, he tries to rape them. He’s been harassing me for months and I haven’t said anything because I thought I could handle it. It was stupid, I know. Then on Friday he attacked me. If it weren’t for the kindness of a stranger stepping in and saving me, I honestly don’t believe I’d be here to have this conversation with you right now.”
All of the anger I’d been feeling vanishes as the pain and anguish from the weekend resurfaces. Just as quickly, I’m reliving the events of Friday night, causing me to grip the armrest of the chair.
The ghosting of his hands on my body sends shudders down my spine. It’s like being transported in time, feeling the violent thrust of his hands shoving me to the ground and grinding my face into the concrete floor. I can feel his harsh breath in my ear, the coppery tang of blood in my mouth. My body begins to tremble and my breath comes out in short bursts. My chest feels heavy like an elephant is using me as an ottoman. I begin to take slow deep breaths to calm my rapid breathing, hoping to stave off the oncoming panic attack.
Principal Asher holds my gaze the entire time. His eyes are wide, evident with shock, as he listens intently. The tension in the room is palpable, rolling off him in waves. He leans forward, placing his glasses on the desk. Softening his gaze, he looks at me much like my father would, showering me with care and love when he asks, “Kylee, before we continue, I need to know . . . are you all right?” His eyes roam my body, looking for any visible signs of the struggle that took place on Friday. The few bruises on my face were easily covered up with makeup thanks to my darker complexion. All of the remaining bruises are in locations that my clothes cover. Well, most of them. I can wear long sleeve shirts for a while to cover the handprints. For once, I’m actually thankful Jeremy hit me in places where people won’t notice. It would be harder for Principal Asher to handle if he had to see the evidence firsthand.
“Yes, sir, I’m all right. There was a gentleman that was with Emma that helped me.”
Pressing his palms to his eyes and slumping forward, he immediately says, “Thank heavens for that young man.” Shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts, he sits up straighter and puts his glasses back on. “Kylee, this complicates things. I wish you had trusted me enough to come to me first about Mr. Ruffin.” He says his name as if it’s left a bad taste in his mouth. Frowning, he stares at the B-26 Marauder Model Airplane on his desk for a moment before raising his eyes to meet mine.
Principal Asher was clearly at war with himself, unsure as to how to proceed.
“Principal Asher—” I begin to say, only to be cut off by him holding up his hand, effectively silencing me and sending my eyes straight to the floor. Releasing a frustrated sigh, he sits back in his chair, resting his right index finger just above his lip and his thumb below his chin. Crossing his legs, his expression becomes grave, causing my pulse to jump.
“I have to take his complaint seriously, Kylee. A full investigation must be completed. Nothing can be missed. We have to do this the right way. Ensuring this is handled with the utmost care and wrapped up as quickly and efficiently as possible is the most important thing. My goal is to find out the truth, to get to the bottom of what is going on, and put a stop to it right away. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated. It’s not appropriate and quite honestly, not something that myself, the school board, or parents, for that matter, want around their children.” He stops to take a breath.
My mind races, trying to fit the pieces together. Biting my lip, I turn my head to the side and look out the window, letting my gaze cloud for a moment. Principal Asher starts talking again about getting answers and finding out the truth. The problem with truth is it’s only true if the other person accepts it. Otherwise, it’s just a web of deceit you get conned into believing is true.
“Kylee?”
“Yes?”
“Did you hear my question?”
“Um, no, sir.”
Sighing, he pinches the bridge of his nose before saying, “Kylee, please pay attention. I asked you what happened with Gavin.”
“Oh. Um, well, he came to me and complained that his father was abusing his mother and himself. He told me that he’s tried to stop him from abusing her and when he does, he not only hurts her but him as well. He asked me if I could talk to her and ask her to get help. I . . . well . . . I said yes,” I say before lowering my eyes to the floor once again.
“Kylee, you do understand the proper procedure is to alert the principal. In this case, that would be me. Then we call the Department of Children and Family Services who in turn files a report and investigates.”
“Yes, sir. I understand that. I just felt in this case that she needed to understand that she wasn’t alone. Mrs. Jennings really needs support and to know that there are people willing to help her and Gavin. That was the purpose of the visit to her. When she wasn’t open or receptive to that, I went to the Sheriff’s Department and filed a report.”
Narrowing his eyes at me, he immediately asks, “What do you mean you went to the Sheriff’s Department and filed a report?”
“Well, honestly, sir, she was covered in bruises, some new, some old, from head to toe. Gavin doesn’t fare too much better than Mrs. Jennings. From the looks of it, she takes the brunt of it but he takes his share of it as well. So I went and filed a report for domestic violence with the Sheriff’s department and then filed a report with DCF.
Look, I understand I shouldn’t have confronted her. I’m sorry. I was only trying to help. Honestly, I thought that if she spoke with someone who had gone through something similar, it would help her. I was wrong. It won’t happen again.” Swallowing back the unshed tears burning my eyes, I wait with bated breath as Principal Asher continues to observe me.
“While I believe your heart was in the right place, your actions were misguided. It pains me to have to do this, but we all have someone to answer to, whether we like it or not.” A humorless smile forms on his face. “Ms. Parker, from this moment forward while this investigation is being carried out, you are hereby suspended.”
