Page 27 of Payback

Edward placed a large blob of shampoo into my palm. “There’s a board of director’s meeting today.”

“Do you want me to come?”

Brushing his erection against my belly, he pressed a kiss on the tip of my nose. “Of course. You’re still under our command.”

“Very funny.” I rubbed the shampoo between my palms and ran my hands over his slick hair. “What will you say when they ask you about Charlotte?”

“The truth.”

My hands stilled. “But you promised you’d keep quiet about her role in the booze cruise in exchange for her owning up about the hidden cameras.”

His erection softened. “How many of those girls’ futures would be ruined if her cocktail hadn’t made them violently sick?”

“Ugh. You’re right. Sorry to bring up such a distasteful subject.”

“It’s fine. I’d been forming a nefarious plan involving Blake that would have made us late for first period. The mention of Charlotte is exactly the splash of cold water on the dick I needed to focus on the upcoming meeting.”

* * *

Later that day, Edward and I sat in front of the Board of Governors. It took a few minutes for them to reach the agenda item of Edward’s academy fundraiser. Dr. Asgard reported that his hospital could get a temporary blood donation center set up for the academy’s sports day, which would maximize the number of donations.

As the board was pleased with the progress, Mr. Weaver decided to move up Edward’s report on the events of the weekend. I cringed as he explained to all twelve board members and a secretary, how Charlotte had extracted money from several boys for the promise of a chance with the girls of their dreams. He detailed the events of the evening, starting with a clue he had gathered from another rugby player, and ending with the police and ambulance service taking the girls away.

Mr. Weaver frowned. “While I commend the ingenuity of you and your friends, Viscount, I do wish you had filed a report with campus security.”

“Yes, Chairman,” replied Edward, his voice stiff. “However, if we had acted as you have suggested, there would be no representative to inform the police of what really happened. Moreover, the events took place after academy hours, where my friends and I were free to leave the campus as we saw fit.”

Mr. Weaver glanced at Lady Seagrove, who pursed her lips but remained silent. This time, they couldn’t fault him on his actions.

Edward inhaled a deep breath through his nostrils. “Unfortunately, there might be another report in the papers about Saturday’s events. We saw a newspaper photographer with a Saturday Correspondent lanyard around his neck.”

I chewed down on the inside of my lip, hoping they wouldn’t blame Edward for this fiasco.

Lady Seagrove sniffed. “This Charlotte Underwood is the same young lady responsible for the removal of the cameras around the academy?”

“She is.”

“How did she know of their location?” Dr. Asgard rubbed his chin.

“Charlotte is a close associate of the former caretaker, Mr. Carbuncle.”

Each member of the Board of Governors stiffened at the mention of the former caretaker’s name.

Lady Seagrove blurted, “Perhaps this young lady has been unduly affected by her association with that reprobate. Reprimanding her at this stage might lead to another exposé.”

Her words hit like a slap to the face. Did they think Charlotte was one of Mr. Carbuncle’s victims? She was his fucking accomplice! I sucked in a breath, ready to say something, but Edward placed a calming hand on my wrist.

The Board of Governors dismissed us, and we walked through the marble hallways of the main teaching block. My fists clenched and unclenched. Why did Charlotte always land on her feet? Rudolph was the only person who could handle her, and I wouldn’t wish that slimy reptile on anyone, including Charlotte.

We stepped out of the building into the sunny morning. I was about to launch into a full-blown rant about Charlotte when Edward’s phone rang.

He pulled it out of his pocket and frowned. “It’s Father’s nurse.”

Clamping my mouth shut, I gave him a sharp nod and held my breath. I knew very little about dementia, except that it was a condition that caused memory loss and confusion in old people. I had no idea how dangerous it was when it affected younger victims.

With a concerned frown, Edward answered the phone. The nurse did most of the talking, and with each word, Edward’s face twisted with confusion. At the end of the conversation, he stared at the phone as though not quite believing what he had heard.

A few people leaving the main teaching block paused to stare. Charlotte might have been one of them. The hair dyed like mine was unmistakable, but there was no time to bother with her when palpitations squeezed at my heart. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”