Claimed: The Complete Short Romance Series

by Nichole Rose

  "I don't believe my relationships are any of your concern, sir," I snap, digging my fingers into the arms of the chair to keep myself seated. I really want to yell at this man. Tell him exactly what I think of him…but I can't. I won't give him the satisfaction of making me lose my temper. If he wants a reason to fire me, I won't hand it to him on a silver platter.

  "Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, Miss Lassiter," he concedes as if he's being benevolent or doing me some sort of favor. Oh! The nerve of this man! "But when you're carrying out an affair with the superintendent at my school, it is absolutely my concern."

  "What does or does not happen between myself and Dr. Thorne is our business."

  "So you are in a relationship with him?"

  "I didn't say that."

  Jeez. He's like a hyena, circling around, looking for any opening he can get.

  He eyes me silently for a moment, perhaps sensing that I'm not going to tell him anything. I'll swallow my own tongue before I confirm anything to him. If he weren't such a dick, I'd almost feel sorry for him. Because when I tell Sebastian about this, he's going to lose his mind.

  "I understand that you enjoy teaching," Johnson says, his lips twisting on the word enjoy as if it's foreign to him or leaves a bad taste in his mouth. "You're quite happy to continue toiling in the classroom for the entirety of your career."

  "Teaching is an admirable profession," I grit out.

  "Indeed." The sneer on his face makes it clear he doesn't really feel that way. He didn't go into education to teach. He wanted his own little world to rule. "But not everyone is content behind a desk. Some, like Dr. Thorne, belong in administration, helping shape the future of the school."

  He lifts his tablet from his desk and turns it around for me to see it.

  My soul shivers. I think a piece of it dies.

  He has pictures of me and Sebastian kissing in the parking lot at the restaurant today. They're…not good. I mean, we look hot, but we also look like he's going to throw me up against the side of his truck and fuck me in the middle of the parking lot. He has his hands on my ass, gripping it tight.

  "We weren't even on campus. We haven't done anything wrong," I whisper…but that's not exactly true, is it? That picture might not have been taken on campus, but we aren't exactly innocent. That first day, he made me come in his office. We've made out on campus. Repeatedly.

  "Perhaps that's true, but do you think it will matter? The scandal probably won't affect you much because you're not going anywhere. People will give you a free pass. You're young, well liked. Do you think they'll give the same consideration to Dr. Thorne?"

  "What do you mean?" I ask, leery as hell. He's up to something. I know he is. I feel that certainty roiling in my stomach like a hurricane blowing in.

  He makes a mocking sound in the back of his throat. "Come now, Miss Lassiter. We both know you're intelligent enough to know where this is going. You're a teacher under his tutelage. You're younger than he is, impressionable. Do you really believe they're going to allow him to continue in his position as superintendent when this gets out?"

  Oh no. He's going to release that picture.

  Sebastian.

  "We're not breaking any rules," I whisper, my entire being trembling and quaking.

  "You're breaking convention. Sometimes, that's even worse," he says. His mocking smile makes my blood run cold. He really is enjoying this. "If he pursued you, who's to say he wouldn't do it again? To a teacher less…forceful…than you."

  "Sebastian would never do something like that!" I growl, infuriated that he would even suggest such a thing. I'm not some naïve little girl and Sebastian isn't a monster. He didn't coerce me into anything or prey on me. Despite Johnson's horrific opinion, Sebastian would never do that, not to me or anyone else. Not ever.

  "Of course he wouldn't," Johnson says, as if he's doing Sebastian some great favor here instead of attacking his character…his moral fiber. "But that doesn't mean people won't think him capable of it. They'll judge him harshly."

  I want to yell that he's lying…but I can't this time because he's right. Some people will think badly of Sebastian for being with me. He's done nothing wrong, but some people might judge him anyway. They'll see that picture and think what we're doing is wrong.

