Chapter 308

I struggled to maintain a cool head and thought of an appropriate joke to tell the class.

Amy was the one to tell jokes. She told me hundreds all through grade school. Why couldn’t I think of one now?

It didn’t matter if it was funny or not. Professor Barns would say it wasn’t as amusing as his, no matter what joke I told.

“Well, we’re waiting, Miss Wilson,” Professor Barns said.

I stood and faced him.

“Respectfully, Professor Barns, I’m not doing it,” I said. “I’m here to learn, not to tell jokes. I’m sure there are others in this room who feel the same way.”

There was a brief burst of applause that was quelled by Professor Barns shouting at me, “Sit down!”

I did, and he gave me a last glare before returning to his podium.

It was hard to concentrate for a while after the lecture began. Not all of the students were on my side. Many of them gave me cold stares and whispered behind their hands.

I was very uncomfortable throughout the lesson, and I doubted I’d ever be able to enjoy the class. But I took notes and did my best to pay attention.

Most of the day was okay …if I ignored the whispers and stares from a third of the student body. It made me wish Amy was attending classes with me at Frampton U even more. I never realized how much I relied on her to endure those miserable days.

My last class of the day was Ethics. After it was over, I went to Dr. Clark’s office and told her everything that happened that day.

From Cara getting fired because of me to Professor Barns’s ridiculous order that I stand up and tell a joke in class, I vented to her.

“You mustn’t blame yourself for the girl getting fired,” Dr. Clark said. “The university attempting to cover their bigotry is to blame, not you.”

“I still feel bad about it,” I said. “She worked two jobs and must have needed the money. Do you know how I can get her home address?”

“Don’t encourage the poor girl to file a lawsuit,” Dr. Clark advised. “The university will have fabricated documentation and witnesses as to her supposed poor work performance by now.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” I said. “Instead, I want to send her some money to tide her over until she finds another job.”

Dr. Clark opened her laptop. “That’s very kind of you, Daisy. Cara Locke’s file is still in the university system. She lives nearby with her mother and sister. I’ll send her information to your email.”

“Thanks,” I said and stood. “I should be going. My best friend is opening a new homeless shelter in Denhurst tonight. Victor and I are going to help the mayor with the ribbon-cutting ceremony.”

Dr. Clark gave me a warm smile. She was starting to feel like my favorite aunt. “That will be a well-spent Friday night.”

There were no notes on my car when I climbed into the Mercedes, and the drive home was uneventful.

I was pleased to find Victor napping in his bedroom. I closed the door softly and crept back into the living room with my laptop.

Dr. Clark’s email was in my inbox. I looked over the information about Cara, and anger at the university flashed through me again.

Cara lived with her widowed mother and young sister. She attended Denhurst College until her father died, and she had to work to help her family.

I wrote her address on an envelope and got my checkbook from my handbag.

I wrapped the fifty thousand dollar check inside a short note, telling Cara to let me know if there was anything else I could do for her and her family. I included my cell number.

Then I went downstairs and walked to the corner mailbox. I wanted Cara to have the check as soon as possible.

Victor was awake when I returned to the apartment. He was in the kitchen making coffee in a pair of boxer briefs that made me drool.

He saw the look in my eyes and smiled. “Amy expects us to be at the opening in an hour.”

“Okay, I’ll wait until we get home,” I said as I pulled off my shirt and unbuttoned my jeans. “I’ll be in the shower.”

“Tease,” Victor chuckled. “You know we don’t have time.”

“Not even for a quickie?” I called over my shoulder. I stripped off the rest of my clothes and climbed into the shower.

A second later, Victor stepped into the shower naked and pulled my wet body into his strong arms.

Our lovemaking was fast and passionate. He lifted me until I could wrap my legs around his waist. I cried out in ecstasy as his manhood filled me, and his warm mouth found my breasts.

His desire burned as hot as mine, and we soon climaxed together as the water sluiced over our skin. It was fast but intensely satisfying.

“Now, let’s get ready to go,” he said as he lowered me to my feet. “We’ll take our time and do this right when we get home.”

An hour later, Victor was parking the Lamborghini on Lycan Square. Victor was in black tie, while I wore one of my mother’s cocktail dresses.

It was a dark mauve silk with a halter neckline and lace overlay. The column skirt had a thigh-high slit. The dress made me feel beautiful and a little daring, yet I was modestly covered.

Plus, I loved Victor’s reaction when he first saw me in it. He always made me feel like the sexiest woman alive.

We gathered on the front steps with the rest of the guests and two news crews while the mayor gave a short speech, thanking Amy for the wonderful addition to the city.

Then he and Victor unveiled the sign over the front entrance, officially opening The Deirdre Brady Memorial Homeless Shelter and Employment Training Center.

We ignored the negative slogans on the protester’s signs and the low chanting of rich neighbors and other Alphas who didn’t want a homeless shelter in their part of the city.

I cringed when I heard two neighbors talking to a reporter about the shelter lowering their property values.

Lana, who was standing next to me, rolled her eyes. “It’s the classic cry that it's a good idea, just not in my neighborhood. Honestly, they have nothing to worry about.”

“They can do nothing about it except be a nuisance,” I whispered. “Amy has done everything necessary. She filed the correct paperwork and had all the needed permits weeks ago. They should have spoken up before now.”

Next was the charity dinner. Fifty paying guests paid five thousand dollars a plate for the first meal in the new dining hall.

Victor and I were among them. Everyone was pleased to discover Amy’s first clients, a family of five, would be eating with us.

“The children are such darlings,” Lana told the anxious parents. “I’d be glad to hold the baby while you eat.” Lana’s kind nature always made me glad she was going to be my mother-in-law.

I was happy to see the family was eating the same menu as the paying guests. Benson had the caterers prepare a feast worthy of the pricey donation.

We were enjoying the prime rib with potato soufflés and grilled vegetables when there was a crash and the tinkling of broken glass.

The adults froze, and the children screamed in terror. The frightened mother reclaimed the baby from Lana’s lap and hid behind her husband.

“What happened?” I asked Victor.

He got to his feet and walked to the front window. He then bent over and picked up something heavy from the floor.

“Some coward tossed a brick through the window,” he announced.

“Why would anyone do such a terrible thing?” Amy asked. She seemed dazed by the sudden violence. But then she got mad.

“Who do they think they are to destroy my property?” she raged. “Daisy, call the police. I want them arrested.”

Before I could get my phone from my purse, a rock crashed through the other window. It bounced off the table where Lana, Harry, the mayor, and his wife sat.

“I’m not putting up with this for another second!” Amy declared and headed for the front door.

“Amy, wait,” I said and went after her. “That crowd is growing dangerous. You’ll get hurt out there. Wait for the police to clear them out.”

“I don’t understand, Daisy,” she said. “Why would they want to stop me from helping people?”

I didn’t know the answer.

The dining hall was silent except for the frightened crying of the homeless couple’s children.

“They’re not getting away with this,” Amy insisted. “I’m going out there.”