“Fair enough. Colton, I’m not a great mother, I’ll admit that. But I’m not a bad person, and I’d never run out on Brynn like that.”
I sigh slowly. “Well, Geri, I’m glad you’re okay, and I’m sorry to hear about…” I whistle lowly. “Well, all the shit you’ve had to deal with. And I’m glad you’re free of Brynn’s father.”
“Yes, yes…” she trails off, and there’s a moment of silence before she clears her throat. “Colton, I’m actually calling for a specific reason. A request, you could see. Or maybe an offer. Either way, I think you’ll be interested in this.”
My brow furrows. “I’m listening.”
“Terry—that’s my new man, who I was leaving Clint for. Terry Desplaté…” she trials off like I should know who the hell this is, but I don’t.
“Well, anyways,” she barrels along. “He’s a bit of an entrepreneur, and one of his ventures is primary ownership of a private school in the south of France. Lycée Montange D’or?”
I frown. That I actually have heard of.
“That’s a fantastic school, Geri. I’ve heard a lot about them.”
“Ahh, well, wonderful. Have you ever been?”
“No—look, I’m sorry Geri, but what is it you wanted to ask—”
“They’re looking for a new headmaster.”
I blink, my pulse skipping. “Really.”
“Really,” she parrots back. “And listen, I was thinking it might be nice for Brynn to get out of the U.S. for a while… you know, get away from the media shit show when all of this stuff with her father goes public soon. So…”
She trials off, and I frown.
“What exactly are you saying, Geri?”
She laughs. “Colton, you’re a smart man, what does it sound like? I put your name through Terry for consideration, and as it happens, they love you.”
I blink, my jaw dropping.
Hold up… what?
“You’re serious?”
“Entirely, yes. Colton, they’re offering you a job at four times your current pay.”
I whirl, my head spinning.
“And if I’m happy in Southworth? At Winchester?”
She laughs quietly.
“Colton, I have my own people, and they’ve been keeping tabs on my stepdaughter.” She clears her throat. “Close tabs.”
My jaw clenches. Shit.
“Look, I’m not mad or anything,” she laughs. “No, the opposite. You’re a good man, and you’ve protected her from all of it—her father, those thugs he did business with. All of it.”
“What you said about Brynn getting out of the States for a while…”
“I think she should go to Lycée Montange D’or to finish out her senior year, along with you as its new headmaster. And this school is, shall we say, freer with students’ activities on campus? And curfews? And, shall we say, dating choices?”
My mind goes blank, and I blink.
“Geri, precisely what are you saying.”