Falcon (Trinity Academy 1)

Sucking it up, I step inside the suite and then blink at all the luxury. Damn, his room makes mine look like the maid’s quarters.

I feel grossly underdressed as I slowly walk to where Falcon is sitting on a couch.

“I’m signing the damn thing now. If it’s so urgent you should’ve brought it over yourself,” he snaps, and it’s only then I see that he’s on the phone.

With a dark glare, Falcon holds his hand out to me. I begin to put the envelope in his hand when he pulls back and pinching the bridge of his nose, growls, “Open the damn envelope and hand me the document.”

I’ve never seen him so cold and angry. Normally where I would tell him to go to hell, I decide to play it safe and bite my tongue. Removing the sheet of paper from the envelope, I give it to him.

While he reads it, I take the opportunity to look out the huge windows at the gorgeous view outside.

“Julian.” Falcon’s voice is filled with ice, and it makes a shiver race over my body. “Over my dead body will I sign this.”

I slowly begin to inch toward the door, not sure I should be overhearing this conversation.

I don’t know what Julian says, but Falcon darts up off the couch. “Well, then you will just have to get used to seeing me at future board meetings because hell will freeze over before I give you power of attorney over my shares.” Letting out an angry growl, he throws his phone in my direction. The thing flies by me like a heat-seeking missile then shatters as it crashes into the wall.

Having the crap scared out of me, I stare at Falcon before I finally manage to look to where the pieces of the phone lie on the floor.

Falcon takes a couple of deep breaths, and as he looks at me, realization washes over his face. “Shit, I’m sorry, Layla.”

There’s a time and place for everything, and my gut tells me now is not the time to start a fight with Falcon. He apologized, and it’s clear he’s stressed out.

“I’m going to go if you don’t need anything else,” I say, my voice tight from all the tension in the room. I take a step closer to the door, and for a moment it looks like Falcon wants to say something else, but instead, he just nods.

Rushing out of the room, I place my hand over my thumping heart. “I wonder what that was about,” I whisper as I step into the elevator.It’s been two days since the almost kiss, and a day since I was almost hit by Falcon’s phone, and I have to admit, I’m feeling stressed out by it all.

It doesn’t take much effort to avoid Falcon, and I think the reason for it is because he’s avoiding me as well. For some weird reason the thought of Falcon avoiding me sucks.

Feeling uneasy because of everything that’s happened the past couple of days, I decide to put on my sneakers and go for a jog. Jogging always helps me find my balance again.

Dressed in my running gear, I head towards the trail, which starts behind the restaurant on campus. I haven’t had much time to explore yet, and as my feet steadily thump over a wooden bridge, a smile begins to form around my lips. All the trees and bushes bathe the trail in a deep green, which makes the air feel fresher.

I make my way up the trail until I reach a look-out point with a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape. Taking a moment to stretch, I drink in the sight before me.

This is what I needed. I’m going to make this a part of my daily routine from now on.

Being mesmerized by nature, I think back to the conversation I overheard yesterday. Falcon must be under a lot of pressure. Until I saw that side to him, I always thought he was just another one of the spoiled students, but board meetings? Power of attorney?

I’m pretty sure Julian is his older brother. Mom mentioned the name before. It didn’t sound like there was any love between them.

Sadness creeps into my heart for Falcon.

What kind of life does he really live?

Coming to this school, all I saw was the wealth the other students were born into.

Yeah, you might have judged them all a little too harshly.

Might have? A little?

I shake my head lightly, disappointed in myself.

Dad always said money is the root of all evil, and it’s only now that I’m beginning to understand the true meaning of those words. These students don’t have the freedom I have. They have to act a certain way that’s acceptable to the standards of their wealth bracket.

It’s really sad. What’s the use of having so much money if you can’t enjoy life? Letting out a sigh, I make a resolution to judge less and to understand more.