Chapter Six
Amelie
Looking down at my phone, I sigh. I knew it was only a matter of time before we were all summoned to dinner with Monty and Laura, the message from Monty giving me a heads up that Laura will be reaching out to me shortly.
I expected it sooner but never mentioned it because honestly, I’d rather poke myself in the eye with a needle than spend time with that woman.
I’m still trying to figure out how I want to deal with her, and if it’s a gross misuse of my new-found status to use the resources The Order has at its disposal to bring about my vengeance. Possibly.
Am I going to do it anyway?
Probably.
Monty has also asked me to start compiling a list of potential female recruits.
They’ve done their male recruits but now it’s up to me to organise the females, since I feel so strongly about it.
I then have to initiate them…what the hell do I know about initiation?
! This feels like a test, but one they’re setting me up to fail.
“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” Sawyer asks, taking a bite of his toast and coming to stand behind me. He’s shirtless which just about makes me forget what I was even thinking in the first place.
He looks over my shoulder at the notepad in front of me.
“That’s not a very long list,” he points out knowingly.
“I’m torn about Elsie. I mean, she isn’t from an Order family and I need to be able to talk freely around her, but do I really want to drag her into this?”
“Everyone gets a choice before they join. And Elsie comes from a very troubled background. Maybe being part of this would give her that sense of belonging. She really has no special skills, but I’m sure with some training we could at least use the power of seduction.”
I smack his arm. “She’s good at a lot of things,” I say hotly, quick to defend my friend.
“I’m sure she is, but I think you should let her choose. People aren’t stupid, they’ve heard rumours. And Elsie is smart.”
“You’re right as always,” I say, leaning my head back against his abs and looking up at him. “Have you considered going back to teaching? I’m more than happy to drop out of school.”
“Nice try. I’m more than busy enough trying to find a few more replacement board members. It makes it easier now that you have abolished the no women rule.”
He leans down and places a kiss on my forehead. “Don’t forget you have a self-defence lesson this afternoon.”
Bloody Jasper has been riding my ass with these lessons. He can’t be swayed with seduction, unlike Onyx or one of the others could be. I should be grateful that I’m actually making some progress with him, but I’m sick of every damn bone in my body hurting.
My phone buzzes from in front of me and Frost’s number comes up on the screen.
“What’s going on, Frost?”
“That girl you gave me to babysit. You need to put someone else on her. She’s a pain in the ass.
She stole my car and has high tailed it.
We were at the school ready for her brother’s interview and the headmaster made a comment which I didn’t hear, but she did, and she lost it.
I need you to deal with it. This is above my pay grade. ”
I sigh. I knew she was going to be trouble, but I didn’t expect her to kick off so soon.
“Do you know where she is?”
“Yeah, eating ice cream apparently. My car’s location is at St. James Street.”
“I know the one. Okay, get Jasper to pick you up, and I’ll get Sawyer to take me to her and sort this out.”
I hang up the phone and sigh. This isn’t what I had planned for my morning, I wanted to hunt down Baxter since he’s been avoiding me.
He sent me through the information on the Raven girl, and I can see what he likes about her.
I already know she’s going to give him a run for his money and keep him on his toes.
I just hope she can see the good in him like I can.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the dark side of him.
But those reflections of good show his humanity.
Sawyer and I both get dressed. Because this is Order business, I have to reach for my new business wardrobe. It was a gift, courtesy of Elsie, when Monty had a quiet word in my ear about keeping up appearances. Whatever.
I wear a nice black bodysuit with long arms, paired with a pants suit and black Louboutins. Thanks to our crummy school uniform, I’ve actually begun to master heels, and I know Elsie searched really hard to find me a pair without too much of a killer heel.
I don’t have time to do much with my hair. I put it up into a ponytail and slick the front with some gel to hold the frizz in place, then add some cream to the ends to contain the unruly curls.
When my makeup is done, we both head out. Frost texts to confirm she’s still where he told me, and Sawyer and I head her way.
When we pull up, Sawyer blocks Frost’s car in so she can’t make an easy getaway.
Heads turn as we walk into the ice cream shop. I see her straight away. Her back is to the door, which is her first mistake. The kid’s head is down tucking into a banana split like it’s his last damn meal. Sawyer trails behind and I come to a stop at her table.
