“HaveyouheardaboutthecontractterminationbetweenColeandWilsonTech?”
“Areyouawarethatyourstudent,Johnny,hasbeincreasinglyarrogantandmorallpromised–blindedbyinfatuation,unabletodistinguishrightfromwrong?”
ThesewerethewordsRexwantedtosay.
Butjustastheywereabouttoleavehismouth,hecaughtaglimpseofFranklinoutofthecornerofhiseye–andthewordsdiedinhisthroat.
Afterall,allofthis…wasJulia’smatter.
AndnowthatbothJuliaandFranklinwerepresent,Rexnolongerhadthestandingtospeakonit.
Ifheweretostepinandbringthisupinfrontofeveryone,itwouldbenodifferentfromexposinghispersonalfeelingsforJulia–and moreimportantly,potentiallyembarrassingher.
Thatwouldonlycausehertrouble.
Realizingthis,hisattentionshiftedtoMr.Alisonstandingofftotheside.
HeknewwhoMr.Alisonwas,ofcourse.
NowthatitwasconfirmedthatWilsonTechandColehadofficiallyterminatedtheirpartnership,andJuliaandFranklinwerehavinglunchwithMr.Alison…
Itwasn’thardtopiecetogetherwhatthismeant.
AlisonGroupwas undoubtedlythe bestchoiceforWilsonTechafterleavingCole.
Clearly,FranklinwasgoingoutofhiswayforJulia.
SinceJuliaalreadyhadanewpathforward,andJohnnywasbingmoreandmorerecklessandoutoftouch,herdistancingherselffromthemmightactuallybeforthebest.
Giventhat,therewasreallynothingleftforhimtosaytoNn.
Withthatrealization,RexofferedabriementtoNn:
“It’snothing.Sorrytobotheryou.”
JohnnyknewexactlywhatRexhadbeennningtosay.
Withahintofmockery,hesmiledandsaid,
“Ithoughtyoucamein allriledupjusttinaboutmetomyteacher.”
Johnny’ssarcasm,inRex’seyes,wasnothingshortofsmugarroganceandtotackofremorse.
Andseeinghimlikethis–RexfeltJohnnywasevenmoredespicablethanhe’dthought.
HeusedtothinkitwasapitythatsomeonelikeJohnnywouldfalllikethis.Butnow?
Nowhesawclearly–Johnnywaschasinghisowndownfall,willingly.
AndsincehewasdraggingMaggiedownwithhim,whyshouldhebetheotryandstopit?
Atthispoint,Rexnolongercaredtocontinuetheconversation.
Withanindifferenttone,hesaid,“You’reoverthinkingit,PresidentGray.”
Johnnycouldn’tbebotheredtorespond.
HeturnedtoNnandMaggieandsaid,“Teacher,let’sgo.”
MaggienoddedandlookedatNn,sayinggently,
“Teacher,thisway.”
WhensheaddressedNnas“Teacher,”bothRexandJuliaweremomentarilystunned.
TheythoughtshewasshamelesslyechoingJohnnyandcallingNn“Teacher”withoutanyactualqualification.
Evenso,hearinghersayitstillmadethemufortable–likehervoicehadtaintedNn’sgoodname.
AftertheypartedwaysandNngotinhiscarandleft,JohnnyturnedtoMaggieandgrumbled:
“Rexissuchadumbass.IseriouslyregretgivingReedanyfaceandagreeingtoworkwiththatidiot.Justthinkingaboutfuturecoborationsgivesmeaheadache.”
Maggierubbedhertemples,echoinghisfrustration.
“SoshouldwehaveManagerLanehandlehim fromnowon?”
Johnny:“Ahundredpercentyes!”
Maggiechuckledsoftlyandheadedbacktotheofficewithhim.
Assoonastheysteppedoutoftheelevatorandwereabouttoenterthpany,Maggie’sphonerang.
ItwasFranklin.
Shedidn’tanswer.
Johnnynoticedtheshiftinherexpressionandinstantlyguessedwhothecallerwas.
Oncethebuzzingstopped,MaggiewasjustabouttotalktoJohnnyaboutthenextday’sworkschedule–whenherphonepingedwithanewtext.
AlsofromFranklin:
“I’mgoingonabusinesstriptomorrow.Isabewantstobewithyou.Canyoutakecare of herduringtheholiday?”
Johnnyncedatthemessagecontentandscoffedcoldly:
“JustlikeduringNewYear–he’sprobablydraggingJuliaalongonthetripagain.Andnowhewantstodumpthekidonyousohecanenjoyhislittleromantic getaway?”
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