The room begins to spin and the edges of my vision turn black. Warm hands grasp the sides of my face and gentle eyes meet mine.
“Breathe, Kylee.”
I begin taking slow breaths one at a time and my vision begins to clear. Releasing me and sitting on his desk, Principal Asher looks me in the eye. Concern is etched in every crevice of his face, making him look years older.
“I know this seems like the end of the world. It’s not, really it isn’t. You’re being suspended with pay. Honestly, it has to be done to guarantee that we do everything we can to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
As if he knew I was going to reply, he holds up his hand to stop my response. “If it’s any consolation, Kylee, I believe you. This isn’t something I enjoy doing or want to do. However, it’s my job and I have to do it. I’m going to be honest, though. You messed up pretty bad when you confronted the kid’s mom instead of following procedure. That’s a big liability right there. I understand why you did it and I get it, I really do, but we have these things in place for a reason. They’re here to protect you as much as they are to protect the child. Now I’m not sure how long this is going to take to clear up, so I suggest you get some rest and keep out of trouble. I’ll be in touch.”
Suppressing my tears, I take a deep breath and ask, “Sir, would it be best if I left for a while?”
Surprise registers on his face for a moment before he eyes me suspiciously.
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, to be honest, I don’t have a very good feeling about all of this. And I’m wondering if maybe it would be better if I distance myself from the school and the town while the investigation is going on. You can put me on unpaid leave. Out of sight out of mind, that type of thing.”
Principal Asher remains silent, as if contemplating his answer. “Well, the investigation would still go on in your absence. It may be best for you to be out of sight for a while. Take a little vacation. As long as you leave me a number where I can get in touch with you, I don’t see a problem.”
Giving my head a shake, I reply, “No, sir, you don’t understand. I was offered a position teaching English in Korea. It wasn’t something I was even considering. However, with these recent developments, I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be better for me to just disappear for a while.”
“Honestly, Kylee, with the way things are looking at the moment, I think it would be best. You can leave your position here. The investigation will still go on but once it’s clear you can come back like nothing ever happened.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I nod my head in agreement. “Yes, sir. It does seem like the best course of action.” Rising from the chair, I shake his hand before making my way to the door. Turning at the last moment, I say, “Sir, I’m curious. Was it not apparent that Mr. Ruffin had been in some sort of altercation over the weekend?”
Nodding, he replies, “Yes, it was apparent. When I asked, he said he’d had an accident on his ATV over the weekend so I thought nothing of it. Why do you ask?”
Figures. Of course Jeremy would make something up. He’ll stop at nothing to ruin my reputation. Hesitantly, I reply, “Well, sir, I’m not sure about an ATV accident, but I do know Emma’s friend injured him when he pried Jeremy unwillingly from my back. Not that it matters, but I witnessed everything as I lay helpless on the floor.”
Principal Asher’s breath hitches as he stares at me from behind his desk. Sadness creeps into my voice as I quietly say, “Sir, keep an eye on Gavin. He truly is being abused. If Mr. Ruffin was harassing me, I’m sure he’s done it to someone else. Thank you for everything. It’s been a pleasure working with you.”
Exiting the office, I make my way to my classroom to gather my belongings. The entire way I kept playing the conversation over in my head, every fiber in my being telling me that no matter how hard they look Jeremy is going to make trouble with a capital T. Grabbing my purse and belongings, my legs swiftly carry me to my Jeep where I begin loading my things into the back. The buzzing of my phone distracts me.
Without looking to see who it is, I answer, “Hello.”
“Ms. Parker?”
“Yes, this is Kylee Parker.”
“This is Cho Sang-hyun with CTEE. Do you have a moment to speak?”
“Yes, I’ve just had an opening come up in my schedule.” I roll my eyes at the irony of the situation.
“Perfect! Ms. Parker, you applied for a position with us several years ago. Unfortunately, we didn’t have anything available at the time. However, we’ve had a change in circumstances and would love to offer you the opportunity to come abroad. You would be teaching English to our students here in Seoul. Is this something you’re still interested in?”
Interested? Well, everything here is currently going to hell in a handbasket. What do I have to lose? Inhaling deeply, I turn my eyes to the clouds above as I reply, “Mr. Sang-hyun, I would love to come and teach English to your students in Seoul.”
CHANGE IS A POWERFUL WORD, one that seems to be a constant in my life. Most people go through their entire lives struggling to find balance, trying to adapt to change. Not me. It’s the one thing I excel at. Besides, anything is better than dwelling on what I left behind in the States. Rolling my head from side to side, my cheek comes to rest on the seat as my eyes slowly drift off into the clouds.
Gradually, my eyes begin drooping closed as the last conversation with my best friend flits through my mind.
Emma tosses a few books on the bed and let’s out a huge huff of air before following them herself.
“I just don’t understand why you have to go,” she states, crossing her arms over her chest. Her bright red lips jut out into a deadly pout while her brow furrows, making her look more like a petulant child than a grown adult. Any minute now, I expect her to throw herself on the ground and start wailing like a two-year-old that hasn’t gotten her way. My errant thoughts cause me to snort and release a full belly laugh. Gasping for air, I bend at the hips and grasp my knees, trying desperately to suck in air through my nose.
