Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Theo wrapped his arm around me, anchoring me close as we both reveled in the blissful heat that took over our bodies. He kissed me sweetly and lazily, just wanting to feel my lips against his.
“Worth the wait,” he chuckled breathlessly.
I smiled up at him, feeling like I was floating in pure bliss. When I wanted Theo to take my virginity, that was how I imagined it would be like. Passionate. Intense. Sweet.
It seemed like things would be like that for me going forward, and I couldn’t be happier to be loved so passionately, so intensely, and so sweetly.
CHAPTER 20
BIBA
Stormcloud Academy fell into a normal lull. Students went to their classes. The school’s administration kept the academy floating until major changes were made. It felt like everything was on hold, but it didn’t take long for things to get moving again when Schmidt was released from the hospital.
I was on my way to the cafeteria when Schmidt found me in the hallway and stopped me. He leaned against a wooden cane, limping slightly from his injured leg.
“You got lucky only getting shot in the leg,” I commented, tilting my head up.
Schmidt clenched his jaw, not seeming amused or thankful.
“Come to my office. I don’t want to talk out here,” he said, nodding in the direction of his office.
I nodded and followed him there, hearing him shut the door behind me as I sat down at his desk. I already had a feeling of what he wanted to talk to me about. What else would we talk about?
Schmidt sat down across from me and folded his hands together on the desk. He cleared his throat as he peered at me.
“I heard that you spoke to the police,” he said. “Thank you for not bringing up the school’s financial… complications.”
I didn’t tell the police about the money for him. I wanted to protect the school, and the only reason I wasn’t figuring out a way to boot him out of Stormcloud was because I knew I could use him. It was time for me to take control of things, to use the knowledge I had that no one else had to put me on top.
“I wouldn’t ever tell anyone about the money,” I replied evenly.
Schmidt nodded, glancing toward the door to make sure that it was shut before looking back at me.
“I need the safe deposit key back,” he told me.
The corner of my mouth threatened to curl up. I was waiting for him to say that, and I didn’t have an answer for him that would please him.
“No, you gave it to me. It’s mine,” I said firmly. I didn’t trust him with the money. He had too many grievances against the Kings, and I had three former Kings helping me reform the school. It was best for me to handle the money since I was in the middle of it all. I had no other motive but to make Stormcloud better.
Schmidt tightened his hand into a fist, and it took him everything he had not to slam it down against his desk.
“Don’t play around with me, Biba. You cannot be responsible for that much money,” he gritted out.
I smirked and shook my head at him.
“You don’t know anything about me,” I told him. So many people casted me aside and underestimated me, and I had to fight my way to where I was now. Now, things were clearer. I knew what to do, and if Schmidt was smart, he would fall in line.
“Where is the key?” Schmidt ordered, rising from his seat to tower over me.
I kept my mouth shut, but my mind traveled to a specific spot in the mountains where I’d hidden the key. No one knew it was there but me, and I would keep it that way. Stormcloud’s billion-dollar endowment was being held hostage by me, but I didn’t count it as my money. It was Stormcloud’s money.
“I’m not telling you. I’m putting the money to good use,” I replied as I slowly rose to my feet to match him. He couldn’t intimidate me because I knew he wouldn’t do anything to me. I had something precious of his that he would lose forever if something bad happened to me.
“What are you going to do with it?” Schmidt hissed as our eyes locked.
“I’m going to reform Stormcloud,” I said with an eager look on my face. I wanted to fix an institution that was ridiculously broken. “And you’re going to keep me safe and help me if you want to see a cent of your riches again.”
Schmidt tightened his jaw, letting out a slow breath through his nose.
“Do you really think we can change the entire school just like that? There are years of damage to be fixed,” he questioned me.
“It wouldn’t be just us,” I replied as I pushed my chair under his desk, preparing to leave. “The Kings are gone, but Zephyr, Sol, and Theo will remain here with me to turn Stormcloud around. You will not interfere.”