His eyes widen, but he doesn’t say anything when I stomp to the door and leave the conference room. Raw anger courses through my blood, warming my chest and my face. But pride fills me too. I haven’t stood up to anyone like this in years. When I was a kid, I never backed down to bullies.
Never let them see my fear and humiliation, even if it was boiling behind a hard expression.
The people who know me now wouldn’t recognize Carol Ann Hunter from Shelbyville. When I packed up my life and came to college, my parents never expected me to make it. My mother thought I was uppity since I didn’t think their life was good enough for me. I was scared enough to move to Southern. I didn’t need their negativity and expectations of failure to remind me of what I risked. So I never went back. Her choice, not mine.
Once I made that decision, I realized I could become whoever I wanted to be. This was my chance at a fresh start. No one here knows I grew up in a trailer park at the edge of town. No one judges me because I ate subsidized lunches. I left that girl and my past with her. I became Caroline, a sweet, soft-spoken girl who Southern boys want to take home to their mommas. Only Scarlett knows my secret here. I never even told Justin, even after two years of dating. I dodged most questions about my past and made up the rest.
For three years I’ve buried Carol Ann deep inside and for the first time since I drove out of Shelbyville in my beat-up, rusted Ford Focus, she’s resurfaced. All because of Reed Pendergraft.
And I don’t like it one bit.
Megan is waiting for me in the hall, worry lines crinkling her eyes. “Well…?”
I lift my chin. “I quit.”
Her eyes fly open. “No!”
The realization of what I’ve done hits me full force. This was my shot at boosting my flimsy resume, and I’ve thrown it away all because of my temper. My future employer won’t care that conceited egomaniac Reed Pendergraft ran the whole damn thing. They only want to know I was part of it and what role I played. Reed gave me roles. I just tossed them away. All because of my pride.
I shake my head and grip the strap of my messenger bag to hide my now trembling fingers.
“What’s done is done. I suppose I should go tell Ms. Carter.”
“Maybe you can go back and—”
“No.” My answer is firm, hiding my temptation to do the very thing Megan is trying to suggest.
Go back and grovel to get my spot back. And as much as I know I should, I can’t bring myself to do it.
“Caroline. Wait!” Lexi’s voice calls behind me.
I take a deep breath before turning around to face her.
She stops in front of me, her eyes pleading with mine. “You can’t quit.”
“I think I just did.”
“No, I know.” She shakes her head and her blonde curls bounce around her face like a shampoo commercial. I want to hate her but she’s so damned sweet. “But I’m asking you to reconsider.”
I try to contain my shock. Reed’s girlfriend is asking me to stay on the committee.
“Why?”
Conspiratorial glee washes over her face. “Because no one talks to Reed that way, and you have no idea how much I loved watching you make him squirm.”
Now I’m really confused. Why would Lexi want her boyfriend to squirm? And why would she want me to do it? “Look, I’m not sure what—”
“Please.” She clasps her hands and brings them to her chest. “Reed really is nice, once you get to know him.”
I clench my jaw. “I guess I’ll never know since I have no intention of getting to know him.”
“You don’t have to, just hang in there for a month and continue to stand up to him. I’ll stand with you next time and between the two of us, we’ll bring him down a peg or two.”
I squeeze my eyes closed then open them. “Forgive me for asking—because this is really none of my business—but why would you want me to help you bring your boyfriend down a peg or two?”
Shock covers her face, and for a moment, I wonder if I’ve crossed a line, although I’m not quite sure how. Then she breaks into giggles.
Irritation prickles the hair on the back of my neck. “I’m not sure what’s so funny.”
“Reed … my boyfriend….” She shakes her head and takes a breath.
“Are you saying he’s not your boyfriend?”
She gets her laughter under control. “No. He’s my brother.”
“Your brother?” But it all makes sense now. At Scarlett’s party, Reed touched her in a protective way, but there hadn’t been anything that suggested they were a couple. Just me jumping to conclusions. And at the club, Lexi was annoyed that Reed was there. Of course, she would be. Who wants their brother cramping their dating life?
She leans closer and lowers her voice. “Reed is used to getting his way, and he’s used to bossing people around to get it. It will be fun to watch you work him over.”
I’m not sure how Reed became part of the committee that includes his sister, but nothing surprises me when it comes to the chancellor. “Lexi, you seem like a sweet girl.” I take a deep breath.
“But I’m not on the committee to settle some score for you with your brother. I’m there to build my already pathetic resume.”
“Then come back to the committee and do that! And give my brother the opposition he needs.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”