Ryker
I’ve avoided Kristy Horner and the International Law Journal office as much as possible this semester, but I can’t any longer. Today is a full editorial board meeting to discuss our next issue going to print, and if I miss it, she’ll have leverage to get me booted off the journal.
Before, the prospect didn’t bother me, but now I’ve got something to prove. The only thing getting me through the meeting is knowing that I’m meeting Brandon at the bar for a beer later, and hopefully talking Justine into staying the night at my place. One day at a time.
When I walk into the office, I’m the last to arrive. Kristy is at the head of the table, with the rest of the editorial board filling up each side. I slide into the seat at the end.
“Thanks for joining us.” Kristy’s tone is snotty and annoyed, but I don’t care.
I check my watch as the hands land on two o’clock. “Right on time.”
She rolls her eyes, and no one in the room can miss the tension between us.
Kristy talks for forty minutes, giving a rundown on each of the pieces for submission, and debates the merits with herself without allowing anyone else to get a word in.
There’s only one piece in the stack that I don’t think should be included, and it’s Kristy’s. It’s basically a regurgitation of the last note she published, with a slightly different spin so she can pad her résumé. I’ve got two choices—bring it up now, in front of the group, or take it up with her privately. As much as I want to call her out, I opt for the latter.
When the rest of the editorial staff leaves—after rubber-stamping everything Kristy chose for publication—I stay seated, leaning my elbows on the table.
“We need to talk.”
Her blond eyebrow arches. “About what?”
“Your note. We’re not publishing it.”
“The hell we’re not. I’m the editor-in-chief; I can do whatever I want.”
“And ninety-five percent of it is a duplication of the shit you published last semester. Everyone in the room knew it, but no one has the balls to say anything.”
Her laugh comes out as a huff. “You’re going to challenge my work product? Really? After we published your half-assed piece last year?”
“I didn’t make the call to publish mine, but you’re making the call to publish yours. You’re using the journal to pad your résumé, and I’m calling bullshit.”
Her expression hardens. “My decision is final. Call it whatever you want.”
“You need me to bring this up with Professor Tate? Because I will.” Our faculty advisor is the only chance I have to knock Kristy down a peg. Last year, I would have kept out of it, but the way she’s been taking swipes at Justine has pushed me past my limit.
Her mouth pinches into a scowl. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Then I guess you don’t know me as well as you thought.”
She taps a fingernail on the table, as though considering what she’s going to say next. “Maybe I don’t, but you’re still not going to do it. As a matter of fact, what you’re going to do is leave this alone and get me a letter of recommendation from your dad for my clerkship application with the Sixth Circuit.”
What the fuck? “Did you run out and find some crack before the meeting? There’s no way in hell he’s going to write you a letter of recommendation. I won’t let him.”
Her scowl twists into something nasty. “Yes, you are. And you know why? Because if you don’t, I’m going to tell everyone all about how your dad is paying your new girlfriend’s tuition, and that’s why she finally spread her legs for you.” She nods her head. “I guess it’s lucky for you she lost that scholarship, or you would’ve never gotten a shot at her.”
My expression stays neutral as her words tear through me, unleashing waves of rage. What the fuck?
Kristy’s waiting for my reaction, but I refuse to give her the one she’s expecting.
I stand, gripping the edge of the table so hard it creaks. “I don’t know what the fuck you think you’re talking about, but I don’t want to hear Justine’s name come out of your mouth ever again.”
A harsh laugh tinged with something evil escapes. “You could’ve had me—someone your social equal—but no, you wanted that charity case. Apparently she’s a hell of a lot smarter than you, because she found a way to get a free ride for fucking you. The student paper would love that story.”
“Stop right the fuck now. You’re full of shit.” I want to reach across the table and shut her up myself, but I’ll never put my hands on a woman like that.
“I bet you wish I was, but this isn’t something I can make up. You know my mom works in the registrar’s office, right? She’s been drafted to help keep tabs on the payments coming in from the scholarship kids who lost their free rides. She told me that the last payment for Justine’s tuition came from your dad—and it wasn’t the first time. I thought that was pretty freaking interesting.”
“And your mom is going to be out of a job tomorrow for sharing confidential information with you if you don’t shut the fuck up.”
My harsh tone isn’t as effective as I expected, because Kristy laughs again and lowers herself back into her seat. “You’re so blind, you don’t even see it, do you?” She crosses her arms, rests them on the table, and leans toward me. “How many times did she shoot you down before she lost her scholarship? Don’t you think it’s odd that she didn’t put up much of a fight after? Think about it, Ryker.”
“Enough.” The word comes out like a Doberman’s bark.
Kristy shakes her head slowly. “She wouldn’t give you the time of day for years, and then all of a sudden she’s your new study and fuck buddy? You don’t think those two things have anything in common? You’re not usually this much of an idiot.”
Anger vibrates through every cell of my body, and my fists clench against my sides. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, and if you say another word about this to me or anyone else, I will rain down hell on you and your mom.”
Kristy’s triumphant expression morphs into something ugly and cruel. Why did I ever think she was attractive?
“I guess we’ll see what the dean has to say about it. Little Miss Perfect 4.0 might find herself out of school anyway. There’s got to be some violation of the student code of conduct.”
I meet her gaze with a glare. “You say anything to the dean, and I’ll make sure my dad blackballs you from every job worth having after graduation.”
Finally, a flash of uncertainty crosses her features. “He wouldn’t dare.”
“I swear to God, I won’t stop until he does.”
Kristy sputters, searching for something to say in response, but I’m not waiting around. I need some answers right the fuck now.