LUXURY

＂ Ｔｈｅ Ｍｉｓｓｉｎｇ ｏｆ Ｂｅｖｅｒｌｙ Ｈｉｌｌｓ ＂(1/3)

"Well, Cadet Felix, it looks like it's time for you to plead your case."

Erika Felix wasn't ever one to tremble under pressure. Not when she'd been caught hacking Huffington Post, nor being called out on her scandalous behavior, or even by parents demanding she stop discriminating against their 'No-Don't-Even-Try,' daughters with her exclusive 7th grade sleepovers. But lately she was practically cracking under pressure - and as the principal of East Hampton Military Institute slowly swiveled around in his boring, black cushioned office chair, she felt exactly as she did when she'd opened the door to find the police waiting for her.

After being humiliated and dragged through the campus, the Dorm Supervisor had handed her directly to the office who'd handed her directly to the principal - although Erika had overheard in her Third Quarter that students referred to him as the Warden.

When she'd thought of the Warden, Erika had imagined some big, brawny guy who dressed in the same hideous camouflage attire and spit when he talked. However, the Warden was exactly the opposite. He was scrawny and wore Hart Schaffner suits that seemed far too large for his frame.

Instead of guns and boots shined to perfection decorating his office, the surprisingly light green walls were adorned by awards from schools like Princeton and Brown, a trophy cabinet, and exquisite pictures of gorgeous landscapes in frames from Neiman Marcus.

However, despite the cheerful demeanor, Erika still found herself skeptical of the creepy dimpled smile flashing across the principal's face as he clasped his hands together and rested them on the maple wooden desk before him. She shifted uneasily in her dark egg green leather armchair, turning slightly to make sure the Dorm Supervisor - who was writing idly in a manila folder - was still standing by the dark wooden emblazoned door. 'Why does every faculty member at this school seem crooked?'

"Um, well, I didn't do anything wrong," Erika tried to explain. However, the principal's transfixed smile was starting to freak her out and she had to stare at his gold-embellished desk tag instead. "Cash is trying to frame me-"

"Is she?" The Warden interjected rather pleasantly, his voice sounding like one of those eerie voices used to lure people into mind control.

Erika slowly nodded. "She was putting on makeup and..." She slowly trailed off, hazel eyes growing wide when she truly concentrated on the principal's desk tag. The shiny, gold tag read; 'Caldwell.' Just a quick glance at the framed pictures that were set upon the large bookcase behind him was a dead giveaway that the Warden was a Caldwell. The framed pictures were of Cash and her family.

Principal Caldwell's creepy smile grew so wide it looked as if it were about to tilt off of his bony - yet beautifully moisturized - face.

"Are you-are you Cash's-" Erika stammered and he held out a hand adorned by silver David Yurman rings on each finger.

"Cashmere's uncle, nice to meet you," He said cheerfully. "I have to say it truly is a pleasure to meet the daughter of Matthew Felix. Your father and I went to the same fraternity together at Princeton, I believe. Isn't this such a small world?"

Erika was practically gaping as she numbly shook the principal's hand. 'Uncle? You have got to be fucking kidding me.'

No wonder the school was kissing the girl's ass.

"Your father and I were merely acquaintances but I always loved hearing about his successful developments," Principal Caldwell went on, seeming cheeky with the bomb that had just dropped. He clasped his hands together again with another odd smile. "Anywho, what do you think of East Hampton Military Institute so far, Erika? I hope it's been treating you rather wondrously. Besides the little incident we're here to discuss tonight."