Page 31 of Surrender to Me

Chapter 19

The intern’s fingers clicked the keyboard in front of her like a hammer on the wall. I ran my hand along my neck, feeling my choker like it was a lucky rabbit’s foot. I was sitting outside of Wile Steven’s office with a large portfolio in my hand, waiting for the final review. Luckily, even though Michael had ruined everything I had worked on, I always made it a priority to take photographs of my artwork. Stevens had mentioned in an email that the meeting was also to discuss what had happened to the sculptures. I was glad that we were finally addressing it.

My phone vibrated. I’ll be waiting, Owen had texted.

Though Owen kept his face calm, I knew he was almost as anxious as I was about the meeting. He kept suggesting that he wait outside of the office during the meeting and talk to Stevens himself. He wanted to make sure that Michael got his punishment, which he was sure would never measure up to what he deserved. I doubted it too, but I told him I’d call him after the meeting. I have this, I had said as I fingered the choker, You’re always with me. After that, he finally backed down. I knew part of it was that he wanted to know how this decision would affect our future, and whether or not I would move to New York with him.

The door creaked open. “Come in, Miss Glass,” said Stevens. I clutched the large folder in my hands and sucked in a deep breath. It’s now or never, I thought.

I sat in the chair in front of his desk. Stevens thumbed through the portfolio. “And Mr. Lauder destroyed all of these?” I nodded. “What a shame.”

He closed the portfolio and straightened in his seat. “The question wasn’t of your talent, Miss Glass. The entire admissions committee and staff here at the Foundation agree that your work is beyond the level of what we expect from students here.” I blushed, not expecting that kind of compliment. “The issue is treating this with fairness and respect to the rest of the students.”

“I never asked Owen to put in a word for me,” I said. “In fact, I told him not to. Mr. Stevens, I was angry when he introduced me to you.”

“I understand that, Miss Glass. However, Mr. Lowell is still a benefactor to the Foundation.” He paused, glancing past me. “Are you still having relations with Mr. Lowell?”

“The fact that you’re even—”

“Answer the question, Miss Glass.”

I shrunk in the seat. “Yes.”

“I see. Even if you had followed through with not seeing him, as requested, we would still need to put your scholarship on hold. Perhaps in a year, when this is simply a memory, we can reconsider. This is under the condition, of course, that you have absolutely no contact with Mr. Lowell.” My heart shriveled at those words. To give up even talking to Owen when he was part of my inspiration, my muse? Someone I needed, even beyond art? I couldn’t imagine it. I pinched the choker around my neck. “But as of right now,” Stevens continued, “your scholarship has been revoked. I am sorry to relay this decision, Miss Glass.”

“That’s bullshit,” I said. “You said so yourself that I’m overqualified for it.”

Stevens stood up and walked around to my seat, gesturing for me to stand up too. “Miss Glass, here at the Foundation, we know students, with enough determination and spirit, will find their way. However, in our current economy and the lack of justification for higher education in the arts, the Foundation needs to do what it can to stay afloat. That means making sure that the rest of the students still want to pay their tuition.” He held me by the elbow, bringing me to the door. I clenched my fists, wanting to scream and punch the wall. “You made quite the ruckus, but you’ll find your way.”

“At least tell me Michael will get in trouble,” I said.

“Oh, that,” said Stevens. He paused, his hand on the door. “He won’t be welcome back to the Foundation.”

He opened the door and smiled. “Have a nice day, Miss Glass.” He nodded. “Michael,” he said. Outside of the door, Michael stood up, pushing his blond hair out of his face. He sneered at me and I rolled my eyes. Stevens must have been planning to expel him right then.

I sunk into a chair in the lobby outside of the department. I covered my face with my hands. I could figure out a way to pay for the tuition if I had to; that wasn’t the question. The problem was that I wanted to be with Owen too, and I didn’t want to constantly fight for a position in a community that didn’t want me.

The building doors clicked open. Poppy strolled through, her fresh balayage bouncing off of her shoulders. “Oh, you’re here,” she said. “That’s right. Wile was going to tell you the news today, wasn’t he?” I raised my eyebrow and she sighed in fake sympathy. “I told him you’d be devastated. But he has to do what’s right for the Foundation.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “You understand, don’t you?”

I shook my shoulder out of her touch. “And you understand that Owen needs me, don’t you?” I said. I fingered the choker around my neck. Even if I refused to call it a collar, I knew what it symbolized, and I knew she did too. “And what that says about you.” I had no idea what I was talking about, but I knew it would get under her skin. Poppy’s eyes glazed over, fixed on the gold strand around my neck.

“You’re playing a fool’s game,” she finally said. “I’d watch my back if I were you.”

“Owen isn’t as dark as you think he is,” I said.

Poppy smirked. “He isn’t?” she said in a sing-sock, mocking voice. I wanted to rip her fucking hair out. I had to get out of there before I did something I would regret.

“It was nice seeing you again, Miss Wellington,” I said.

“Oh, it won’t be the last time you see me, Miss Glass.”

I walked towards the entrance, hearing her high heels click across the tile to the Graduate Department. A million curse words ran through my head and I wanted to smack the young Owen for liking such a bitch. My phone buzzed again. I figured it was Owen, but it was Bobby: Can you cover a shift? Newbie bailed again. I responded quickly, then let Owen know where I was headed. As I reversed out of my parking space, I thought I saw a woman staring out of the window of Steven’s office, looking down at me. But when I blinked, she was gone.