Reflection (The Chrysalis Series) (23 page)

The woman scowled and seemed ready to shut the door in her face. Bridget stepped into the doorway to prevent that just in case.

‘Please,’ she implored, ‘I realise this sounds crazy, but I used to be a student at Corinthian and something happened to me here in this room. Something I’ve come to put to rest.’ She met the woman’s eyes. ‘If you’ll let me, that is.’

The young woman peered at Bridget for several moments, clearly weighing her words.

Finally, much to Bridget’s relief, she stepped aside and let her enter the room. Again, Bridget had a split second of disorientation as she expected to see Trent’s bed and clothes strewn around. Instead, there were two neatly made loft beds with brightly coloured bedding lining the walls. The space under them was being used as workspaces and simple desks were adorned with laptops and all the other accoutrements students these days seemed unable to live without. Artistic posters covered the painted cinderblock walls and a grass-green, shag rug dominated the floor.

Every trace of what had been was gone.

Bridget turned a full circle, allowing the present to overtake the past. With each passing moment, the edges of those memories softened. They would never fully leave her, but perhaps now they could fade.

‘What happened?’ the girl was leaning against the doorframe, watching Bridget with open curiosity.

She debated telling her, but didn’t think it was fair to saddle her with the knowledge when she still had to live here.

‘Someone I trusted hurt me.’ It was the essence of the story. It would suffice.

The girl didn’t say anything, but there was a knowing look in her eyes.

With a final look around, Bridget felt herself relax for the first time since she’d gotten on the plane to come here. Life had moved on and now so could she.

She smiled and thanked the girl, never once looking back as she left the building.

It was time to go home. She had a dean to take down.

Chapter Twenty-nine

‘One more time,’ Bridget said as she vainly tried to unlock her fingers from around the steering wheel.

If they screwed this up, both she and Skyler would be ruined.

‘Professor, I know what I have to do.’ Skyler’s words were clipped and her jaw tight. Her own hands were clenched into fists in her lap.

Bridget’s heart squeezed for her student. Skyler was about to let herself be publicly shamed in order to ensure Whittier was exposed once and for all. Bridget just hoped nothing went wrong. She might have leverage over Whittier, but her instincts said it would be foolish to trust him. She was risking her career, but she’d recover. The one who had the most on the table here was Skyler. They couldn’t screw this up.

She let off the brake and inched forward in the line of cars for valet parking. The year-end mixer was always well attended. It was the time where everyone got to meet the up-and-coming talent at the university. It was also the worst kept secret around that more than one star student had been poached from under someone as a result of this party. Nevertheless, no one missed the opportunity to show off the tangible proof of their teaching skills.

During his tenure, Whittier had always chosen to host the mixer at his home. She always suspected it was to show off his wealth.

The two-storey Colonial in River Rock’s historic district was massive. For this particular event, Dean Whittier always opened the music room and ensured some celebrity or another was there to play. Last year it had been Yo Yo Ma, the famous cellist. Bridget couldn’t remember who was supposed to be playing this year. Her mind had been too preoccupied with planning Whittier’s exposure.

‘Skyler,’ she said, doing her best to rein in her fear. She needed to stay strong for them both. ‘Humour me, OK? Let’s go through it again.’

Skyler bit her lip and choked off whatever she’d been about to say. Instead, taking a deep breath, she recounted all the steps she needed to take to ensure they exposed Whittier. When she finished, Bridget reciprocated, adding a silent prayer they’d succeed.

If her knees shook any harder she was going to fall. Professor Ross seemed so calm and collected and she was a mess. The dress she was wearing felt too tight and she felt on display. As if everyone in the room could tell exactly what was going on.

It didn’t help that being in this house brought back all too many memories of her shame and humiliation at Whittier’s hands. She snorted as she remembered the first time Dale had brought her here. She’d been so overwhelmed by the sheer wealth he surrounded himself with.

Funny, how it could be exactly the same and yet appear so different now. The foyer they stood in was the first clue that she hadn’t been in Kansas any more. Marble floors and a huge glass table topped with flowers she couldn’t identify had greeted her that first time, just like now. A huge crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a flurry of rainbows on ivory coloured walls and the steps flanking the entryway.

