Lessons in Corruption (The Fallen Men 1)

Still, pretending to be diligent was better than being drawn into teacher gossip about the new kid. Even after a full semester of teaching, I was surprised by how much teacher culture mirrored teenage culture in the hallowed halls of EBA. When I’d been happily married, my life had revolved around William, so I hadn’t noticed as much but now that I was single, the dramatic pull was nearly inexorable.

“What if he brings a gun to school?” Tammy asked.

“It’ll be drugs,” Willow said. “Just you wait. Before we know it, the academy will just be a front for drug running.”

“Don’t be an idiot, Pillow,” Rainbow Lee, a fellow teacher, said as she came into the lounge and walked past the two gossips. “If everyone judged books by their covers, there is no way you would be allowed to teach people. You look like a slutty Malibu Barbie.”

I hid my snort behind my hand as Rainbow continued over to where I usually sat and curled up on the banquette by the bookcases. She winked as she sat down on the couch across from me, ignoring the sputtering noises Willow made as she tried to think of a comeback.

“You really shouldn’t call her Pillow,” I chided her with a friendly smile, even though Rainbow had made overtures at friendship with me before and I had gently rebuffed her.

William didn’t like to socialize unless it was necessary to do so at one of his firm’s functions, so I’d stopped making friends a long time ago.

I was a new woman though, I had time for friends, especially ones as sassy as Rainbow Lee.

She shrugged her bony shoulders. “Those fake boobs are enormous. She clearly wants attention drawn to them so I don’t see the problem.”

A rough throat clearing over my shoulder caught my attention, pulling my gaze from Rainbow to a fairly attractive brunet man with a beautifully groomed beard and thick-rimmed black glasses. He wore a brightly colored plaid shirt beneath his tweed blazer with a matching kerchief tucked in his front pocket. I recognized him from the halls but I’d never spoken to him before. He reminded me of a younger William; obsessed with his looks and his own charms.

My lips pursed before I could help it.

“Hello,” he said with a gracious smile, as if his attention was something I should be grateful for.

My hackles rose but a lifetime of manners and etiquette prompted me to say, “Hello,” instead of ignoring him like I wanted to.

He waited a beat for me to elaborate and when I didn’t, his grin widened. “You’re the new IB English and History teacher, Cressida Irons.”

“I am, but I’ve been here for six months now. You’re a bit tardy with your introduction,” I pointed out helpfully.

He laughed and I got the feeling that he thought we were flirting.

“Mitch Warren,” he introduced himself anyway, sitting down on the edge of the little coffee table in front of me. “IB Biology and freshman science. It’s nice to have some fresh blood infused into this place.”

I didn’t really know what to say, so I didn’t say anything.

I shouldn’t have worried because he was undeterred. “You should come out with us tonight. The staff always gets a drink at McClellan’s on Wednesdays to make hump day a little easier. I could give you a ride if you need one?”

He was being sweet and considerate. It wasn’t his fault that I was more than shy, a little scared and definitely hopeless. So, I smiled back at him, a small smile because I’d forgotten how to give a genuine one.

“I have a car but a drink sounds lovely. What time should I be there?”

He blinked at me for a moment before rolling back his shoulders and beaming at me. I had to admit, he had a very pretty smile.

“Six o’clock too early? We try not to stay out too long with school and all.”

“Makes sense. I’ll see you then.” I smiled before pointedly turning back to my book.

He waited a moment, his eyes hot against my face, before he moved away. I sighed a quiet breath of relief.

“I know, he’s hot but a serious pain in the ass,” Rainbow warned me even though her eyes were dancing with amusement.

I closed my book again to smile at her. “I’m just trying to be more social. Trust me, I’m not looking for a new romance.”

“Hey, sprite,” Rainbow called to someone over my shoulder.

I looked up to see a diminutive woman with short, spiky black hair and delicate features flop down in the chair next to me as if she weighed a ton, when she couldn’t have been more than a hundred pounds soaking wet.

Tayline Brooks frowned. “Don’t call me that, it makes me feel silly.”

“Maybe next time don’t flounce into the room then,” Rainbow shot back.

Tayline stuck her tongue out and I laughed at them.