  They won't see the love or tender moments. They won't see us talking over dinner or him massaging my shoulders while I grade papers or cooking for me while I read my book. They won't see us on FaceTime, introducing him to my mom and me to his little sisters. They'll see a man in a position of authority making out with his subordinate in a parking lot and assume the worst.

  "Quite frankly, Miss Lassiter," Johnson says, "even if the School Board wanted to keep him on after this, the scandal would force their hands."

  "What are you saying?" I ask, my voice shaking.

  "I'm saying that he'll be terminated or forced to resign. No other district will touch him. His career will be over, ruined. He'll never lead a district again, never shape educational policy again."

  "You don't know what you're talking about," I whisper, trying hard not to let his grim view of the future sow seeds of doubt. If Sebastian thought being with me might ruin his career, he wouldn't have pursued me…would he?

  Forget our jobs, baby. Whatever this is between us, it's worth taking a little risk, isn't it?

  Oh God. He knew. Before he ever kissed me for the first time, he knew. That's why he went to see Leslie Holland that first day, to find out what the risks were. He knew that he could lose his job, his career…and he took that risk anyway.

  Because he loves you, a little voice whispers in the back of my mind.

  I love him too. So much it hurts. But I can't keep him if it means destroying him. That's not fair to him. He's so good at what he does. He has so many plans and he genuinely cares about the teachers and students, about ensuring teachers have what they need to help students succeed. This school district needs him. Our students need him. Which means I can't be selfish here.

  I can't keep him.

  "I'll break up with him," I say, fighting the urge to cry as my heart snaps in two. "I'll ask to be transferred to another school. Just please, don't share those pictures. Don't let him lose his job over me."

  "I'm afra-"

  "That's it," someone says from behind me. "I've heard enough."

  I whip my head around to find Cadence Grayson standing right inside the door, her eyes flashing fire as she glares at Principal Johnson with her hands on her wide hips.

  "Miss Grayson, I don't recall asking you into my office," Johnson says, setting the tablet back on his desk.

  "Quite frankly, I don't give a shit what you recall," she snaps at him, her face red with rage. "How dare you sit there and blackmail Rowan into giving you what you want? How dare you insert yourself into a relationship that is none of your business? She is an incredible teacher and Dr. Thorne is an amazing superintendent. You're a horrible little toad."

  "You would think that," he says, condescension dripping from his tone. "You're as naïve and troublesome as your friend, always thinking about yourself instead of what's best for this school. It's quite clear that Dr. Thorne is cut from the same cloth. He's jeopardizing the reputation of this school for an affair."

  Please, Baby Jesus. Don't send me to hell for hating this man, I pray. Because I do hate him. I hate him so much for threatening Sebastian, for talking badly about him.

  "You don't care what's best for the school," Cadence retorts. "You don't even care about Rowan. If you were really concerned that Dr. Thorne was anything like you suggested, you would have gone straight to the School Board instead of dragging Rowan in here after hours. If anyone is manipulative in this situation, it's not Dr. Thorne. It's you. All you care about is what makes you look good. You can't stand that someone else has more authority than you. That's what this is about. You don't give a shit about Rowan, about Dr. Thorne, or about the students here. All you care about is you and your image."

  "Enough!" Joh
nson snaps, slamming his hand down on the desk. He's more furious than I've ever seen him before, his face almost purple with rage. "You will show me the respect I have earned, or you'll both be looking for other jobs by this time next week, Miss Grayson."

  "I'd like to see you try to fire us," she snaps right back at him.

  "You think you're untouchable because you're hanging onto Colton Walker's coattails?" he asks, his tone mocking again. I always tried to believe that he meant well, always tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. He doesn't deserve it. He doesn't mean well. Just like Cadence said, he's a horrible little toad, only out for himself. "You're utterly unremarkable and replaceable, Miss Grayson. You coddle those children to their detriment."

