He Fancies You

Chapter 29

He Fancies You.

Lyla Atelo.

Mrs. Michelle's office was cold when I entered. The AC was at the highest, and I shivered, hugging myself to try and gather some warmth for my body. My eyes darted around the office, admiring her aesthetics and a series of awards that decorated the office wall.

It was long before the door opened, and the principal stepped into the office with her usual plastic smile.

"Lyla... There you are..." She began sweetly. "For a moment there, I thought you would have left because of my earlier tone."

I forced a smile at her and stood up for her to sit. "It's no problem, ma'am. You were right all along."

I expected her to make her way to her chair, but she stopped in front of me.

"Don't be silly, Lyla. You can call me Michelle." Her tone was low, and her fingers reached towards my dress, "You look really beautiful today, Lyla. Where did you buy the dress? I love it!"

I bit my lower lips, uncomfortable by her proximity to me. I swallowed before answering.

"Oh, I didn't buy it myself. My best friend bought it for me when she travelled abroad." I told her truthfully. Kendra had gotten me this gown, as well as others, as a gift for me when she travelled.

"Your friend sure has good eyes." Michelle commented.

"Thank you, maa... Uh... Michelle." Her name stuck in my throat, but I was thankful that it came out.

"And... you really do have a smooth and pretty skin," She began touching my face until she reached my bare shoulders. Her hands felt like scales trying to chaff my skin.

When I couldn't hide my disgust anymore, I stepped backwards, away from her. "Thank you, Michelle."

I was sure that the look on my face told her I wasn't interested. She smiled tersely and made her way to her table.

"You can take a seat, Lyla." She sat down first while gesturing to the chair opposite her. I was glad that her table separated us because I wouldn't trust myself not to hit her if she touched me again. "Do you know why I called you?" She clasped her hands together on the table.

I shook my head in response.

"At least you've heard about the camp the school is planning for final year students, yeah? And how badly we need donations to make it work... Donations from students and their families, I mean."

I nodded, not liking where she was headed. "Yes ma— Michelle. I think it's a great idea."

She looked at me for a long while, the atmosphere tense. I waited. Anticipated her next words.

"Every teacher is to attach themselves to a student whose family can donate to our cause... Are you following?"

I knew where she was heading, but I still hoped it wasn't what I was thinking. I had to calm down to hear what she had to say.

"And to do this... you have to relate with the student in a way that wouldn't arouse suspicion that you're trying to manipulate them to manipulate their parents to donate." She was talking animatedly with her hands. "You have to be smart about it, or you risk losing your job. It's kind of like gold digging, but it's for a good cause."

"Why can't we just reach out to the students' parents for them to donate?" I asked.

She gave me a cold look before her features softened very fast. "You're new here, so I understand your question. But, yes, we already have done that. The money isn't... you might say, enough. We need more." Her plastic smile was back.

"Okay." I gave her one of mine. "So, I guess I have been matched to one of your students, right?"

"As a matter of fact you have." She seemed. "And he's no other person but your favourite student, Sage Dominic!"

I knew it. Why did it feel like she was trying to set me up? She was trying to make him fire me from this school. She knew it wouldn't be hard for Sage to see through my lies and manipulation. My image would be entirely muddied in front of him.

"And listen..." She continued, her voice even lower than before. "If something happens, the school will claim no responsibility in it. We would deny sending any of you to the students to task their parents. We just have to do this for the students, I hope you understand, Lyla."

The more she spoke, the more it dawned on me that she was using these students to milk them of their parent's monies. She was enriching herself from their wealth. I hid my disappointment.

I could simply decline, but it seemed like that wasn't an option.

"Lyla... Listen to me..." She stood up and rounded the table to stand in front of me. "Sage is our biggest fish in this school, and if you're successful, I guarantee you that you will have an office as enormous as mine. You will hold your cards in this school, and no one can touch you, not even Sage. You will be under my protection and under this school's protection. You would answer only to me, and I will keep your secrets for you." She looked at me with a knowing expression on her face.

At first, I was about to thoroughly decline her offer when she mentioned the last part, making me pause.

"Secrets? What secrets are you talking about?" I raised a brow in confusion, my heart beating fast.

"Oh sweetheart... We both know that Sage fancies you, and there must be something you give to him that makes him fancy you this much." She smiled. "What I'm asking you to do is to secure your future here on a long term basis. What if he gets tired of you and decides he no longer needs your services in this school? You wouldn't be immune to that."

"I don't give him anything. He doesn't fancy me!" I tried to argue, but she just smiled.

"We are done here. You can go home now."