Matchpoint

Chapter 45:

My eyes are trained down on the glossy table. I don't remember when I stopped listening, I just know that my father's mouth is moving and I'm not hearing a thing.

The moment Dom and I stepped foot into the academy, all eyes were on us, and all phones were out. I knew it'd be bad, I didn't think it'd be this bad.

In the office, my parents and Stack had situated themselves in a line. Dom and I were forced to sit on the opposite side of the table and face them.

My father's fists fly down against the table, startling me from my daze. "Alistair, please calm down," my mother places a soft hand on his forearm.

Soft. She's always soft on him. Letting him off when he's being way over the top. Soft. It's the way she is in any inconvenience, acting as if his behaviour is justifiable. I love my mother. I do. But she always takes the easy route. Too fearful to step before my father.

"No, no, I won't calm down. She's brought shame, so much shame." My father's eyes flash with anger as he looks across the table at me. So much anger.

"Mr Dunn, I'm sorry, but it was me, truly," Dom speaks softly, "I pursued her, I pursued Clove,"

"Dominic, as much as I appreciate your modesty, Clove will take full responsibility for her actions and the repercussions that come from it." My father states, absolutely dismissing an extremely dumbfounded Dom.

"But, sir, I..." Dom begins, but my father simply raises a silencing finger.

"We've discussed what is best for Dom and the academy, and we've come to the decision that Clove will step down as Dom's coach." My father announces, folding his hands onto the table. Right, it was a unanimous decision, sure.

"I don't want that." Dom says softly, eyes briefly meeting mine. His voice is tentative, and I don't blame him.

"It's not up for discussion, Dominic," my father dismisses Dom instantly. Beside me, I watch his fingers wrap into fists, and his veins pop from beneath the skin.

"But you didn't even ask me what I want," Dom snaps, and I'm desperately hoping my father will keep his composure. Not that he has any. "And I don't want another coach. Clove is the best coach there is, and we're a winning team."

Based on the look on father's face, it's going to take a lot more than that to convince him.

"Yes, Dominic, you did have a say," my father speaks passively. "But that was before you lost your privilege by engaging in an inappropriate relationship."

Ouch.

"And what's so inappropriate?" I don't know why he asks, it's a pretty fucking obvious reason. "We're two consenting adults."

"It's inappropriate because she is your coach, and this relationship should have been strictly professional." My father doesn't break eye contact with Dom for even a second. "It is not a good look on the academy."

"But it wasn't. We can't control how we feel," Dom scoffs, and I'm begging for him to cease his words of fire.

"Clearly, which is why we will be controlling this for you." Dad's words are final. He turns his attention back to me. "You will step down immediately, and you are no longer allowed to associate with Dom."

What? My face freezes, eye sliding over to Stack. Her attention is directly faced on the floor, unable to look me in the eyes as my father announces the news.

"Why..." I begin, but I'm shut down immediately.

"Because, thanks to your carelessness, I now must do damage control," Father snaps, his dark eyes flashing with fury. I'm another job for him to fix. Another chore to be done. "So, instead of creating a continuous issue, we are removing you completely."