It's between me and you

Chapter 3

Elena now seemed to understand how models in high heels feel when they try to walk the catwalk with dignity and beauty in front of hundreds of pairs of eyes. As she walked through the soundless dining hall, she felt a lot of stares burning her back, and especially one, the fiercest and nastiest.

This upstart has got some nerve. He has absolutely no ability to filter what he can say out loud and what is best kept in his empty head.

The guard nodded politely as the teacher walked past him and finally exited the stuffy room. Only now was Elena able to exhale. As she walked, she didn't even seem to breathe. She felt that Ledger could attack her from behind and tear her apart like a helpless victim. His gaze was wild, like that of a real predator.

Ledger was too confident in his abilities and not the type to throw words to the wind. He reeked of undisguised danger.

But Elena wasn't an easy one either. Her father taught her to defend herself no matter what. He brought her up in a small town where there were tree plantations and many private houses all around. Anything could happen in such an area. You had to know how to fight, run, and, if you had to, fight back. Elena knew how to do that. So if this student thought he could bend her over so easily, he was so wrong.

"You shouldn't do that, Miss Narrel!"

A Latin teacher suddenly grew up next to Helena from somewhere.

Mrs. Perry, I think. So far she had not managed to remember the names of all her colleagues, but this woman was hard to forget. For the second day in a row she wore a colorful floor-length skirt and a loose burgundy blouse with gold buttons. The woman looked about forty years old.

"What do you mean?"

"What exactly is a waste?"

"Acting like that to Andrew. I wouldn't advise you to behave that way with him."

"Why is that?"

Elena was surprised, slowing down right on the steps.

She didn't expect the teacher to defend him. It's unbelievable.

"Let's go, let's go, I'll explain everything to you."

The woman literally dragged Elena to the department. Once in an empty office, she quickly flicked the button on the kettle and reached for the shelf.

"So, listen."

Mrs. Perry poured the chocolates into the plate. It looked like the teacher had decided to give a clarification talk. Just what she needed! She had only ten minutes before class, and to waste them on the story about Ledger was not the slightest desire. But still it was necessary to understand why he had such privileges, so Elena humbled herself and sat down on the chair in front of the black wooden table.

"Andrew's father, Mr. Jacob Ledger, is an oligarch. And also the main sponsor of our university. All those fancy laptops, projectors in every room, repairs - it's all him."

Elena frowned.

"I know that, but I thought your college wasn't poor before Ledger joined it."

"Of course it wasn't, because his sister was here at the time."

"Does he have a sister?"

The newcomer wondered in surprise.

Mrs. Perry poured instant Nescafe into two cups, poured boiling water over it, and put one cup in front of Elena. A plate of candy came down next to it.

"Of course, he does. Really, I do not know how it is possible, but Mila is a wonderful girl. She's kind and diligent. Help yourself" The woman pushed the candy toward the girl with the care of a grandmother who is visiting for the summer.

"Thank you, I don't want any, just coffee for now" The tutor shook her head politely and gently sipped her hot drink.

"Well, take it home. Very tasty, my friend brought me from Italy"

Insisted Mrs. Perry. Elena had to agree. No, she was not the kind of person who kept a strict diet, and she loved candies, but Ledger had ruined her mood today. She didn't feel like eating at all.

"Well, thank you" Elena smiled warmly, put three candies in her bag and continued. "So what about his sister?

"Ah, yes. Mila lives in America now. She left right after she graduated, two years ago. Her brother was just a freshman at the time. He's going to go to Spain, too, by the way, when he graduates. They will finish their studies there, get a major education, and go on to run their father's firms"

Wow. Why be surprised, though? A wealthy person like that must have his whole life written all over him, right? Most likely, he's already got a richer bride. Pity about that poor girl.

"So I take it that Andrew gets away with everything because his dad sponsors the college?"

"Not just the college. All the bonuses, Elena, and quite good ones, come from him"

The woman said reproachfully, finishing her second candy. That's why every teacher will think twice before complaining to his father. No one wants to get out of here.

So much for justice. Because of the fact that someone goes to the toilet not in the usual bowl, but with a golden border, others have to look at him and applaud, stubbornly silent about the fact that he shits outside. Elena was angry at this behavior of the teaching staff.

"So what? Nobody ever complained about him?"

"I'll tell you this, my beauty" Cassandra whispered, lowering her black curly head and poking her index finger with a long pink fingernail on the table: "There have been times when we've tried. But this brat finds dirt on everyone. I do not know how he manages it, but he knows what to say that then any desire to complain falls away. Just trust me."

"Have you tried it on yourself?"

"Thank God, no. I'm in my right mind to ignore his absences and give good grades just for the fact that he exists."

That's crazy. Some 20-year-old upstart holding the entire college in check. That's crazy. I mean, come on. Some 20-year-old upstart holding the entire university in check. And he's not even a senior. She wondered if the senior classes also grovel to Ledger?

She did not, of course, ask a colleague a question. She listened a little more about the Ledger family and ran away at the first opportunity, after thanking her for the coffee.