Kane(127)

 

The dirty little bastard.

 

“Condoms are left in the school reception for a reason, I hope you know that.”

 

Caleb continued to smirk. “I do.”

 

I shook my head.

 

Men were all the same.

 

“Are you really gonna keep me here until six, Miss?”

 

I looked at the clock on the wall and saw it was only twenty to six. I wanted to leave just as much as Caleb did. I caught his gaze and gave him a stern look. “If anyone asks, you didn’t walk out of this school until after six. Understood?”

 

Caleb stood up and saluted. “You’re brilliant, Miss.”

 

“I know.”

 

Caleb laughed as he swung his bag over his shoulder and headed for the door.

 

“Are you walking or do you have a parent to collect you?” I asked for my own peace of mind.

 

“Me da is in the car park.”

 

I nodded. “Okay, off you go.”

 

“See ya, Miss.”

 

I smiled then looked down at my own bag when Caleb all but ran from the room. When I no longer heard his footsteps patter down the hallway, I gathered up all of my things. I was moving at a snail's pace because I was tired. I was ready for this day to be over. When I got my things together, I hooked my bag strap over my shoulder, groaning under the weight. With a sigh, I moved away from my desk and towards the classroom door.

 

I looked up to where I was going and gasped when I realised I wasn’t alone. There was a man standing in the doorway of the classroom. A familiar man.

 

“Oh, hello.”

 

The man smiled. “Hello, Aideen.”

 

I stared at the man, and suddenly a sick feeling consumed my stomach. I recognised him as the man who I spoke to briefly in the hospital and later in the pub a few weeks ago.

 

What on earth was he doing here?

 

“Can I help you...?”

 

“Philip.”

 

Right, he already told me that before.

 

“Sorry, Philip.” I smiled, forcing sincerity onto my face. “Can I help you?”

 

He nodded his head. “Yes. You can help me a great deal, actually.”

 

I could?

 

I furrowed my eyebrows together. “Okay, what can I help you with?”

 

“You can sit down so we can have a little... chat?”

 

No.

 

That was the first thing my mind and gut screamed.

 

“I’m sorry, sir. It’s after hours and as you have no child that is under my care during school hours, you will have to set up a formal meeting.”

 

Philip chuckled, “Sorry, I phrased that as a question, when it should have been a demand.”

 

A demand?

 

“I beg your pardon?” I asked with a shake of my head.

 

Philip looked at my desk and smiled. “Ah, I see you got my flowers.”

 

I stared at the flowers that were delivered to my classroom weeks ago. A lot of the flowers had died, but because I liked the arrangement so much, I bought new flower and kept it looking pretty.

 

“You sent them them?” I asked, dumbfounded.

 

Philip nodded his head. “Of course, I met you for the first time in the hospital that morning, so I went out and got you flowers to congratulate you on your pregnancy. I couldn’t quite believe you were pregnant even though I had known for a few weeks.”

 

I was so scared in that moment, I had no idea who this man was.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“If you’ll sit down, I’ll happily answer your question.”

 

Every fibre of my being told me to get away from this strange man and to get away fast.

 

I stood firm. “I don’t want to sit down. I do not know you and would appreciate it if you left this room immediately.”

 

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. Not when I finally have you alone.”

 

Excuse me?

 

“What?” I asked, taking a step backwards.

 

Philip smiled at me as he stepped into my classroom. I observed his face and noticed the scarred side of his face didn’t move, which made his smile that much more creepy. “I’ve been watching you for weeks now, but you’re hardly ever alone, and when you are, it’s only for short periods of time.”

 

He’d been watching me? For weeks?

 

“Why have you been watchin’ me?” I asked, a tremor of fear in my voice.

 

I was so scared I thought I would throw up.

 

Philip humourlessly laughed, “It’s a funny story, actually.”

 

I swallowed. “I doubt I’ll see the humour.”

 

“You wouldn’t.” He smirked.

 

I looked around for an exit. The windows were out because they were locked shut, but the classroom door was wide open. I glanced at the door, which was only a few feet away from me, then looked back to Philip, who was staring at me.