Chapter 21 — Power & Ego
1327 Words
Maggie grunted, taking her seat.
“What I've been trying to tell you for the past few minutes, Jacob.”
“Okay…” he drawled, eyeing Henry with distrust as he walked further into the dining room.
“His name's Henry, Gareth Henry. He used to teach Rosie and Lena back at Eden, and now he's their lecturer at Everest.”
Henry stood up, sticking his arm out.
“Good day, Mr Duncan.”
“I think I remember you…” Jacob said, taking his arm in a firm grip. “I particularly remember my wife getting up as early as five am to make you those cinnamon rolls.”
He didn't seem very happy reliving the memory and he sure as hell was letting Henry know.
Henry chuckled. “I wasn't aware Mrs Duncan went through all that—but I can assure you, everyone loved her cinnamon rolls.”
“Of course they did,” Jacob muttered, letting go of Henry's hand as he took a seat.
Henry took his too.
“You're joining us?” Maggie asked in surprise.
“What does it look like, woman?” Jacob grunted.
“A few minutes ago, you were too busy to join us.”
“Somewhere along the line, I found my appetite.”
“I could bring it to your room though—”
“No. I'll eat here.”
“Okay…”
Maggie began serving him food, while the rest of us sat with bated breath.
Once she was done, she took her seat, and everyone began eating quietly.
“So Henry,” Maggie began, “I was asking, what's the secret to your agelessness.”
Henry chuckled softly. “Like I just said, Maggie, it's nothing. I just exercise and eat well. I like to take care of my body very well.”
“Ohh I see… then you need to recommend whatever it is you take—”
“I don't quite remember, what exactly do you do? Mr Gareth,” Jacob cut Maggie off, as he shoved a piece of steak into his mouth.
I shifted slightly, feeling uncomfortable at the obvious tension between the men in the room.
And I wasn't the only one feeling the tension.
“I lecture at Everest University,” Henry replied calmly, cutting into his steak. “Most of my work, however, is in aerospace systems engineering. I consult on government-funded defense and propulsion projects.”
“Really?” Jacob said, eyebrows raised.
“I work as White House Chief of Staff.”
“I see… then you're a really powerful man, Mr Duncan.” Henry commented with a coy smile.
Jacob leaned back slightly, looking pleased.
“Defense projects are impressive,” Jacob said, taking a sip of wine. “I’ve always believed influence means little if it doesn’t contribute something tangible to society.”
Lena, Maggie, and I glanced at one another uncomfortably.
It might have sounded like a normal conversation if the surrounding air wasn't thick with male testosterone.
“That is actually a valid notion,” Henry commented, nodding in agreement.
“It is…” Jacob said, cleaning his lips with a napkin. “A few years ago, I helped spearhead veteran rehabilitation and housing initiatives through federal policy reform.”
“That couldn’t have been easy,” Henry commented. “Veteran rehabilitation programs are often difficult to implement effectively.”
Jacob waved his hand carelessly.
“Of course it wasn't…. What about you, Henry? Any major projects under your name?”
“That depends on the project,” Henry replied calmly.
“A few years ago, I worked on adaptive drone-navigation systems for battlefield evacuation routes.”
“Really?” Jacob said, with mild interest.
Henry shrugged lightly.
“Recently, I led the adaptive propulsion systems currently being integrated into the Aegis aerial defense program.”
“Aegis aerial defense project,” Jacob echoed, subtly leaning towards Henry.
I scoffed lightly.
Apparently being annoyingly attractive wasn't enough.
“The prototype’s still under development though,” Henry replied, uninterested.
Lena nearly dropped her fork.
“You have got to be kidding me— that was you?”
Henry chuckled softly.
“It was a collaborative effort.”
Fucking asshole was really enjoying this.
“I didn't know you were such an influential man, Mr Gareth,” Jacob commented, voice tight.
“I like to keep a low profile, Mr Duncan,” Henry replied, in an airy manner.
“I see…” Jacob hummed, brows furrowed in displeasure.
We carried on eating. I glanced at Henry only to find him already staring at me with a small smile.
I glared at him, then turned back to my food.
“Now that you're both done talking about your boring jobs, how about—”
“That reminds me…” Jacob started, cutting Maggie off. “Why exactly did you leave your teaching job at Eden back then?”
A pause.
Henry's jaw ticked lightly.
Lena and I glanced at each other at the sudden change in his expression.
If I remember correctly, he'd quit the job because he had a project to work on, and the project demanded his full attention right…
So why did it suddenly seem like there was something more?
“He had a project at the time, Dad. Don't you remember—”
“Oh sweetheart, don't act so gullible.” Jacob cut Lena off, taking a sip on his wine.
Now that I think about it, his leaving was very abrupt.
“Hmm… what was it again?” Jacob, hummed softly, tapping his chin.
“I'm guessing you're talking about the issue with Miss Rivers,” Henry said, cutting his steak.
“Ahh… yes. The scandal with seventeen-year-old Miss Rivers.”
My stomach dropped.
Scandal?
The three of us stared at Henry in shock.
He had a calm expression on his face. For someone who didn't know him well you'd think he didn't seem bothered about it.
But I knew Henry too well to notice the slight ticking of his jaw.
“It was no scandal, Mr Duncan.”
“Really, well what do you call having a s****l relationship with a minor?”
“Jacob.” Maggie scolded, quietly.
“Everest should be more strict when it comes to protecting its student, Maggie,” Jacob argued.
Maggie shook her head, exhaling heavily.
“Protecting them from what?”
“I don't know.” He shrugged carelessly. “Child molesters, maybe.”
The dining room fell deathly silent.
“Oh God…” Maggie murmured.
“I assure you they are.” Henry bit back. “After a thorough investigation, Miss Rivers confessed about her obsession with me, which led to her trying to seduce me. And when I refused… she made up a story about me attempting to force her.”
Sweet Jesus.
“And this investigation, was done when?”
“Do your research, Mr Duncan. There's no way the school would have allowed me to teach if my record wasn't clean.”
For a moment, his gaze locked on mine, as he continued.
“I see all my students as children and I would never get into any compromising situation with them.”
I ripped my gaze away, gripping my fork tightly.
Funny… considering the way he looked at me sometimes.
“As a man of my standing—it would be preposterous of me to do such, not only because I have no desire for children…” he trailed, leaning back in his seat.
“But also because I am not starved of women or the means to have s*x, seeing as I've always had women throwing themselves at me from every angle…”
He paused, smiling slightly.
“Not like I'd expect you to understand that.”
‘Shit.’ I muttered, closing my eyes.
Jacob's expression darkened.
“You bastard—”
“Enough, Jacob.” Maggie yelled, banging her palm on the table.
- Writer