She’d felt like she’d walked right into a movie set. Like Scarlett O’Hara should have been gliding down the steps, ready to enter the ball. Tonight, she just felt like she’d walked back into a prison. Fear choked her and she wanted to vomit at the memory of her last night in this house. She’d never been so close to snapping in her life.

Thank God for Bridget. The professor had truly been the miracle she’d needed. She’d been serious in everything she’d said. Just yesterday, Skyler had come home to find her putting together a crib for the baby. She’d cried then. All the tears that she hadn’t been able to shed had flowed unchecked at the sight of the crib.

She was going to have a baby. That was becoming more and more real for her every day. And even though it would never know its father – she would make sure of that – she wasn’t going to be alone. She still hadn’t told her parents. She knew they loved her, but they were going to be so disappointed when they found out. She honestly didn’t know what it would do to their relationship. She also knew she didn’t want to leave school. It would do no good for her baby to have a single mom working a menial job. She needed her education.

Right now, though, she just wished all this were over. The risk was so high and she really wasn’t looking forward to being put on display the way she was about to be.

‘Skyler?’ Bridget was touching her arm.

‘Hmm?’ she pulled herself out of her head and faced the professor, who was walking back to her from the doorway leading to the party.

‘I’ve spotted Whittier. He’s at the back with the president and some of his cronies. I don’t think we’ll get a better opportunity so I’m going to go ahead and get started. Stay out of sight for at least ten minutes to give me some time, OK?’ She checked her watch and added, ‘I’ll text you as soon as I’m done.’

‘OK.’ She took a deep breath and nodded. ‘That shouldn’t be hard. I need the bathroom anyway. I think I’m going to puke.’

Bridget narrowed her eyes at her and scanned her face, ‘Are you OK? Is it the baby?’

Skyler nodded. ‘Morning sickness. Well, evening sickness. I just need to catch my breath and splash some water on my face.’

‘OK.’ She didn’t seem sure. ‘We can call this off right now, Skyler.’

Skyler shook her head so hard she felt her hair swing. ‘No! We’re doing this. I’ll be fine.’

Bridget wrapped her in a hug. She smelled flowery and soft, but she had a spine of steel when she needed it. Skyler was more grateful than ever. She never could have done this on her own.

Pulling out of the professor’s embrace, she put on her best smile. ‘OK. Go on, Inspector Gadget, I’ll be fine.’

Bridget chuckled. ‘You watch too much cable, you know that?’

Nevertheless, the joke had the effect Skyler hoped for. Bridget turned and left, heading off in the direction that Skyler had detailed for her while Skyler went to empty the contents of her stomach before she embarrassed herself.

As quietly as possible, Bridget closed the door to the dean’s study behind her. The room was as impressive as the rest of the house. Spacious and airy, it was a library to fuel her own dreams. Books of all kinds lined the walls in glass-enclosed shelves.

It took a few seconds for that fact to sink in.

Oh hell, no!

She needed open shelves, not glass-covered ones. Frantically, she scanned the room, her panic rising. This didn’t work if she couldn’t get line of sight for the camera. For several heart-stopping moments, Bridget saw all of her carefully prepared plans falling apart. She wanted to cry; they hadn’t come this far for it all to blow up now.

Just as she was about to throw in the towel, she spotted a shelf on the back wall by the large window. Elation filled her.

Yes, that would work. Better, in fact.

She hurried to the back of the room; she was wasting time. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out the ultra-slim video camera she’d purchased from Nico. At the same time, she powered on her portable hotspot to ensure it was ready when she needed it.

The shelf held several awards that the dean had received as well as a clock. She set up the camera, being sure to switch it to motion activated. Pulling out her iPad, she logged into the remote website account she’d set up and accessed the live feed from the camera. A few adjustments to angle, and she was ready to go.

Now, let’s just hope Skyler is able to do her part, she thought.

Bridget began putting the hotspot and iPad back in her bag, only to whip around as the door to the library opened. Adrenaline shot through her veins and she went cold from head to toe. She couldn’t get caught.

With no time to think, she dove under the desk and thanked her lucky stars she was wearing a pant suit and not a dress. She also thanked the dean for being the conceited, self-important man he was or else he’d have some other desk than this ancient monstrosity that had a cavernous opening where she currently huddled.

‘How dare you bring him here!’ A shrill, feminine voice that Bridget recognised as belonging to Jean Cartwright, one of the physics professors, rang out in the still of the study.

