***
Sunday afternoon arrived all too soon. My jetlag hit me like a ton of bricks when my eyes flickered open.
I could tell it was late in the day by the amount of sunshine seeping through my curtains. The sun was high and bright, which meant the meeting would begin any second now. I frantically searched for my phone and checked the time. It was half past two. The meeting was due to start at three.
I sighed and leaned back against my pillow again. Jetlag was always the worst part of traveling. It was worse than all my hangovers combined.
When I finally dragged myself out of bed, my entire body felt heavy. I stretched and tried to regain some flexibility in my joints, but it was no use. I would feel stiff for the next few days.
Grudgingly, I pushed myself toward the bathroom and cranked the shower to full blast. I undressed and climbed inside, letting the water wash over my skin. As I stood in the shower, I thought about Scarlet once again. I pictured her face and smiled.
On the plane, I told myself I was only being my usual, charming self. I was using my talents to keep her interested in me. She was sexy and innocent, just the kind of girl I would have loved to corrupt.
Standing in the shower, I reassured myself that my interest in Scarlet was purely sexual. She was just like every other woman I seduced. We talked on the plane as a way to make her comfortable around me, to make her feel safe. Someone like Scarlet couldn’t be easily pulled into bed. She was sheltered and shy. She would need more coaxing than most women, a more subtle seduction.
When I finished my shower, I was still thinking about her, but I felt better now. I’d been worried that I couldn’t shake my thoughts of her, but now I knew it was just sexual desire and nothing more.
Eventually, I would get her in my bed, and then all my interest would fade. I’d played this game many times before, and I knew every level. Scarlet meant nothing more to me than another conquest. Telling myself that made me feel like the real Lucien Wolfe again. I got dressed and made my way downstairs, ready to start the first chapter meeting of the year.
The common room was deserted when I arrived. I wasn’t surprised. No one showed up early for the meetings except the president. This was my first meeting as president of Delta Pi, and I felt ready. I’d been waiting since freshman year to hold this kind of power, and now that I had it, I was eager to wield it.
I sat silently in the main chair and waited for the room to fill. As it did, I nodded and waved at my brothers. Most of them didn’t know I was already back from France, and they all had questions about my trip.
I silenced them with a simple look. This wasn’t the time for socializing. We could all catch up later, after the meeting.
Adam arrived last, rubbing his eyes. His hair was a mess, and I knew he’d been sleeping until minutes before. He looked even worse than I felt, and I didn’t blame him. Jetlag was a bitch that we’d both woken up with. The only difference was, I couldn’t succumb to it. As president, it was my job to maintain a certain image. That imagine had no place for weakness.
“Welcome back,” I said, once everyone was seated. “Glad to see everyone survived the summer.”
“Yeah, even us,” Adam said, laughing.
I grinned and wiggled my eyebrows at the room. Everyone, especially the younger guys, were dying to hear about our vacation. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction, not yet.
“Well,” I said. “Let’s just dive right in to the good stuff. I have a lot planned for us this year. Frankly, the bidding process has always bored me, so I’ll let Bryan handle the new recruits this year. Bryan, you good with being Pledge Captain?”
“Of course,” Bryan said, grinning sadistically. I knew Bryan was the right option because he always got off on torturing the new guys.
“Great,” I said with a nod. “Then, the next order of business is our philanthropy projects for the year. I have a few ideas lined up already, but if anyone has suggestions let me know, okay?”
Everyone nodded and I smiled. I knew exactly what they were all waiting for. Pledges and philanthropy were the most boring part of being in Delta Pi.
We all maintained the right image in public, but behind the scenes, we lived for one thing: parties. Delta Pi’s legacy was our parties. We threw the best ones on campus, and we weren’t shy about it.
Everyone, including the Dean himself, knew our reputation. As long as we kept our GPA’s up and stayed out of jail, he turned a blind eye to all our questionable activities.
“Okay,” I said. “Now for the stuff you guys actually give a damn about. Party planning.”
