Page 17 of The Teacher

I nod my head. I just want to get out of this awkward conversation. I need to find the nearest glass of Chardonnay ASAP. “Of course.”

“Good. Good. So, please, talk to everyone. It’s so very, very important.”

“Okay, Mr. Brown. Understood.”

“Great, go get that money,” he chuckles. “Have a good night. I’ll see you in there.”

“Sure.”

He takes out a packet of cigarettes from his jacket pocket. “Filthy habit, I know. But it calms the nerves.”

I smile at him and quickly dash inside the hotel, wanting to get away from the very high cringe levels of awkwardness. I know Mr. Brown would absolutely love it if I got my Dad involved in the fundraising for the school, that’s probably why I’m always roped in on these fundraiser nights. He and Miss Tweed would be over the moon if I used my family money to make a private donation to Poseidon’s Academy but, like I told them on my first day, I won’t ever want to use my family’s wealth in my career. I’ve separated myself totally from my father’s wealth. Not that I’m ashamed of it or anything, it’s just that I want to make my own way in the world and not rely on family for everything. I’ve been already lucky enough to receive a top-tier education at Poseidon’s Academy when I was a student, I don’t need - or want - to use my family’s wealth as a crutch for the rest of my life.

I follow the signs and head inside the hotel conference room, frantically adjusting my dress to make sure my nipples don’t pop out. The room’s pretty full by the time I enter. It seems like every other member of staff is already there.

I spot that Miss Tweed’s surrounded by a swarm of parents. They always love talking to her. She’s all smiles when it comes to parents. She can put on such a fake act when she wants to, when she smells money.

I make a beeline straight for the wine. Chardonnay. My favorite. I snatch a glass from the table and take a sip. Refreshing. Some Dutch courage is definitely needed for the night ahead.

I start talking to a local businessman. Some old guy in a suit. We’ve chatted before. He says he’s very keen to donate some money to the school, so he’s been to most of the school’s fundraisers thus far. To be honest I think he’s more in it to ogle at my tits, which he does during our entire conversation. I don’t think he even looks me in the eyes once. It’s like he’s talking to my cleavage as if my boobs are a separate person to the rest of my body.

This is turning out to be a very fun night indeed.

I receive a tap on my shoulder as I talk to the businessman, snapping him out of rambling about pc culture gone mad at my tits.

“Miss Finn!” The person who’s tapped me is very enthusiastic. I can tell by the sound of their voice it’s Mr. Brown. “Miss Finn!” He taps again and I turn around, happy to get my breasts away from the local businessman’s intense focus.

“Yes, Mr. Brown?”

“You have just got to meet the most charming man.” Mr. Brown gestures behind him to a man standing with his back turned to us. “Miss Finn, I want to introduce you to Mr. Deep.”

The man turns.

And my heart drops.

Mr. Deep?

That must mean-

Skipper Deep.

Skipper Deep is standing in front of me.

Mr. Brown is introducing me to Skipper Deep.

No.

Skipper’s holding a glass of red wine in one hand. His brown eyes scan me and my dress up and down. He then smiles at me. His stupid gorgeous smile.

And my heart drops even further.

For the second time this month, Skipper Deep is standing in front of me in an expensive tailored suit and is smiling at me.

What the hell is going on?

For the second time this month, I’m trapped into speaking to Skipper fucking Deep. In the same fucking hotel conference room my brother and sister-in-law got married in.

He really is like a ghost from my past haunting me.