‘He’s my star student. Why wouldn’t I bring him here?’ responded her companion. From his slightly sibilant, soft voice, Bridget identified Jean’s husband, Louis.

‘Don’t be coy with me. I know you fucked him while I was gone. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?’

Bridget couldn’t speak for Louis, but she sure as hell was shocked at the accusation. She’d never pegged Louis for a cheater. He seemed so devoted to his wife.

‘Nothing to say for yourself?’

‘Jean, let me explain.’ He’d obviously moved closer to the desk since his voice was louder.

‘No. I don’t want to hear any explanations. I told you not to fuck him, didn’t I?’

Jean sounded less outraged than Bridget would have expected at discovering her husband’s infidelity.

‘Yes.’ At least he sounded contrite. But Bridget was definitely confused.

‘And why did I tell you not to fuck him?’

Bridget would have thought it would have been self-apparent, but she couldn’t exactly call out, ‘Duh!’

‘Because I wasn’t allowed to come while you were gone.’

‘Exactly!’ She heard Jean walk over to the large, leather chairs that fronted the dean’s desk and sat. ‘Your cock belongs to me. You get to fuck Robert when I say and only when I say. And you damn sure don’t bring him to an office party after defying me. Do you understand?’

Her voice, normally shrill and slightly nasal, had taken on the same cadence Evan’s did when he went all dom-ish on Claire. Realisation slapped Bridget in the face. Louis was Jean’s sub.

‘For that, you don’t get to come for the next week. Understand?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ He sounded almost breathless.

‘You’re also going to receive punishment when we get home. Understand?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Now he sounded downright eager.

‘Good. Now come here and give me what you gave Robert.’

Bridget cringed at the idea of being present while they had sex.

‘That’s a good boy,’ Jean crooned. The zing of a zipper coming down filled the silence. Louis groaned and Bridget heard sucking and slurping noises. From Louis’ moans she could only deduce that Jean had decided to suck his dick.

She really hoped they’d finish soon. She needed to get back to Skyler.

Mastering her frustration, she decided to at least be productive. She pulled out her iPad to check that the camera was working properly and had a good view of the room.

The screen instantly filled with the image of Jean on her knees in front of her husband. Bridget quickly hit the home button, killing the visual. She really didn’t want that in her head.

Fortunately, Jean seemed to decide that Louis had been tortured enough. Bridget heard fumbling and some muted whispers. They seemed to have made up, at least. A few seconds later, she heard the door open and close.

Bridget wasted no time in getting out of there and searching out Skyler. 

Chapter Thirty

That little bitch actually had the gall to show her face here. It was bad enough he had to tolerate Ross being here. He couldn’t very well disinvite his most popular professor, but she could have had the grace not to show up. Instead, she’d not only come, she’d brought Skyler.

Skyler, who’d disappeared without a trace three weeks ago.

Skyler, who refused to answer his calls.

Fucking cunt.

Anger seethed in his gut as Dale watched the two women mingle with the other partygoers. Something was definitely not right. He would have expected smugness from Bridget. Instead, she seemed tense.

He knew every inch of her face and body. He’d spent countless hours observing her. Learning her. She had no idea exactly how intimately acquainted with her he was.

An unschooled observer might not notice it, but her face was pale and her lips, usually so lush and full, were pinched. That was the only clue that she wasn’t her usual, gregarious self.

She was elegantly dressed as usual. A simple copper silk blouse and camel-coloured pants ending in chocolate leather boots. She had style. As she moved, her breasts jiggled slightly and his hand itched as the memory of the feel of her tits filled his mind.

She’d felt good underneath him. Pinned to the desk. Whimpering, ready for him to have her. They’d been full and heavy. Her nipples hard and wanting.

His cock twitched and he pulled his thoughts back to the present. She’d pay for humiliating him the way she had. She thought she had him over a barrel with that janitor boyfriend of hers. But she was wrong. He hadn’t figured out how to bring this back on her, but he would.

Skyler looked downright sick. She was literally green around the edges, as if she were likely to vomit.

She should be. Showing up in his house like this. She had a lot to answer for and he planned to get his answers now. Not later. She might disappear again.

Excusing himself from the president, who was droning on about the risks of raising tuition to the group of toadies he’d cultivated, Dale navigated the crowd toward the two women.

‘He’s coming this way,’ Skyler hissed to Bridget.