“What the hell are you laughing at, Kai? Honestly, I don’t see anything funny about this situation.”
Wiping the tears that are now streaming down my face, I say, “You’re what’s funny, Em. Seriously, you look like a kid that just had her candy taken away.”
With her arms still across her chest, she replies, “Ugh. Well, my best friend is leaving me, in case you didn’t notice. This really sucks.”
Grasping Emma’s hand and tugging it out of her kung fu grip, I gently pull her up and off the bed. Standing with our hands clasped together, she warily looks me in the eye. Releasing her hands, I pull her into a tight hug. I’m barely able to contain my emotions as I whisper, “Miles can separate us, we may be oceans apart, but nothing can replace the friendship we have spent a lifetime building.” Emma’s arms tighten around me before she pulls back, eventually letting go. Tears shine brightly in her blue eyes.
“I love you, Kai.”
“I love you, too, Em.”
The crackling of the PA system brings me out of my reverie. “Please ensure your seats and tray tables are returned to their upright positions. We will be landing at Incheon International Airport in approximately twenty minutes.” Resting my head close to the window, I become mesmerized by the puffy white clouds dancing among the limitless blue sky. Swirling clouds disperse, revealing hints of tall buildings dotting the skyline in the distance. Catching my reflection in the window, I’m slightly taken aback by the woman staring at me.
My hair is pulled into a messy bun piled atop my head. Dull eyes stare back at me, seeming to have lost their inner spark. A bird glides past, seizing my attention, causing me to look upon the city below. Skyscrapers and apartment buildings are placed one right after the other with barely enough room for a vehicle to pass between. A tunnel looking structure stretches for several city blocks in the alleyways between the buildings. The airplane shakes, jarring me out of the clouds. Turbulence forces me to sit back as the seat belt sign illuminates overhead.
The planes rough descent forces me to exhale a shaky breath. Closing my eyes, I lean back into the seat, gripping the armrest tightly as the plane touches down onto the runway. Ever so slowly, I open my eyes to take in my surroundings. I begin unfurling my fingers, stretching them one at a time, allowing the blood to circulate once again. Unbuckling my seatbelt and grabbing my bag, I make my way toward the exit. Keeping my head down to avoid eye contact, I walk directly off the plane and down the short breezeway.
Walking through the glass doors, I finally raise my eyes to take in my surroundings and stop in my tracks. The beauty before me steals the breath from my lungs. Intricate tunnel patterns are woven together to give it a space-aged feeling. Portions of the dome shaped ceiling have steel beams laced together delicately to create modern, eye-catching designs. Sunlight dances off the beams, marrying with the shadows of the banzai trees and creating the loveliest patterns on the wooden floor. Observing the terminals around me, I notice that everything is in Korean. Nothing is in English or any other language. Silently, I say a prayer, thanking God that I can both read and speak Korean and am not completely lost right now.
Allowing myself a few more minutes to soak up the beauty of my surroundings, I head toward baggage claim. Finally arriving at my destination, I find a rather tall and slender gentleman holding a sign with my name on it waiting just outside. The entire situation reminds me of the old Holl
ywood movies Emma and I used to watch. Noticing my obvious perusal, he steps forward.
“Ms. Parker?” he asks in English.
Slightly bowing with my eyes cast down, I reply in Korean, “Yes, I’m Kylee Parker.”
Briefly peeking at him through my lashes, I catch a small smile playing at the edges of his lips. He switches to Korean and replies, “My name is Hwang Jinwoo. Mr. Sang-hyun sent me to pick you up.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hwang Jinwoo. Thank you for meeting me here today.”
“You’re welcome, Parker Kylee. Let me grab your luggage and we will be on our way. Mr. Sang-hyun is waiting for you.”
Keeping with Korean custom, I continue to avoid direct eye contact as I nod my head in agreement before shyly asking, “Um . . . may . . . I ask you a question?”
“Yes.”
“You called me Parker Kylee. Why is that?”
The edges of his mouth begin to tilt into the beginning of a smirk as he replies, “Is Korean custom. We rarely use first names here. My given name is Jinwoo but I’m called Hwang.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you for clarifying. The large black suitcase there is mine,” I say, pointing to the large suitcase currently taking a trip around the carousel.
Lifting my luggage as if it were filled with nothing but air, he motions for me to follow him to the car idling at the curb. Holding open the door to the sleek black town car, Hwang nods for me to enter the vehicle. Upon entering, I’m so entranced with the pearl colored leather seats my exhausted body is sinking into that I barely register the intense stare of the older man just across from me. Yelping, my hand moves to cover my mouth.
“Forgive me. I did not mean to startle you, Ms. Parker. I’m Cho Sang-hyun with CTEE. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” He bows his head slightly before reclining back into the plush leather seats and scrutinizing my appearance from head to toe. Uncomfortable with his intense stare, I let my expression fall to the leather seat directly in front of me.
Betrayed by Blood (Betrayed #1) Page 6