“Hell yes,” a few guys said. A couple more clapped their hands enthusiastically. Still more, sat up straighter in their chairs.
“What do you have planned for us, Pres?” Timothy asked.
I grinned at him and then turned to the room as a whole. “One a month,” I said simply. “I know we’ve usually kept things simple, with a big party every semester, but I want to shake things up this year. One party every month to celebrate something different. It’ll be insane, and we’ll most likely get in a lot of trouble, but I don’t care. I’m ready for this year to be fucking amazing.”
“Damn,” Bryan said. “That’s a big undertaking, Lucien.”
I nodded. “I know. But we can do it. What do you guys think? Let’s take a vote. All in favor?”
Almost everyone raised their hand. I grinned and clapped.
“That’s it then,” I said. “We’re doing it.”
“What about the party?” Timothy asked. “The tradition.”
“We’ll have it,” I said firmly. “Of course, we will. Delta Pi has been throwing that party for generations. I’m not messing with that tradition.”
“Let’s think about this for a second,” Bryan said slowly.
“What?” I asked.
I tried to keep my annoyance from showing, but I couldn’t help it. I’d been so excited about this meeting. I didn’t want anyone second guessing me or my plans.
“Are we sure we want to do this?” Bryan asked. “Maybe this year is the year to do away with it. I mean, if we’re having a party every month, there’s no reason to—”
“It’s not up for a debate,” I said firmly. “Look, we’re a democracy and everything, but come on. We can’t not have the party, not after all these years. Do you really want to be remembered as the class that broke a decades old tradition? Because I don’t.”
“We can’t,” Hunter said. “Lucien’s right. Can you imagine what the alums would say if they found out? They’d have all our balls for even considering this.”
“Okay,” Bryan said, raising his hands in surrender. “You win. We’ll do it.”
“Excellent,” I nodded. “Now, for the rest of the parties.”
I launched into an explanation about each party. I’d spent weeks planning my pitch and everyone loved it. By the time the meeting was over, I felt like the best president Delta Pi would ever have.
From the way my brothers were slapping me on the back as they left, I was sure they felt the same way. This idea was brilliant, and I’d come up with it. I would do down in the history books as the most legendary Delta President.
“Seems like everyone is on board,” Adam said, once the room was empty.
“I think so,” I said with a nod. “It’s a brilliant idea, don’t you think?”
“Of course,” Adam said. “It’s great, but…”
I looked at Adam suspiciously. He was watching me carefully, as if he was afraid to tell me something. I waited for him to speak again, but he didn’t.
“Spit it out,” I said. “What’s up, Adam?”
“I was just thinking,” Adam began. “About the party.”
“Which party?” I asked.
“You know which party,” Adam said testily. “Bryan had a point, Lucien. You can’t just ignore what he said. This party has been controversial for a long time.”
“Enough,” I said sharply. Adam was really starting to piss me off. This was definitely not how I wanted to start off my presidency.
“Look,” Adam said. “You may not like it, but I’m just telling you how it is. It may not be the best idea to continue this particular tradition, okay? Will you do me a favor? Will you just think about it?”
I glared at Adam. My anger bubbled just beneath the surface, and I struggled to keep it in check. First, Bryan interrupted my perfect meeting with his stupid idea, and now, Adam was bringing it back up.
First, he tested my patience in France, and now this. I was beginning to wonder why I put up with him. He’d been my best friend since freshman year, but lately, he and I just didn’t see eye to eye.
“We’re doing it,” I said with authority. “And that’s final. Are we clear?”
“Lucien,” Adam began, but I cut him off with a look.
“It’s one party,” I said. “One out of ten. Just one. It’s happening, Adam. Let it go.”
Adam just nodded and watched as I left the room in a hurry. I still felt angry, but it was subsiding quickly. Being away from Adam helped calm me down, and I decided to focus on the good rather than the bad.
Most of the guys were on board with my plan, and that was what mattered. The many outweighed the few. I refused to let Bryan and Adam’s ridiculous opinions ruin my year.