‘Stay calm,’ she replied. ‘This is what we wanted, remember.’

It might have been what needed to happen, but it was the last thing Skyler wanted to happen. She wanted to leave and never see the bastard’s face again. She wanted to rip out his lying tongue and make him choke on it.

Not good for the baby, Sky, she reminded herself. Calm down.

She took a deep breath, plastered on a smile, and turned to face the demon of her nightmares.

‘Skyler.’ The dean’s eyebrow twitched and his eyes narrowed. ‘I’m surprised to see you here.’ He turned his gaze to the professor. ‘You too, Ross.’

‘Why wouldn’t I be here?’ Bridget smirked at Dale. ‘No one misses the year end meat-market.’

‘Am I to believe, then, that Skyler is your chosen protégée?’ He sipped from what looked like brandy.

Skyler’s chest went tight. She hated dealing with him when he was drinking. He was bad enough sober. Drunk, he was much more vicious. She could only hope that he hadn’t been at it for very long.

‘You can believe whatever you want, Dean.’ Bridget drew herself up to her full height, but didn’t come anywhere close to matching the dean in being imposing.

He sneered at her. ‘You and I have unfinished business, Ross, but right now, Skyler and I have a conversation we need to have.’

Before she could react, he took Skyler by the arm and began leading her out of the room. But he wasn’t taking her towards his study where she needed to get him. He was leading her back towards the foyer. She guessed where he intended to take her and there was no way in hell she was going anywhere near his bedroom.

They’d made it to the foyer before she had the presence of mind to snatch her arm from his grip and veer off toward the study.

‘Get back here,’ he hissed and reached for her.

She looked over her shoulder but kept on moving. He was going to have to catch her.

‘Sky –’ He started to call after her, but obviously thought better of it, not wanting to draw attention to them.

Another glance over her shoulder showed him setting his drink down and following her. The scowl on his face didn’t bode well.

Her heart kicked into overdrive; she felt like she was going to throw up. Knowing she was supposed to get him alone didn’t make her want to do this.

She all but ran to the study, throwing open the door and bolting inside. Bridget had said to get over by the desk and she had just made it inside before Dale stormed through the door. She expected him to slam it shut, but he closed it softly. The click of the lock, however, resonated through the room with the force of a thunderclap.

Skyler prayed Bridget’s plan worked.

She whirled to face him and her breath dissolved in her chest at the venom in his face. She’d seen him angry, but now he appeared almost murderous. She didn’t want him close to her. Turning, she intended to put the desk between them.

She didn’t make it.

He grabbed her arm in a bruising grip and yanked her to face him.

‘What do you think you’re doing, you little slut?’ His grip tightened hard enough to make her gasp out loud. Leaning in close, he said, ‘What makes you think you get to ignore me? Hmm? Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t done with you?’

Skyler struggled vainly, trying to pull her arm away from him. Giving up, she lifted her chin and said, ‘We’re done, Dale. I don’t care what you say; I’m not sleeping with you any more.’

He laughed, a sound so bitter and cold it made goosebumps erupt on her skin.

‘Is that what you think? You are quite precious, aren’t you?’ He smiled but there was no mirth there.

Paradoxically, he stroked her face with a gentle finger, brushing an errant lock of hair out of her eyes. Just as she relaxed, he gripped her chin viciously, grinding her lips into her teeth and forcing a whimper from her.

‘You clearly need a lesson in who is in charge here. Your scholarship is under my control, or do I need to remind you that I can make it so you are run out of this school? I expect you to do as I say. That means you answer your fucking phone and you come when I call you. I told you before, you upstart little cunt, I will fuck you when and how I please.’ He shook her hard enough to rattle her teeth.

‘No,’ she cried out and struggled harder, trying in vain to get away from him. ‘I won’t do it.’

He fisted her hair, pulling her head back and forcing her to look at him. ‘You have no choice.’ A malicious grin twisted the features she’d once found so endearing.

‘I kept the baby,’ she cried.

In that moment, she understood the phrase “calm before the storm” The entire room seemed to still. Dale was frozen. The shock on his face would have been comical if not for the fury building in his eyes.

Whack!
He slapped her so hard her ears rang. White lighting flashed in her head. Her brain reeled and she fell against the desk as he thrust her away from him.

‘I told you to get rid of that!’ He was yelling, but his voice seemed to be coming from a long way off.

