Page 10 of Shattered Crown
"I find your methods inconvenient. There's a difference." I tilted my head toward Warren, who looked like he might actually be sick. "You've been in here, what, ten minutes? Fifteen? And you've already threatened to sue the school, demanded multiple terminations, and reduced the principal to a puddle. Very productive."
He gritted his teeth. "I don’t care what you think."
"Really? You don’t want to understand the situation before you start issuing orders." I took another step toward him. "But that's not really your style, is it? You're more of a bulldozer. Just flatten everything in your path and sort through the rubble later."
"You don't know anything about my style."
"I know you haven't asked a single question about what actually happened to your daughter. You haven't once asked how she's feeling, or what she needs, or whether she's scared." I held his gaze. "She is, by the way. Scared. In case you were wondering."
His eyes flashed dangerously. His hands, which had been hanging at his sides, curled into fists. I knew I'd baited him. I’d pushed and poked the bear. But damn it. The man brought out this raging anger in me. It wasn’t my fault he turned me into this mouthy monster.
"Don't presume to tell me about my own daughter."
I lifted my chin. "Someone has to."
We were too close now. I hadn't realized I'd kept moving, but suddenly there were only three feet between us. I eyed him upand down. He was big, sure, but one strategic positioning of my foot and he’d be on the floor. Or maybe I could take him. Tackle him to the ground. If I put my full weight over him and pressed my elbow over his chest, then I could…
God, Aria! What is wrong with you?
I stepped back, giving myself enough space to regain my senses.
Dr. Warren cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should all sit down and discuss this calmly…"
The door burst open.
Evie stood in the doorway with tears streaking down her face. She looked smaller than she had in my classroom. The white bandage on her forehead stood out stark against her pale skin, and her eyes were searching the room, red-rimmed and wide.
Behind her, the nurse hovered anxiously, hands fluttering.
"I tried to keep her in the office," the nurse said quickly. "But she heard your voices and she just…"
"What's going on?" Evie's voice was thin, trembling slightly. Her gaze moved between her father and me, trying to read the tension she'd walked into. "Why are you yelling at her?"
Sebastian's entire demeanor transformed. The ice thawed. The rigid posture softened. He moved toward his daughter with something almost like tenderness, his hands reaching out.
"Evie. You should be resting. You hit your head…"
"I heard you through the wall." She sidestepped his reaching hands. Moved toward me instead. "Are you being mean to her? To Miss Kealoha?"
Sebastian’s eyes widened for a fleeting second, but he quickly replaced it with his signature scowl. “I’m being critical of her.” His eyes flickered over to me. “Which she deserves after what she caused.”
"Don't be mad at her, Daddy. It wasn't her fault."
He ignored her. He didn’t look away from me. He didn’t speak for a long time, obviously weighing his daughter’s words.
Was he trying to intimidate me with his silence? Tough luck.
"Here's what's going to happen…" Sebastian’s focus locked on me. "You're going to tutor my daughter for the rest of the month. Privately. At my residence. If you do that… I’ll drop the lawsuit."
I stared at him. Then I laughed. Did he really just say that? His words were so absurd, I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly.
"I'm sorry." I pressed a hand to my stomach, still laughing. "Did you just give me an ultimatum?"
"I'm offering you an opportunity to correct your failure."
"My failure." I shook my head, the laughter dying into disbelief. "You’re serious?” He didn’t blink. “You march in here, threaten everyone in sight, insult my competence, and now you're demanding I work for you? In your home? Like some kind of hired help you can order around?"
"If you prefer to frame it that way."
