<b>“</b><b>You </b>useless brat! Do you have any idea what kind of mess you’ve <b>made</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
Fitch hadn’t even finished speaking before his father’s furious roar erupted <b>from </b><b>the </b>phone. Candace could hear every word, even though the call wasn’t <b>on </b>speaker.
Without another pause, she grabbed her bag and turned to leave.
“Candace!” Instinctively, Fitch reached out to stop her, but the stream of curses from his father’s end only made his head spin.
“Dad, just listen to me! I’m your son, please, help me–I was wrong, I swear I was wrong!” Fitch pleaded desperately, clutching the phone with one hand while trying to grab Candace with the other. She shook him off with a sharp jerk..
The door mmed behind her with a bang, cutting him off. Fitch pounded his fist against the wood and cursed, “Damn it!”
“Are you seriously taking your anger out on me right now?”
“No–Dad, I’m not. I swear, I’m not. I’m your son, you can’t just abandon me. I can’t go to jail…”
“You expect me to clean up your mess every time? Do you have any idea how many contracts thepany lost because of you? Save you? You’re about to bankrupt the whole business!”
“Dad! Please! I’ll change, I promise. Just don’t give up on me. I’m your son–your only son!” Fitch’s voice broke into a desperate whimper, panic etched across his
face.
“You’re hopeless. From now on, I don’t have a son.”
“Dad! Please–Dad!”
His father hung up without another word, leaving Fitch alone with nothing but the promise of legal consequences ahead.
***
Alessia didn’t wake up until almost noon. When she stepped out of the lounge, Cole, was outside, handling the final details on hisptop.
“I’ve already called in sick for you. Here, drink some water.” Cole handed her a ss–just the right warmth.
<b>13:38 </b>
<b>How </b><b>did </b><b>things </b><b>turn </b><b>out</b><b>?</b>” <b>she </b><b>asked</b><b>. </b>
<b>“</b><b>Everything’s </b><b>settled</b>. <b>Vera </b><b>and </b>her <b>team </b><b>sent </b>over the <b>n</b>. <b>I’ve </b><b>looked </b><b>it </b><b>over </b><b>and </b><b>told </b><b>them </b><b>to </b><b>get </b><b>started</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Alessia </b>nodded, skimmed the folder on the desk, then set it aside.
“You need to go to campus this afternoon?” Cole nced up, twirling a strand <b>of </b>her hair around his finger, clearly amused.
Whenever they were together, an invisible bubble surrounded them, keeping everyone else at bay.
“Yeah. Ste just messaged me–she wants to talk.”
“I’ll drive you.”
Alessia pinched his cheek, teasing, “You should get some sleep. Driving while tired–are you trying to impress me with your recklessness?”
Cole pressed his lips together in a thin line but had noeback.
“Come on, let’s get you something to eat first.” He gently smoothed the hair he’d just
mussed.
***
That afternoon, Vera dropped Alessia off at school.
“Hey, Lessie! Good afternoon!”
“Afternoon.”
“Sleep through your rm again?”
“You think Alessia’s aszy as you?” another friend teased.
Passing ssmates greeted Alessia as she walked by; she returned each hello with a nod and a smile.
“Alessia? I thought you weren’ting this afternoon,” Pierce said, appearing behind her with a basketball in hand.
“Where’s Ste?”
“I just saw her at the store.”
Alessia nodded. She’d barely slipped her backpack into the cubby when Ste walked in, carrying two bottles of water.
19.00
Lessie! Ste set <b>one </b><b>on </b><b>Alessia’s </b>desk.
“<b>So</b><b>, </b><b>what </b><b>did </b><b>you </b><b>want </b><b>to </b>talk <b>about</b><b>?</b><b>” </b><b>Alessia </b><b>asked</b>.
<b>“</b><b>Take </b><b>a </b><b>look </b>around<b>–</b><b>see </b>who’s missing?” Ste <b>raised </b><b>an </b><b>eyebrow</b><b>, </b><b>eyes </b><b>flicking </b><b>toward </b><b>a </b>corner of the room.
<b>“</b><b>Ileana</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
Ste nodded, putting on a mock–serious face.
“I heard the younger Tate brother pushed her down the stairs. She’s in the <b>hospital</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>York</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Alessia <b>froze </b><b>in </b>surprise.