Malina's Price
by
Dawn Misunas
Trade Paperback ISBN: 1-931062-19-6
(Gemstar Ebook ISBN: 1-931062-10-2)
EXCERPT:
When morning came, Malina went about the usual routine of preparing for the day, but a heaviness weighed against her heart as she arrived for work. For a long time, she stood outside on the pavement, staring up at the beautiful old facade that housed the Litman School. Surrounded by glistening superstructures, the old building offered a sort of antique charm to the rest of the block. She couldn't imagine the school being anywhere else. In truth, the building was more than they needed, but John had always hoped for expansion of the student body. Under the circumstances, that seemed unlikely, if not impossible.
She couldn't believe it. She'd only had this job for six months, and now she stood a good chance of losing it. They all did. If they didn't find a way to move the school, everything would be lost. For John. For the teachers. And, worse, for the kids.
With a sad sigh, she walked up the stone steps and into the building. It was early yet, but there were already students in the hall, chatting before class. On the surface, it looked like any other school. The kids looked like any other students. She would have thought it a good thing were it not for the pressing issue they now faced.
When Shelly greeted her from behind the counter in the administrative offices, it was not with her usual good humor.
"John wants to powwow in his office, pronto."
Malina followed her into the cramped space that John called his own. All the other teachers were there, as well as the two women who ran the cafeteria. John sat behind his desk, looking solemn. He glanced up as the two women came in, and gave Malina a brief nod. She took a seat on one of the hard, wooden school chairs, and waited quietly to hear what John had to say.
"As you all know, the building has been taken over by a new owner," he explained. "This morning, a written declaration of our notice to vacate arrived. The new owner plans to demolish the building and erect a skyscraper."
The others were shocked into a collective gasp by what Shelly and Malina already knew. Their school was in peril.
"I've looked over the paperwork, and, since we had no formal lease with the previous owner, I'm afraid it's all perfectly legal. We have until the end of the semester to comply."
He paused to collect his thoughts before beginning again. "This presents us with a problem. Since we were given the lease rent-free for four years, we were able to funnel the money we would have spent on rent into more programs for the kids. We were working our way into putting in a gym and getting a phys-ed teacher, and I'd hoped for some sports teams in the future. The students need the extracurricular activity. But now those projects will have to be pushed to the back burner, and much of our time will be devoted to finding a new building."
He sighed and tapped his fingers against the ledgers that rested on his desk. "Which leaves us with another problem. As you know, much of the athletic equipment has been purchased, and the floor of the gym has already been started. Not only will our money be lost, it will literally be destroyed with the building. In view of this loss, I'm not sure we'll have the capital for a move."
There were murmurs amongst the group, and Malina could hear snippets of conversation. Some of the teachers were worried about their jobs. She was, too. But her main concern was for the students. They needed this school more than anyone.
"We're too short on cash to throw a fund-raiser," John finished limply.
Malina stared down at her clasped hands, wishing there was something she could say or do to ease the tension in the room. She feared that many of the teachers would abandon a sinking ship and immediately start looking for jobs elsewhere. Her own indecision had kept her up most of the night, but, come morning, she was pretty well sold on staying with John until he found a new place. She held onto a positive, if not self-defeating, outlook that he would find something eventually. She just didn't want to believe the school would close.
"Under the circumstances, I think it's best if the students don't know about this right away. I don't want this to disrupt their semester."
Malina agreed with him one hundred percent. Maybe it would be better to wait and tell the students at the last minute, when John was assured of a new building. Anything else might cause a fallout. For now, they all had to get through their jobs as if nothing was happening, and teach as best they could.
He fiddled with his pen for a moment. "I don't suppose there's much else to add, except that I will do my utmost to make this transition as smooth as possible. When the time comes, you all know that I will provide references."
John waited a moment, as if to invite comment. When no one spoke, he gave a silent nod and dismissed the group. There were a few murmurs of hope and wishes of good will, but, for the most part, it was a grim bunch that left his office and went their separate ways in the hall. Malina lagged behind with Shelly.
"Do you think they'll stay?"
"I think Greg will try," Shelly answered. "But he won't be able to hold out for very long. He can't afford to. Not with his family relying on him."
Malina sighed and went to her mailbox to drag out the day's rosters.
"Maybe I'll see you at lunch?" Shelly invited.
"Yeah, I'll be around," Malina called over her shoulder as she left the office.
In class, Malina's mood was somber, though she tried to disguise it. With bad news hanging over them, the next few days would be a difficult adjustment. She hoped the worry wouldn't interfere with her teaching skills.
Sometime after second period, she spotted Rustin Kicklighter in the hallway with two other men. Between them, they held several rolls of what appeared to be blueprints. He didn't waste any time, she thought wryly.