  "No," she says, her expression triumphant, as if his verbal strikes haven't even fazed her. "I think we're untouchable because every teacher in this school will tell the whole world how horrible you are before they let you slander Rowan and Dr. Thorne. The people here actually care about her. They love her. You, they can't stand!"

  For the first time since I stepped inside this office, I see Johnson falter. Cadence sees it too.

  "If you release those pictures," she says, "I'll make sure everyone knows you're the one who did it. I'll make sure everyone knows you did it because you're jealous of Dr. Thorne and of Rowan. They'll all know that you're just a pathetic old man, trying to destroy good people because being a jerk is the only way people pay any attention to you at all."

  The self-satisfied gleam in his eyes winks out, doubt creeping in. He hesitates, opening and closing his mouth as if he never before considered that this whole school might turn against him. And that's the moment I realize that he really is a sad little man, one so out of touch with reality, he doesn't even know that he isn't heralded as some savior or wise denizen.

  I don't fear him in this moment. I pity him.

  "You terrorize the teachers at this school and make our lives a living hell," Cadence says, her voice softer, as if she just came to the same realization I did. "The students are afraid of you. The parents dislike you. Even your own receptionist can't stand you. All you will ever be to the people here is a bully. That's the legacy you're leaving behind. That's what people will remember when you're gone."

  "If you try to get Sebastian fired, I'll tell everyone what you're really like," I vow, climbing to my feet. My legs tremble beneath me but I stand my ground, standing up for the man I love more than anything. "So will every other teacher in this school. Trying to ruin his career because you're a bully is disgusting, deplorable behavior. I'm ashamed of you."

  "So am I," Cadence pipes up, reaching out to loop her arm through mine.

  Johnson looks between us, his lips compressed into a grim line. He doesn't fight back though. He doesn't say or do anything. I think he knows he can't. He's not Sauron, and Cadence and I aren't Samwise and Frodo, but I think we just threw the ring in the fire and freed the school from the clutches of a monster.

  Cadence and I don't say anything, instead heading toward the door. My legs still tremble, and I think she knows it because she doesn't let me go until we're outside of the building, with two doors and half a parking lot standing between us and Johnson.

  "Are you okay?" she asks me then, spinning to face me. Her eyes are wide and worried, her cheeks still flushed with residual anger.

  I nod, but I'm not at all sure I'm being honest. Because even if we just freed the school from Johnson…I still don't know how I'm supposed to stay with Sebastian when doing so might mean ruining his career. Leslie Holland may not have objected to our relationship, but others might. Even if Johnson never releases those pictures, when people learn that we're together, they may view our relationship the same way Johnson does, see Sebastian as a man abusing his power.

  I can't let that happen to him. I won't let that happen to him. We both got ourselves into this mess, but it's up to me to get us out of it.

  "Thank you for standing up for me," I whisper to Cadence, trying not to cry.

  "I figured you could use backup," she says, her voice full of empathy and understanding. "He's vile. I heard most of what he said to you. If you need someone to testify in front of the School Board about his behavior, I'll be there in a heartbeat."

  I bob my head in a nod, and then frown when I see Colton climbing out of the truck parked at the curb. He has a small cut on his left cheek and he holds his left arm close to his body. He looks okay though. He slams the door of his truck and heads in our direction.

  "You all right, angel?" he asks Cadence, his green eyes scanning up and down her body. His eyes go hard as he notices the flush to her cheeks and the pulse fluttering wildly in her throat. "What happened?"

  "Principal Johnson is a troll," she huffs, scowling at the doors of the school like she's thinking about going back inside to give him another piece of her mind.

  "I said the same thing!" I blurt, unable to help myself. He is a troll.

  Cadence gives me a small smile.

  "What did he do?" Colton asks, a growl in his voice.

  Uh-oh.

  "He's just being a dick like usual," I mutter, trying to halt the storm brewing in his eyes. Colton is a lot like Sebastian. They're both protective alpha males, more than capable of destroying Johnson's entire world. And neither of them can afford to take that risk. Colton is a freaking billionaire. He does not need drama. "Cadence put him in his place though."

