Chapter 7 #2
The one time I went back to my flat to fetch my things, I’d spotted Skinny Pete loitering around the entrance to the tube.
I knew what Dad was trying to do. He was making it clear that I needed to keep my mouth shut.
In all likelihood, Skinny Pete and whoever else he’d sent to watch me would leave me alone, but I was too traumatised to completely convince myself of that.
“I will, of course, endeavour to remain injury-free for the rest of my tenure at Molton Prep.”
There was another long silence. When I glanced up at Lord Sterling he was frowning at me with his head tilted to the side.
“I’m a determined man, Clara,” he said. “And right now I’m determined that my son receives the best possible help.
” His voice dropped lower then with a firm edge to his tone as he went on.
“Maybe someone needs to check what the safety precautions are like in your building? Maybe someone needs to look into the circumstances of your injuries? And maybe I’m in a perfect position to do that. ”
At this point, I’d had enough. Someone looking into my building to see if it was safe, someone poking around in my life, trying to see beyond what I presented to the world – that was completely unacceptable to me and extremely dangerous.
I took a deep breath in, forgetting that some of my ribs were bruised, and then winced on the exhale.
“Lord Sterling,” I said, my quiet voice shaky but firm as I slowly pushed myself up to standing.
I somehow needed to set this man straight.
“My life is none of your business. I teach your son, and that is it. I’ve given you my report.
There was adequate teaching assistance for your son while I was away.
I-I-I don’t feel that this requires any further explanation. ”
Ah bugger. I’d nearly got to the end of that speech without losing it and stammering. I gritted my teeth. At least I’d managed to get out the majority without sounding like a complete weakling.
“What have you got to hide, Clara?” he asked in a softer tone, and I blinked at him. His blue eyes were boring into mine as if he were seeing into the very depths of my soul. My heart rate increased, and my breathing sped up. I could feel the trickle of sweat down my spine as I stared back at him.
“I d-d-don’t have anything to hide,” I said.
This wasn’t going the way I wanted it to at all.
For some reason, despite his size and muscular frame, up until now I hadn’t felt threatened by him.
But his current tone sent a shiver of apprehension down my spine.
It seemed more dangerous than the irritation from before, and I wasn’t very good at distinguishing one danger from another.
The air was crackling with tension and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.
I broke eye contact with him to glance at the exit.
It was rare that I would position myself without clear access to an exit in a room, but for some reason, I’d let my guard down sufficiently to allow it.
Where was Lily? She said she’d only be five minutes. I really, really needed Lily to come back. I cleared my throat and then swallowed against the lump that had formed there.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I muttered as I started to skirt round him, but he moved fast to block my path with an agility I wouldn’t have thought possible for a man of his size. I came to an abrupt stop, my eyes widening in shock. His arms had uncrossed from his chest.
“No,” he snapped. “I will not excuse you.”
He slashed his hand through the air to make his point, and that’s when it happened.
I flinched. And not just a small movement – no, I really fucking flinched. My hands went up to protect my face and I fell into a half crouch, preparing to run.
At my flinch, his angry expression was immediately replaced with shock.
“What the fuck?” he whispered, holding his hands up in surrender as if I were a wild animal he was trying to reassure. “Clara?”
I backed away, shaking my head in jerky movements.
“Clara, I’m sorry,” his voice was much softer now. “Did you think I was going to hurt you? Did… did someone hurt you?”
I carried on shaking my head, unable to speak.
A panic attack had set in so deeply now that I knew it would take a while to claw my way out.
My ears were ringing, and my body had gone into fight-or-flight mode.
I hugged my arms around my middle, forgetting about the brace for a moment, then winced in pain when I put pressure on it.
“What the hell is going on here?” Lily snapped from the doorway.
Lord Sterling turned to look at her, and, to my absolute shame, I let out a very small whimper.
“Lord Sterling, if you wouldn’t mind getting out of my classroom, a place you have not had permission to enter, and stepping away from my teaching assistant, I would very much appreciate it. ”
Lord Sterling lowered his hands to rest them on his hips as he looked between me and Lily, his too-intelligent eyes narrowing with suspicion. Ignoring Lily, who gave a harumph of disapproval, he turned back to me but, this time, kept his distance.
“Clara?” he said softly, in a much gentler voice than I’d ever heard from him, even with his son.
“I’m going to leave now. But I want you to know that I would never hurt you.
I also want you to know that I’m not stupid.
People don’t react the way you just reacted.
Not people who are safe. I’m not going to let this go, okay? ”
I pressed my lips together and looked down at the floor.
“That’s quite enough, Lord Sterling,” said Lily. When I glanced up at her, I saw that her face was flushed with anger. “You can leave now,” she told him.
He gave me one last long look and then turned to Lily.
“This isn’t over,” he told her, back to that commanding, firm tone devoid of all the gentleness from before.