Although curious, she was quick to get away from the scene. She didn't want to be caught watching him. In fact, after their near meeting, she was determined to avoid him whatever the cost.
But avoiding him was not to be. Curiously, she found him lingering in the hall outside her classroom when the lunch bell sounded. Malina graced him with a disdainful glance and stepped around him, starting down the hall as though she hadn't seen him. He caught up to her in several easy strides.
"Ms. Sheridan, I was hoping to have a chance to speak with you."
Stunned, she stopped and turned to stare at him. "Me?" It had never occurred to her that he'd been seeking her out.
"Yes, I'm afraid we got off to a bad start."
"To say the least."
"Have lunch with me."
"I don't have time." She started to whirl away, but he stopped her.
"Not a problem. I'll stay and have lunch with you here, in the cafeteria."
While she stood considering, Rustin's gaze wandered freely over her. She wore a smart, forest green skirt, just short enough to be inviting, and a cream colored blouse that perfectly complimented the natural blush in her cheeks. Her hair hung down her back in a single braid, and a hint of blush colored her lips. Not enough to be vulgar, but just enough to tempt a man to want to taste. She was the most fetching schoolteacher he'd ever seen. Seeing her like this was far more desirable than that godawful dress she'd been wearing last night.
"We couldn't possibly have anything to say to one another," Malina finally said.
"I disagree."
She hesitated. Damn him! He was just too charming, aloof, intense, and dangerous. Frankly, he scared her. Enough that she didn't want to be around him.
Malina didn't say yes or no. She just turned and began walking in the direction of the cafeteria. He followed. She hadn't exactly expected him to go away. After all, he hadn't become so powerful by being shy. But the fact that he didn't give up easily mystified her. Why had he sought her out? Her, of all people?
His presence beside her bordered on animalistic. He was savage, titillating. He walked with an easy gait, self-assured, proud, and damn disarming. Malina had a hard time ignoring the way he brushed against her every time he moved to avoid the flow of students in the hall.
"I notice you're the only female teacher here," he said.
Malina was surprised that he'd bothered to pay attention. "Yes," she answered simply.
"Because the students are so rough?"
"I think that's partially true."
"So, you're one of the few women willing to tackle the job."
It was a statement rather than a question, like most everything else he said.
"Having a female teacher seems to make a difference for some of the girls. I strongly feel I'm the only reason Jenny has remained," she explained.
"Jenny?" He gave her a quizzical glance.
She nodded. "One of my students. She came to the school last semester, at the same time I did. She never misses a class. But if she were dealing with only male teachers, I'm not so convinced she'd stay."
"You do have an impact on people," he observed.
Malina wasn't sure what he meant by that, and she wasn't certain she wanted to know. But she couldn't help asking, "How would you know?"
"I've seen you teach," he reminded her.
She blushed at the implication that he'd been lurking outside her classroom. How else would he know about her teaching techniques unless he'd been eavesdropping? There was only the one incident she recalled, where he'd slipped into her class, and that had been with John. And she hadn't exactly been into her curriculum yet.
In the cafeteria, he took a tray and followed her to the line that led through the buffet. He seemed very interested in the students milling about. Malina tried to watch him when his attention wasn't directed at her. He had such an intense way of looking at people, openly curious. She had no doubt that his eyes missed nothing.
"The student body has a higher ratio of boys to girls," he observed.
She couldn't help needling him. "Why the interest, Mr. Kicklighter, if you're going to tear the place down, anyway? Do you make it a practice of getting to know the people you hurt?"
She inched forward in line and started to pile a plate with food, but she was barely aware of what she put on her tray. Her real attention remained on the man beside her.
Kicklighter's hands had gone idle at the brazen accusation in her words. Malina paused and glanced at him. He was looking at her with an odd expression on his face. For a moment, she could have sworn that the idea of hurting anyone disturbed him.
"Am I hurting you, Malina?" he asked, so softly that she had to strain to hear.
She didn't say anything, just turned her back and reached for a glass of iced tea. She didn't even wait for him. She just crossed the room and found a remote table, away from the others.
"I'm not out to hurt anyone. I'm just making a business deal."
He said it so close to her ear that it stunned her. She hadn't realized he'd caught up so quickly.
Malina sat down and tried not to notice every damn, unnerving thing about him as he took the seat opposite her. Making a show of ignoring him, she shook some salt onto her food.
Rustin watched for a time, then gently reached out and took the shaker from her. "That's more salt than any human can stand."
She stared at him, momentarily confused, then looked down at her plate and was appalled at the snowcap of salt blanketing her lunch. She'd inadvertently rendered the food inedible. With a little grimace of disgust, she pushed the tray away.