  "She did?" Colton glances away from the school to Cadence.

  "You should be proud of her," I murmur to Colton. "She verbally kicked him in the balls. I don't think he's going to be a problem anymore."

  "He deserved it," she mutters.

  "Fuck, that's hot," Colton growls, reaching for her hand to tug her up against his chest. "I'm so fucking proud of you for putting him in his place, angel."

  They stare at each other, both glowing. They're so happy, so in love. My heart aches, sending tears into my eyes. I blink them away and bite my bottom lip to hold them off.

  "I'm going to go," I say. "Um, thank you again, Cadence. Colton, I'm glad you're okay."

  "Are you sure you're okay?" Cadence asks.

  "Yeah," I lie. I try to smile at her, but I don't think it works because it just makes her look even more worried. "I'll see you Monday, okay?"

  "Sure," she says. "Bye, Rowan."

  I feel Colton's gaze on me, but I don't look at him again. He'll see right through me if I do. I'm a terrible liar.

  I stumble toward my car, fighting tears the whole way. I just want to curl up and cry, but I can't. I have to find a way to say goodbye to Sebastian first.

  Chapter Eight

  Sebastian

  "I told you to let me talk," Leslie says, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "You can't bulldoze your way over the entire School Board, Sebastian! It's unseemly."

  "Unseemly?" I glare at her, my jaw clenched. "They've been arguing for two hours already. How much more is there to say? His staff hates him, the kids are afraid of him, and he may very well be manipulating test results. He needs to go."

  "No one is disputing that. They're simply trying to determine the best way to go about it. You have to give us time to do this properly. You can't shout the entire Board into submission just because you're tired of hearing them bicker."

  "It worked, didn't it?" As soon as I lost my temper and told them how we were going to proceed, they stopped arguing about what to do. They might not have been happy, but it solved the problem. They may have all night to sit around and argue. I don't. The longer I'm here, the longer I'm away from Rowan. I don't like it.

  And we're still nowhere near done here. It's going to be at least another hour or two before we're finished dotting I's and crossing T's. I want it done now so we can drop the hammer on him first thing Monday morning. Before he has time to do any more damage at Commodore.

  Leslie stares at me for a full minute and then she drops her head into her hands and laughs. "You're still the same intractable, mulish boy you were twenty ye
ars ago."

  "I've grown since then."

  "Taller, perhaps," she says, lifting her head to look at me. She's not very mad though. Amusement twinkles in her eyes. "But you haven't changed. When you see an injustice, you dig in your heels and refuse to budge. It's one of the reasons we hired you, you know. You fight hard for those who need it." Her lips twitch, her tone droll. "The arrogance is new."

  "Call it whatever you want," I retort, shrugging. Maybe I am arrogant and stubborn, but at the end of the day, I get shit done. It's what I was trained to do. There's a reason the only ex-Marine is Lee Harvey Oswald. You never really leave the Marines. Regardless of how long you've been out, you're still a Marine. We're all shaped from the same mold. The lessons we learned linger for life. And Marines are trained to get shit done, whatever it takes. "It worked. They stopped arguing."

  "I don't know how Rowan puts up with you."

  "She loves me."

  The laugh lines around Leslie's mouth deepen, her eyes lighting up. "Judging from your little announcement in there, I'm thinking she isn't the only one in love."

  "Sorry about that." I blindsided her with my statement about my relationship with Rowan, but it had to be done. I don't want anyone to think I'm trying to hide it. If it were up to me, I'd already have a ring on her finger. And Johnson's treatment of her is part of my problem with him. Better to admit it outright than to have my integrity and motives questioned later. "I figured I should lay it on the table before we discussed Johnson so they didn't have a reason to doubt my motives later."

  Leslie waves her hand in a dismissive gesture, letting me off the hook. "I assumed that was why you brought it up."