He Forced My Parents to Death 15 Years Ago-Now I Let Him Go To Prison Fate Chapter 03
I pushed open the principal’s office door. Principal Hammond was leaning back in his leather chair, listening to classic rock on his speaker.
I told him what happened. He didn’t even look at me. He tore into me immediately.
“The man wants to spend money to improve our facilities. Why are you causing problems?”
“You think this school belongs to you? You won’t be happy until you’ve blown everything up, will you?”
I kept my head down, blood dripping from my fingers onto his carpet.
He took a sip of coffee, sighed, and adopted a more patient tone. “Look, Jennifer. You’re usually reliable. Why are you being so difficult today? The cafeteria is a small thing. Let him do what he wants.”
“There’s something more important we need to focus on. We can’t afford any screw-ups right now. Do you understand?”
I kept my eyes lowered. “Yes. I understand.”
He waved me off. “Good. Now go apologize to Mr. Sikes.”
“He’s an important investor. If you offend him, you can find another job.”
So I went back to the cafeteria.
I pushed open the private dining room door. Cigarette smoke, whiskey, and cheap perfume hit me in a wave.
Dale was holding court at the head of the table. He saw me and smirked. “Well, well. The tattletale returns.”
I swallowed my pride and lowered my head. “I’m sorry about earlier, Mr. Sikes. Please forgive me. I was out of line.”
He snorted and shoved a bottle of top-shelf whiskey toward me. “Sorry doesn’t cut it. You want to make it right? Pour drinks for everyone here. One round for each of us. Then we’re square.”
The other men at the table laughed and stared at me openly. A bald contractor leaned in and let his hand drift toward my waist. “Come on, sweetheart. Have a seat. Let’s make it interesting.”
The room filled with crude laughter.
I picked up the bottle, my stomach churning.
The door opened. Chloe hurried in, holding a small first-aid kit. “Jennifer, I got you something for your—”
She stopped.
She saw me holding the whiskey bottle, surrounded by men old enough to be my grandfather, hands wandering where they shouldn’t.
“He beat you,” she whispered. “He threw you to the ground. And now you’re pouring him drinks?”
I needed her out of there before she got dragged into this too. “Chloe, just go. Please.”
Dale laughed and spat on the floor. “Hear that? She’s smarter than you. Nobody plays nice for free.”
Chloe’s eyes went from sympathy to disgust.
She grabbed the bottle from my hand and smashed it on the floor. “I can’t believe I felt sorry for you. I was ready to fight for you. And here you are, begging these animals for mercy.”
“You’d trade your dignity for a kickback? You’re pathetic.”
She ripped off her ID badge, threw it at me, and ran out without looking back.
After the door slammed, the room exploded with laughter.
Dale stared at the broken glass and spilled whiskey on the floor. “Clean it up. On your knees.”
I refused. “I already apologized, Mr. Sikes. Enough is enough.”
He kicked a chair over. “You want to act like you’re too good for this? Fine. Then I’ll shut down the entire job right now.”
“I’ll leave this mess right where it is, and you can explain to Principal Hammond why your precious new cafeteria isn’t getting built.”
Shut down the job? No. That couldn’t happen.
I took a breath. I got down on one knee, just low enough to reach the glass.
The broken glass cut into my already wounded palms. Whiskey seeped into the open gashes, burning like acid.
Dale slapped his knee and howled with laughter. “You see that? That’s what happens when you cross me.”
“In two weeks, when my grand opening rolls around, you’re going to put on a maid’s uniform and serve my guests. You understand me?”
I didn’t answer. I lowered my head and wiped the floor with my sleeve, blood and whiskey and all.
He had no idea.
I wasn’t afraid of Principal Hammond. And I sure as hell wasn’t afraid of Dale.
He could laugh all he wanted. In two weeks, the joke would be on him.
