CHAPTER 20
Lauren vowed that she was returning then rushed out of the cafeteria, chasing Ryle along the empty hallway as most were in the cafeteria enjoying their breakfast.
“Wait!” Lauren called out loud as Ryle continued to walk away. “Hey asshole!” She called out again, louder now, but he didn’t stop. “So who’s the loser now?!”
Ryle stopped instantly, the sound of his boot scraping against the concrete floor the only break in the sudden, sharp silence. The challenge in her voice—“So who’s the loser now?!”—was not just an insult; it was a direct shot at his authority and his carefully constructed worldview.
He turned slowly, his movement deliberate and cold. He didn’t look angry; he looked absolutely, perfectly calm, which was always more unnerving. His eyes, the color of cold stone
