How Does She Know?

Chapter 21

How Does She Know?

Lyla Atelo.

After Sage had left my office, I was bristled. Sara and Ivy pounded through the door once more to see me. I knew they were asking questions and rambling on about something, but my mind wasn't in the conversation. My ears kept on echoing Sage's words... I was his first? Like... I was the first woman he had ever had sex with, or did he mean I was the first older woman he had ever had sex with?

"Mrs. Lyla, are you okay? You seem shaken." Ivy eyed me, shaking me slightly to come back to my senses.

I took a deep breath and flashed her a smile. "I'm doing quite alright. Just a little shaken up."

"What did he want from you?" Ivy frowned but Sara scoffed from the side.

"Sage doesn't want anything from anyone. He literally has everything he needs already." She began, "The whole school has heard that you had called him to your office after class. Students even placed bets that he wouldn't come... since you're like the first teacher with the audacity to do so." Then, she smiled sheepishly. "I don't mean to be insolent, I'm just saying. But still... He came to see you. And seeing how shaken up you are may mean that he came to scare you."

"I thought so, too." Ivy sighed and sat on the seat that Sage had just vacated.

"Well, I don't think that's the case." Sara laughed lightly and popped a gum in her mouth. "I think there is something more... something deeper that is going on between you two."

My eyes shot to her face immediately. She stared at me as if she could see through me.

"Nothing is ever hidden from Oakwood Academy for long, Mrs. Lyla." She grinned at me. "Whatever is going on between you two, I plan to uncover it."

"Sara!" Ivy chided her almost immediately. "Look, I know you like him, but you can't start false accusations and baseless rumors just because he has picked interest in a teacher. What if it is a good thing? What if Lyla, here, possesses better qualities of a teacher than we all do? What if, because of her, he stops bullying teachers and students because his family is actively sponsoring the school?"

"Guys..." I pursed my lips, banging the table slightly to gain their attention. "I don't know what it is with you, but Mr. Dominic and I had to discuss the assignment I gave in class. Not only that, last week we had a question and answer session where his classmates and him all lined up to ask me questions. Time was running late and I had to leave the class, telling them to meet me in person for their questions. The only person who didn't come was Sage, and as a concerned teacher, I reached out to him in class to meet me in my office."

Sara clicked her tongue. She didn't seem to believe a word I said. Instead, she sneered. "Are you sure you didn't intentionally do that so you could be alone in your office with him?"

"Sara!" Ivy hit her fist on the table. "That's enough!"

"Well, for one, Ivy..." Sara snarled at her, "I know you're smart enough not to believe a word that is coming out of her mouth. We both know there's something going on here."

I was glad that the table covered my hands and legs, if not, they would have both seen how nervous and scared I was about this conversation. I wanted to be done with it already, but Sara showed no signs of stopping. She wanted to get to the bottom of this... And if anyone found out that I had slept with my student, not only would I lose my job, but I would lose my reputation. I don't think anyone would ever want to employ me again.

"I know she is manipulating him to get his money. She's broke." Sara spat out. "Just like her husband who is gallivanting all around town with different women and recklessly embezzling his company funds and her trust fund."

"Excuse me?"

Now, that got my attention.

"What are you talking about? What do you know about me or my family? Why are you spreading lies?"

I couldn't believe it. It seemed like the whole world was spinning. I staggered when I stood up, clutching the table for support. The office seemed to close in on me, and I couldn't get enough air. I had to leave the office. It couldn't be possible that Michael touched the money that my grandmother had left for me.

"Lyla! Are you okay?" Ivy shot up from the chair to come hold me. "Sara, you need to stop all this nonsense."

"Ivy, do you want to lose your job too? You know that, apart from Sage, I can make that happen, right?"

I felt Ivy still beside me.

"Let go of her and go back to your office immediately!" Sara commanded Ivy. "She is lucky that I can't touch her because it might infuriate Sage. And the last thing I want for him is to be angry with me. I've already gone a long way with him for that to happen." She started moving towards us. "Sage's parents might be funding this school, but also know that my mother is the Principal and she has a lot of power here as well." She whispered into my ears.

I heard the door shut, and I guessed it was Ivy that had run out of the office. I was still feeling dizzy and nauseous by the revelation she just gave.

"For now, Mrs. Lyla... I want to see how far you have gone in manipulating Sage. I want to see if he cares about you a little." Her voice was as sharp as a thousand knives. "And if you think of reporting me to him, I promise you that would be your worst mistake."

From my peripheral vision, I saw her lips curling into a smirk like she had just thought of something evil. It made me wonder how sweet she looked on the outside, and how horrible she actually was.