Page 230 of Lessons in Cruelty

I didn’t know it was possible to stomp in high heels, but that’s what she’s doing. I almost turn tail and run, but fear paralysis kicks in, rooting me to the spot.

Maybe if I play dead, she’ll leave me alone.

“Hi,” I say as soon as she’s in earshot. “Nice to see you aga⁠—”

Her curt, “Miss Lee,” cuts me off.

She checks the hallway, and I guess she’s happy it’s empty, because she can cuss me out right here. “We haven’t been formally introduced.”

There’s a beat of silence.

Melissa steps forward, waving a hand at the tall woman. “Uh, Haven, this is Dean Winslow. Dean, this is Haven Lee.”

The dean gives Melissa a considering glance, then turns back to me with her full attention.

I don’t want it. Not one bit of it.

Her piercing eyes make me feel as insignificant as a blob on a microscope slide. An ant crushed under the tiny point of her six-inch heels. A bug splattered on the grill of her⁠—

“She wasn’t joking about the car thing,” Melissa says, when it’s obvious this has turned into some weird blinking match. “And she really didn’t know about the speech.”

This seems to make the dean relax, but God knows why. “Yes, I assumed as much. And for that, Miss Lee, I apologize.” She smooths a hand down her elbow-length black gloves. “That kind of administrative mishap shouldn’t be happening at a prestigious institution like Agony Hollow College.”

I purse my lips, giving her a casual wave. “It’s nothing, really. Water off a duck’s back.”

“That being said…” Her eyes narrow. “There’s a time and a place to air grievances and it’s not in front of hundreds of guests who’ve attended tonight’s fundraiser with the explicit purpose of contributing their hard-earned⁠—“

“I wouldn’t say explicitly hard-earned,” comes a voice behind the dean.

I’m not the only one who doesn’t appreciate Professor Rooke’s jump scare when he steps out behind the dean.

She turns to him, her eyes low. For a tall lady like her—in heels—I guess she’s used to looking down on people.

Not Rooke.

They’re on eye-level and I can tell it puts her panties in a knot by the suddenly sour twist of her mouth when she has to look straight at him.

“I will be with you momentarily, Mr. Rooke.”

Ouch.

But Bastian ignores her condescending tone, glancing over at me and Melissa. “I see you’ve met my two most promising students.”

The way he says ‘my’ makes something clench low in my belly.

“I was hoping to have a quick word with them.”

“I’m in the middle of—“ Dean Winslow begins, but Bastian steps closer to her, grasping her elbow and turning her away from us.

“As you just said, there is a time and place for everything. Now, seeing as Mr. Callahan is on his way over here with his wife, perhaps you should choose a different time and place to air your grievances with Miss Lee.” He glances at me over his shoulder, giving me the faintest smile.

My heart lifts, hearing him defend me like that. But it sinks again when I remember how we ended things at the taco stand earlier today.

“Callahan?” The dean absently smooths her black gown. “Shit.”

She turns back to me, the brief panic on her face gone. “We’ll resolve this later, Miss Lee. Good evening.”

And then she’s off, running a hand over her hair as if to check for stray ends.