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Alarm zinged through her and she rose. “What can I help you with, Mr. Wentworth?”
With the school day being over, and now the door being closed, she was already more isolated than she had been before. Eric wouldn’t be here for another half hour, after he finished work.
“Please, I asked you to call me Stoddard.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Her mouth tightened into a grim line and her fear became diluted with anger. “And sending me those flowers was a grotesque gesture.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what flowers you’re referring to.” He paused and gave a small, intimate smile that made her nauseous. He took another step toward her. His voice lowered. “Would you like me to send you flowers, Hannah?”
She resisted the urge to retreat. “I’d like you to get out of my classroom. Your harassment has gone way too far. I’ve already reported it to the principal.”
“Did you now?” His tone mocked and his gaze turned patronizing. “And how did that work out for you?”
The chills on her spine multiplied, spreading to every inch of her body.
He knew. This jerk knew exactly how futile her attempt had been, and just how much power he held.
“Was there something you needed? My boyfriend will be here shortly to pick me up.”
Wentworth’s smile hardened, as did the glint in his eyes. “Boyfriend? No. Just a guy who will use you like the whore you want to be.”
Unable to stop a gasp of shock, Hannah gripped the edge of the desk and grew light-headed as the blood drained from her face.
This wasn’t happening. This brazen, overly confident attack on her by the parent of one of her students. Why wasn’t there anyone here to witness this?
Sam was possibly down the hall, but probably had left for the day. Hannah knew that by waiting so late at the school for Eric to get off work, she was one of the few remaining in the building.
She just hadn’t thought Wentworth would be this bold.
How stupid she’d been to underestimate him.
“This is borderline stalking. Please leave my classroom before I call the police.”
“And say what?” He came around the desk toward her. “That I dropped by to discuss my son’s mental health with you? It’s your word against mine, Hannah.”
Her stomach sank to her toes because, of course, he was right. And the principal had already brushed off her previous attempt.
He leaned toward her to drop an envelope on her desk. In the process, his fingers brushed the side of her arm.
She jerked back, nearly stumbling over her chair. He wrapped his fingers around her arm, not enough to cause pain, but enough to make her freeze.
He was touching her. Oh God, he’d actually moved on to touching her. She tried to pull free, but his grip was too tight.
“You’re a beautiful, smart woman, Hannah. One who deserves to be loved, guided and protected. I can offer all of that to you.” His voice lowered, and his grasp on her arm tightened. “Or I can make your life miserable. You choose. One way or another, I always get what I want.”
Hot fury burned her cheeks as she finally jerked from his grasp. Or maybe he’d just let her go.
She moved toward the door to the classroom, flinging it open wide and glancing up and down the hall.
No one. There was literally no one within sight.
Her heart pounded in her chest like a trapped bird, and bile rose in her throat.
“You need to leave. Now.”
He didn’t say another word, just gave that slow smile as he approached the door. He made no move to touch her as he stepped into the hallway.
“Thank you for your time, Ms. Jeong. I’ll hope you’ll consider what I’ve said. It’s all in the letter. Have a good evening.”
