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I tuck my binder under my arm and prepare to leave.
“Mr. Sazuki.” Dejonae’s voice is sharp and heated. “Can I speak to you for a moment?”
“Only if you can keep it to a moment, Miss Williams. You have a training session with the first instructor in,” I check my watch, “five minutes.”
“This won’t take long,” she bites out through gritted teeth.
Jordan glances between us. I jut my chin at the door.
He blinks rapidly. “Deej, I’ll check you later.”
Once he leaves and closes the door behind him, Dejonae stalks up to me. Gone is the sheepish woman who could barely look me in the eyes when I teased her about last night’s call. In its place is the tigress who lives just below the surface.
Dejonae throws me a furious look. “What the hell was that?”
“What are you referring to?”
“We did not discuss me training other instructors.”
“Did you not read your contract? It was listed specifically in the terms.”
She scrunches her nose. “Who would read that many pages?”
I can’t help a short snort of laughter. “In the future, Miss Williams, you should be careful of what you sign.”
“Forget the contract. I can’t teach other instructors.”
“Why not?”
“Why not?” Her eyes bug. “Because that’s way above my paygrade.”
I arch both eyebrows. “You believe you are incapable?”
“I’m younger than all of them.”
I step closer to her. “Is that the problem? Are you concerned about age?”
She looks away from me sharply, clearing her throat. “I’m not confident enough.”
Her honesty surprises me.
Rather than tease her, I keep my voice steady. “After meeting Niko for less than an hour, you were able to convey to her a lesson that the teacher who had been working with her for months failed to convey. You have an instinctive gift for understanding what a student needs and relaying the principle with clarity. You have the patience to look beyond the limitations and find a solution. These are all traits that have nothing to do with your age and everything to do with your abilities.”
As understanding dawns in her eyes, I feel a sense of pride. She should be made aware of her talents. Not everyone can work in a field this demanding and maintain their sense of empathy and compassion.
“You care for people,” I say softly. “You make them feel comfortable and confident in your presence, which makes them believe that they can accomplish the task at hand. This is important for all students, but especially for students who may have been told that their disability will keep them from accomplishing their dreams.”
She pulls her lips into her mouth, but that cannot stop the pleased smile from crawling over her face. “I didn’t see it like that.”
I want to touch her cheek and let her smile unfurl in all its sunny glory. It is the hardest thing to keep my hands at my sides instead.
“You will not be working alone. Miss Cottingham has a background in Special Education. What you lack in textbook knowledge, she can make up for. And I will be here.” I look down at her. “I do not expect you to shoulder this alone.”
“Do you really think I can do this?” she asks hesitantly. And then her eyes flash with a self-conscious spark.
The vulnerability is gone.
Mistrust eases back into her expression.
