Say You’ll Stay

Chapter 10 – West

Chapter Ten

WEST

“ Y ou don’t seem to be the type of man to buy a school or even run one.”

Ware does not like another man at his table. I get it. The home is the castle etcetera etcetera. I probably would be the same, so I keep my temper in check as he prods me. I turn my hand palm up, rubbing the calluses. “What kind of man do I seem like to you?”

“Not one that would buy a school. They’re not profitable.”

“Can’t a man love learning?” Roberta interrupts in a high-pitched, panicky voice. She’s in a rough place. Her man is glaring at me, the person that she is desperate to make happy.

“Is that what you are, Evers? A man who loves learning?”

“Yes, I’ve always wanted to know more.” I stare at Vasey, who is still a mystery despite all the years I’ve known her.

She presses her lips together and drops her gaze to her plate of lobster and steak.

“I hear the entrance requirements are quite high.” West scrapes his knife across the china.

“Which is good for Gideon. He’s really so perfect for your school,” Roberta trills.

“Is he?” Ware raises an eyebrow. “I haven’t seen an application to know.”

“He’s very bright. It doesn’t always show in tests, but aren’t academics moving away from that outdated form of measuring student abilities?” Roberta fixes a bright smile on her face. “If schools like yours aren’t profitable, they must rely on donations. We give generously to many good causes.”

“I leave all of that up to the administration. Like your husband said, I’m not the type of man to run a school. I bought it as a wedding gift. My bride-to-be was always interested in teaching and taking care of kids. I heard that The Academy was looking for a buyer, and that’s how I came to own it.”

“How…romantic.” Roberta is vaguely puzzled.

Ware eyes me thoughtfully. “When was it that you bought the Sampson place? I didn’t realize it was for sale.”

“Today.”

“Today?” Roberta nearly screeches in shock.

“What is the age requirement at The Academy?” Ware asks.

“Fifteen and up.”

“Jasmine is only twelve.” His gaze shifts to Vasey, who hasn’t said a word yet. I can see him compiling the facts. “Vasey won’t leave her.”

“No. I won’t,” Vasey admits.

I clench my teeth.

“Jasmine? What does she have to do with this?” Roberta turns in her seat. “I’ve already applied for Gideon. When will you send out the acceptances?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have anything to do with the admin aspects of the school.”

“I’m not interested in this fu—” Gideon cuts himself off at a pointed look from Ware, “—school. I’m fine where I am.”

“How come it’s only high school students?” Jasmine pokes her head out from where she had been hiding behind Vasey’s arm.

“That’s a good question, but I don’t know the answer. You should come by and ask the headmistress about it,” I invite.

“She’s too young.” Ware closes the door on that.

Jasmine frowns. I give her a wink. “When Vasey comes to visit me, you can at least tag along and see if you’re interested.”

“Vasey? How do you know our nanny?” Roberta demands.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? The two are lovers.” Ware points toward me with his steak knife. “Evers here bought the Sampson residence to be close to her. You two are serious, then?”

“Yes,” I say.

“No,” Vasey says.

Ware smirks. Roberta stares at the two of us in distress. She knows Gideon is never getting into my school. That disappointment doesn’t make up for hitting Vasey. Roberta’s going to have to pay.

“We’re getting married,” I follow up so that it’s clear to everyone what my intentions are.

“No!” a youthful voice shouts. I swing my attention from Roberta to Jasmine, who has stood up, her little hands fisted by her side. “Vasey is mine. You can't have her. I won’t let you! If you let Vasey get married, I’ll never speak to you again!” This last part is screamed at her dad before she runs off. Ware blinks in astonishment at the rapidly disappearing figure.

“Jasmine, honey, I’m not leaving you.” Vasey casts me an apologetic but frustrated glance and then chases after Jasmine.

I fork another piece of steak into my mouth. Honestly can’t believe I’m getting cock-blocked by a twelve-year-old. Ware settles back in his seat, having won this round—or so he thinks.

“Vasey is a big fan of Gideon. I know she would want him to attend your school.” Roberta makes a last-ditch effort.

“I’d be careful making assumptions about other people’s feelings. You never know when they might strike back.” I push back my chair. “Your steak was excellent, Ware. I’ll say my goodbyes to Vasey and then leave your family to enjoy the rest of your evening.”

“Make sure it’s a goodbye,” he says.

“You should be prepared to find a new nanny, Ware, because I will never change my mind about Vasey.”

Vasey meets me at the base of the stairs. “Come here.” She grabs me and drags me into a small room smelling of cigars and leather. The walls are filled with wine racks, and there is a single chair in the middle of the room. Ware must drink in here…alone. The relationship he has with Roberta is curious.

“You can’t be running around telling people that we’re getting married.”

I drop all thoughts of the Ware family and draw Vasey into my arms. “I agree you deserve a proper proposal, but I think we both know I’m going to marry you. Why hide that?”

“Jasmine isn’t ready, and she isn’t safe either.”

“I’m not taking you away right now. We’ll prepare her. And we won’t remove you until she’s safe. But I’m working toward that. It’s been a long time since we’ve been apart. We need to be together now. Tell me, what are the conditions that you need to feel like she’s protected?”

Vasey grimaces. “Gideon has to be gone, but that’s not possible. Roberta won’t send him to boarding school because she wants him to be close with Thomas.”

“Ware has no interest in the kid. He barely has interest in Roberta. It’s hard to understand why the two of them married.”

“To give Jasmine a mom,” Vasey confesses. “He came home one day after a business trip and said he was giving Jasmine what she wanted the most. I thought, stupidly, it was this doll from Japan that she’d been talking about, but it was a mom in the form of Roberta. Only Roberta is interested solely in Gideon, and she hates Jasmine.”

That explains a lot. “This actually works in our favor. We just need to get solid evidence that Roberta is a scheming, dangerous bitch and then present it to Ware. The two get divorced, and you and I get married.”

“How is that easy?” Vasey cries.

“Just watch.”