He raised his hand to strike her again. She reached deep inside and gathered herself. With a fierce cry, she hurled herself at him, pushing with all her might.

He stumbled backward, losing his footing and falling to the floor.

She didn’t wait to see what happened next. Moving as fast as she could, Skyler’s feet tangled under her and she almost fell into the door. She fumbled frantically with the lock. Throwing the door open, she ran, praying it was salvation she fled to and not her doom.

Bridget’s knees went weak as Whittier pulled Skyler away. Her instincts were screaming at her to stop this, not to let it continue. But, they needed to halt him once and for all. It was time for him to stop preying on women.

She took a steadying breath and willed her body to relax. She had no time to waste. Ripping open her bag, she pawed frantically for her iPad. Scanning the crowd, she spotted President Harvey in a group of senior administrators.

Perfect! He wouldn’t be able to cover this up just to keep hold of Whittier’s money. She wanted to believe he was ethical, but her heart told her not to take the chance.

Deftly, Bridget navigated the crowd. As she moved, she pulled up the feed and almost dropped the tablet at the sight of a furious Whittier advancing on Skyler.

Harvey had his back to her and she tapped him on the shoulder. He glanced at her, scowled, and turned back to the group immediately.

He was blowing her off!

She glanced at the screen. The dean had grabbed Skyler.

Bridget’s heart began to race and her hands shook. There was no time.

She tapped him again and said, ‘President Harvey, you need to see this!’ She raised her voice to be heard over the crowd.

He looked over his shoulder again. ‘Ross, I’m sure it can wait.’ He turned back to the group and resumed pontificating on the impending budget cuts.

‘Damn it, Brad!’ she hollered, her patience gone, ‘No one gives a damn! You need to watch this and see what’s going on under your friggin’ nose!’

Silence fell over the room like a curtain. The president turned to face her, his plump face almost cherry red with indignation.

He opened his mouth – to yell most likely – but the dean’s voice rang out from the iPad and all attention focused on the device in Bridget’s hand. Within moments, a crowd had clustered around her. President Harvey was to her immediate right and Bill Fogarty, the vice president, flanked her to the left.

Both watched in disgust as Whittier manhandled and threatened Skyler. Bridget’s stomach clenched as the tension and violence ratcheted higher. She bit her lip, determined to keep the focus on the dean while they watched as much as she wanted to repudiate Harvey for putting money over integrity when he hired Whittier.

She couldn’t hold back a cry of distress when Whittier hit Skyler. The crowd erupted as well. Bridget whirled and pushed through the throng, determined to get to her student.

She didn’t have to go far. Skyler flew into the music room at a dead run. The side of her face was bright red and a small trickle of blood trailed from her lip where Whittier had split it.

The crowd erupted at her appearance. The din was almost overwhelming, but it cut off as if someone had thrown a switch when Whittier appeared in the doorway. Bridget snatched Skyler by the hand and pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her waist.

Whittier scanned the crowd, who all stood staring at him with varying degrees of disgust on their faces.

‘What?’ he asked, his eyes wary. ‘Has something happened?’

President Harvey pushed through the crowd. ‘You have some nerve, Dale. Acting as if you didn’t just molest and then viciously attack this young woman.’

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ He straightened up to his full height. ‘This woman –’ he sneered the word ‘– attacked me when I refused her advances. I was defending myself.’

President Harvey’s eyes narrowed and his face pinched as if he’d smelled something foul. ‘We saw what you did, you sick bastard.’ His voice shook with outrage.

‘We have you on tape,’ Bridget said, speaking up to be heard over the murmurs of the crowd. She tapped the screen and set the video she’d recorded to replay, holding it up for Whittier to see.

All colour drained from his face, giving him a deathly pallor. He backed up, stumbling and hitting the doorframe.

‘You’re finished, Whittier.’ The president advanced on him. ‘As of this moment, you are officially suspended. Given the extensive contributions your family has made to this university, I will give you 24 hours to have a resignation letter on my desk. But, you are done here.’

Pushing past Whittier, he left without a backward look. The rest of the guests followed suit. Not wanting to be alone with the dean, Bridget hustled Skyler out with the throng.

The last sight she had of Whittier was him sinking to the floor in the doorway, looking for all the world as if the earth had just fallen out from beneath him.

She felt not one shred of sympathy.