Billionaire Boys Club 5 : Romancing the Billionaire(9)

Oh, no. If it wasn't for the presence of that swanky car at the curb, Violet would have thought this was a layoff of some kind or an announcement of more programs being cut. But the fact that Jonathan-Daddy Warbucks himself-was sitting at the front of the room in one of his expensive suits?

It gave her a bad feeling. A real bad feeling.

She sat down at the back of the room, noticing that Jonathan's intense blue-eyed gaze was fixed in her direction. Goddamn it. He'd probably seen her spill her coffee everywhere. She wanted to seem cool and unaffected by his presence. Too late for that. Fine then. He wanted to eyeball her from afar? Violet leaned in close to the coach seated next to her. "Know what this is about?"

Coach Trammel shook his head. He was good looking, but he already had a boyfriend, and was a longtime friend of Violet's. "Not a clue. You?"

"Nothing," she said, making sure to smile and laugh in his direction. When she looked back over at Jonathan, his face was stark with anger and possessiveness. Good. Let me know how it feels, Johnny-boy. You gave up your claim ten years ago.

"Is everyone here?" Esparza called into the microphone, then beamed at the assembled teachers. "This won't take long, but I wanted to get all the teachers together to go over the good news."

Oh, no. Oh, no no no.

Esparza clasped her hands together, practically dancing with excitement from behind the tiny podium. "As you all know, Neptune School District has had issues with funding over the last few years. You are all aware that the repairs on the gymnasium cost quite a pretty penny, and we've been worried that we'd have to cut back on student enrichment programs in order to keep everyone employed, and that also means outdated textbooks for another year or two." Her smile grew brilliant. "But, I'm happy to announce that Mr. Jonathan Lyons of Lyons Motors has taken an interest in the Neptune School District and has made an extremely generous offer to pull us into the black and even allow us to purchase iPads for students in need." 

There were several gasps out of the audience, and some of the teachers clapped with excitement. Neptune was one of the poorer school districts in their area, with a lot of low-income families, and it was no secret that they were struggling. Heck, Violet's own paycheck reflected that they were struggling. She hadn't had a raise since she'd started there three years ago. But it was what it was.

"We'll be meeting with the school board over the next few days to determine the best way to allocate funds, but I just wanted you all to know how very excited we are about this." Esparza clapped so enthusiastically that for a moment, she looked like an eager seal waiting for a fish. "And in addition, we're putting forth a motion to have the school renamed the Jonathan Lyons Middle School."

Violet thought she might throw up in her mouth. The last thing she wanted was Jonathan's name everywhere she turned for the rest of her career. God, she'd have to switch school districts just to get away from reminders of him.

She looked over at Jonathan.

Still staring at her. Violet's eyes narrowed as the audience began to talk and excitedly clap again. Something wasn't adding up. Why was Jonathan taking such an interest in her school?

Her school, the day after she turned him down and told him there was no way she could accompany him?

No no no no.

The meeting ended with that. Violet surged to her feet as the rest of the staff did, hoping to blend in with the crowd.

"Ms. DeWitt," Principal Esparza called over the crackling microphone. "Could you please remain for a few minutes? I need to talk to you."

Violet practically snarled with anger. She could just guess what this was about.

-

Jonathan watched as Violet more or less stomped to Principal Esparza's side. Her arms were crossed over her br**sts and he noticed that one of the pale white sleeves of her blouse was now stained with coffee. Her br**sts were heaving magnificently over her arms, though, and he had to force himself not to stare at them like a schoolboy.

Instead, he thought of the way she'd leaned into the man she'd sat next to and smiled at him. Laughed at him. Was that her boyfriend? An ex-lover? A current lover? Jonathan's hand clenched at his side and a surge of jealousy roared through him. He wanted to be the only one who got her damn smiles.

Not that she was smiling right now. She looked as if she wanted to shank him, actually. He grinned archly, knowing she was going to hate what came next. His Violet hated not being in control of things.

And she would be his again.

"Principal," Violet said in a crisp, almost cold voice. She refused to look over at Jonathan. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, it's a bit unorthodox," Esparza said, her voice becoming a little overly soothing and motherly. "But I hope you'll hear me out and listen without making judgment, of course."