“We need to talk,” I say, motioning with my head for her to follow me. She looks at her brother, worried. “He’ll be fine, Sawyer will watch him.”
“Who the hell is he?” she snipes.
“I would lose the tone. It doesn’t matter who he is. It only matters who I am. You’re in now. You agreed to those terms. If I say jump you ask how damn high, do you understand me?”
My heart beats a million miles an hour. She needs to understand that she can’t speak to me like that, especially not around those who won’t stand for it. Onyx wouldn’t be so lenient.
She stands and moves out of the booth seat and follows me to the other side of the store but still within Sawyer’s sight. Through the front windows, I see Jasper and Frost pull in.
We both sit and I look up at her, assessing the situation and choosing my next words carefully.
“Look, I don’t know you and you don’t know me, but we’ve both been through some shit in life. You’re getting a good deal, but you can’t act like a damn child when I pulled strings to get that interview.”
“He made a comment about being sick of charity cases.”
My brows raise in surprise. “He did…did he?”
She nods. “I don’t need my brother to have to deal with that along with not having the money for all the trappings that will help him to fit in. He gets enough crap.”
“Well, I say we finish the ice cream and go back and pay the principal a visit. It’s time he meets me anyway.”
Fuck. I hate men on a power trip. There was never a scholarship. The Order was always going to pay. I just worded it that way so she didn’t feel like it was charity. She has pride and wants to pay her own way; I can respect that.
She smiles at me, and I think we just connected a little. We both stand and make our way back to where Sawyer is laughing at something Falon is saying.
“Are you ready?” Adrianne asks her brother and he nods.
Sawyer stands and presses his lips to mine. “I have to go, are you all good? Frost will be on your detail today.”
“I’ll be fine.”
We all move out and Adrianne hands Frost his keys. I give her a pointed look.
“I apologise for lifting your keys and taking your car.”
“I’ll have your own car delivered by the weekend, and you won’t need my security to drive you anywhere anymore,” I tell her. She blinks at me in disbelief, probably waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Jasper and Sawyer leave, and we all pile into Frost’s car. Falon jumps into the front seat calling shotgun.
Adrianne and I slide into the back. She looks at me, puzzled, opens her mouth and then closes it again.
“What?” I ask, weirded out by her staring.
“I was just curious, you said Kalen was your boyfriend but that guy clearly isn't him.”
“That's his older brother, Sawyer,” Frost explains before I can.
“Do I pay you to speak?” I joke. Frost flips me off. It's taken him a while to loosen up.
“I'm not just dating Kalen. I’m also dating his brothers. There are three more of them. Sawyer, you just met, and then there’s the twins.”
Her mouth falls agape and I laugh. Most people can't get their minds around it.
“Like, you sleep with them all?”
I nod. “Not at the same time…well except for the twins. They are fond of sharing.”
“I have so many questions.”
“Maybe better suited for when small ears are not present,” I suggest, and she nods.
After no more than ten minutes, we pull into the prestigious primary school that we’re trying to send Falon to. Frost pulls up to the pick-up zone and we all pile out.
“Hey, you can't park there!” A woman in her shiny ass sports car calls from behind us. Frost gives me his ‘I got this’ look and walks over to her vehicle. The rest of us head inside.
Walking down the halls, a bunch of kids snicker and Falon looks down at his outfit.
Compared to their freshly pressed and starched uniforms he looks out of place.
These vultures can sense his lack of wealth from a mile away.
I sneer at them but pull myself up when I realise they are only children and don’t know any better than what they’ve been taught. I stop and get down to his level.
“Once we finish here I have to go to school, but I'm going to message my boyfriend and get him to send a personal shopper.” I have zero idea if that's even a damn thing we have, but I’ll figure it out.
“I want you to promise me that no matter what your sister says, that you get everything a boy your age needs and wants.”
He nods solemnly then whispers, “But won't that cost lots of money?”
“Well, lucky for you, your sister works for some very wealthy people and they can afford it. And they owe me.”
“Then shouldn't you buy what you want?” he asks.
“I have everything I want, and all I want is for you to have the things you want. All you have to do is promise to do your best in school. Can you do that?”
He smiles and nods. I get back up and we continue to the administration.