My mind goes to Alex and her beautiful face, and I blink. Shit is getting complicated, and lines have been blurred. Fuck that, they’ve been full-on railroaded over, and with Richard leaving next week…
“I hear we have a new head dean. Congratulations.” David Staple pats Richard’s shoulder so as to maneuver his way in.
“Let me get a couple of bottles of Cristal champagne. Put it on my tab,” David yells to the bartender. Turning, he looks up at me as if I should be impressed by him.
I’m not, not even a little. In fact, that same surge of wanting to beat the shit out of his son doubles when I look at him.
My hand tightens on my drink, and I take a deep swig before I motion to Jett. “David Staple, my brother Jett. I think you know everyone else.” David smiles tightly as he holds out his hand, which Jett ignores.
“Actually, we’ve met. I defended the star in the last movie he produced,” Jett states as David laughs uncomfortably.
“And worth every penny I paid you.” He smiles, turning to Richard.
“When are you announcing? I know the board will want to throw a party. After all, we have one of the most sought-after scholars and leading experts as our new head dean. That’s something that deserves to be publicized.”
Fist in the face, just one good punch…
“Well, I’m officially retiring on Friday. I thought we could have faculty and students come out onto the field and announce it there.”
“Victoria and I would love to host the party at our place.” David grins, and I cut Richard off before he can accept.
“Thank you, but that’s completely unnecessary. Richard’s the one who will be missed. A celebration of all he’s done is definitely needed. Thank you for offering.” The sound of the champagne popping covers most of Jett’s laughter as he excuses himself.
“I need to go find my wife. Richard, I’m thrilled for you.” He holds up his drink as I shoot mine again, already feeling the bourbon going to work. The warmth flows down my throat as I smile at David and his wife’s stunned faces.
“Well, as long as it’s before we leave, I’d be delighted.” Richard takes a glass of Cristal from the tray the server has brought to us.
“We’d still love to have Dean Powers—”
I take the stupid glass of champagne that a server is handing me because I can’t completely spit in their faces.
“I appreciate it, but with all that’s going on, I think I need to focus on how I’ll ever be able to fill this man’s shoes,” I say, smiling at Richard’s own weathered eye raise.
“I’d like to make a toast.” David takes a glass. “To our new head dean and all the great things to come.” He holds his up as I smile and start to drink, letting everyone talk around me.
“Brett?” David moves to my right. “A word, please.”
“Yes?” I stare straight ahead, getting ready to get the fuck out of this area because I see my brother and Raven talking with Reed and Tess Saddington across the room, and would much prefer their company.
“I’m sure there was some kind of misunderstanding with you and my son Jordan, as I hear he was passed over for joining your team.”
“There was no misunderstanding.” I stare down at him—he’s a good head shorter.
“Really? I don’t need to remind you that having powerful friends makes life so much easier.”
I cock my head and smile. “So I’ve been told.” I set my glass down.
“David, you need to understand this about me. I don’t care. Jordan was passed over because he doesn’t have the work ethic I require, and because his father is standing here threatening me.” My voice remains calm. Men like him sicken me. “Excuse me.” I move around him.
“Watch your back, Powers. Everyone has a vice. I’d hate to have a man as great as yourself be brought down because of it.”
Slowly, I turn and nod. “That’s true. But I’ll take my chances.” I stare at him until he nods and turns back to Richard and his wife.
“Brett, wait.” Christ. I turn toward Skylar.
“I just wanted to say congratulations. Is everything okay?” Her blue eyes blink up at me. Like she’d really be able to tell if anything wasn’t.
“Fine.” I turn toward my brother.
“Wait.” She grabs my suit. “I never see you anymore. I feel like we never talk.”
Sighing, I look down at her. “Skylar, I’m busy. We never talked much to begin with.”
I need another drink. At this point, I’m already feeling no pain. I’m on a mission to drink Alex’s face away.
“Brett, I don’t know if I should say anything—”
“You probably shouldn’t then.” I look around her at my brother and Reed laughing. Fucking Jett, and Reed, for that matter, both rich, married, lives uncomplicated. Unlike me. I used to think they were the saps. Now I want to trade.
“If someone you care about is doing something you know is going to get him fired, wouldn’t you want to warn him? I mean, then he will stop and maybe see that the person who warned him is the right person.” She says all this like a cat getting ready to sink her claws into a canary.
Throwing my head back, I laugh. This day just keeps getting better.
Her face pales, and her eyes narrow. “I fail to see what’s funny, Brett. I was trying to be there for you because I know,” she snarls. Her face, which I once thought pretty, twists into an ugly grimace. It’s almost comical, like I’m in a comic book, and the villain transforms into an ugly monster that wants to destroy the world, except this particular monster wants to destroy mine, and that I won’t allow.
“Skylar, I have no idea what exactly you think you know. But I can tell you to stay out of my life. It won’t end well. Trust me on that.” My voice stays flat, and she takes a step back as if she wasn’t expecting that.
“But I know.”
“Then tell.”
She blinks. “Wait. Do you even understand what I’m saying?” Her voice goes up an octave as her hands become animated.
“I don’t care. Do what you’ve got to do.”
When I walk around her, she spins and reaches for me. “Wait, Brett…”
I keep walking, smiling at people, ignoring the pulse pounding in my temple. Approaching Jett, I take his drink and nod at Reed and Tess.
“Tess, Raven, looking gorgeous, as usual.” My voice remains tight.
Jett and Reed stare at me.
“You okay, man?” Reed looks around as if some magical sign will pop up and tell him why I’m in a mood.
“Fine,” I respond, hissing out the fumes of bourbon. I’ve been neighbors with Reed since he bought one of the most sought-after and expensive properties in Malibu, but we go back before that.
“Brett?” Tess moves closer, her hand on my bicep as she looks up at me. “Are you sick?” And for a second, I think she might check my forehead for a fever.
“He’s fine.” Reed rolls his eyes and pulls his wife close to him. “Maybe lay off the booze, brother. I mean, you are the man of the hour. Soak it up. It doesn’t get much better than this.” He grins, motioning to the room of leeches.