Chapter 3: A Life Plan

"Dean Wyatt, please!" I begged. "I-I can't get expelled, the Wrenfords believe in me. I can't let them down!"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what else to do with you, Ms. Watson."

"There's lots to do with me. Um, community service, I can tutor, um do charity."

"You're already charity yourself." Analeigh laughed. 

"If I wasn't trying to reverse this expulsion and didn't have these handcuffs on I'd slap the hell out of you again you pretentious bi-"

"Ms. Watson this is not helping your case!" Dean Wyatt pointed out.

"So what will?"

"I don't know, I'll have to think. I mean you've had an eventful day here."

"Dean Wyatt what about me? This is my first time getting in trouble." Analeigh spoke up.

"Shut up, he's thinking about how not to expel me." I snapped. 

"Well, Ms. Frost you too were fighting, so I'm inclined to expel you too."

"I can't be expelled, I'm on your list Dean Wyatt!" She cried.  

Dean Wyatt was taken aback by her tears. "Um, Ms. Frost, there's no need to cry."

"I'm sorry, but I am not someone who gets expelled! I'm someone who is supposed to graduate college with honors and then get a job immediately after graduation! Then I'll work my way up to CEO the way I should!"

"I also would like to do that," I said. "But with less tears."

Dean Wyatt's phone rang. "Yes, Pamela? Oh, please tell him to come in."

A moment later the door opened and a young man entered in a suit.

He was incredibly hot. He was a few years older than us with brown hair, intense grey eyes, and a charming smile. He was better looking than the average guy I would come across in the business world.

"Hello, Mr. Wrenford." Dean Wyatt stood up and shook his hand.

Analeigh quickly wiped her face. "Wrenford? Oh my gosh you're Alistair and Belinda Wrenford's son."

"That's me. Grayson Wrenford."

"Analeigh Frost." She smiled. "I'll be graduating in spring."

"Good for you."

"What do I owe this pleasure, Mr. Wrenford?" Dean Wyatt asked. 

"Just checking on our scholarship recipient." He stated. "Would you care to explain what's going on, Ms. Watson?"

"I believe I'm getting expelled." I declared.

He frowned. "Dean Wyatt, isn't there something else that can be done? Seeing Ms. Watson graduate is something my parents are willing to do anything to see."

"Oh, of course. I wasn't going to expel her anyways."

Kiss ass.

"But she and Ms. Frost will be put on the planning committee for the Alumni Ball in December."

"Excuse me? Just expel me!" I exclaimed. 

Grayson raised his eyebrows. "Ms. Watson will do it. And my parents have asked that I oversee the planning. I will watch her closely."

"Well, then I believe the problem is solved!" Dean Wyatt clapped. "Ms. Frost?"

"Of course I'll do it." She said. 

"Great, well then you're free to go."

Analeigh bolted up and flew out the door. 

I lifted my hands. "Can I get these off please."

"I can help with that," Grayson offered. 

***

Grayson led me through the building to his office in the back.

"Know a lot about handcuffs, do you?" I asked. 

"Do you always have to talk?" He questioned. 

"Yes. I don't like silence, it makes me uncomfortable."

"I should know that by now."

"Yes, you should."

We entered his office and he closed and locked the door.

I sat down on his desk. He looked displeased. "Problem?" I asked innocently.

He shook his head as he walked towards me. "You're obnoxious, you know that right?"

"Isn't that what you like about me?"

Grayson put his hands on either side of me on the desk. "One of the many things."

He kissed me hard. His arms wrapped around me tightly and he pulled me towards him. I wanted to wrap my arms around him too, but they were not in the best position for that.

Obviously I knew Grayson quite well. I have since I was eighteen. The Wrenfords sent Grayson after me to make sure that I wasn't doing anything that would bring bad press to them.

At first I wasn't and then I got into some bad stuff. Grayson helped me get out of it, got me into rehab quietly and pretty much kept me clean for the last three years. 

I guess something sparked over drug tests and weekly check ins. We've had this thing going for almost two years. I didn't know what kind of future we had. 

His parents were quite invested in my future, but I didn't know how they would feel about me marrying Grayson or something. 

"You didn't really think I'd let you be expelled, did you?" He whispered. 

"I mean I hoped you wouldn't. As always you came through for me, babe."

"And I always will. Me and my parents will always protect you." He kissed me again. 

"Can you actually get these handcuffs off of me or did you just wanna make out with me?"

"Both," he grinned as he released me. "I can assume you not answering my texts had to do with getting in trouble?"

He rummaged through his drawers and got out a paperclip. 

"You'd be right." I lied.

Within minutes, the handcuffs were off.

I rubbed my wrists. "Thanks babe,"

"Why were you handcuffed by the way?" Grayson questioned. 

"Don't you know? I thought you kept tabs on me."

He rolled his eyes. "I wish you would be more straightforward."

I kissed him. "That's no fun,"

"So um, I talked to my parents,"

"About what?"

"Us."

My eyes widened. "What about us exactly Gray?"

"That we're seeing each other," he smiled.

"Oh they're taking away my scholarship! Wh-what am I going to do? I'm months from graduation. Why would you do this?"

"Scar, calm down baby. They're not upset. They're happy! They think you're perfect for the company."

"What company?"

"Stop being silly. The software company. WrenWorks. They want you to have a job right when you graduate. They think you could easily be COO to my CEO in ten years tops!"

"Are you serious?" I asked.

Grayson laughed before kissing me. "Of course I am. You and I can have a real future, Scarlett. That’s what you want right?"

"I mean...we're not even actually dating."

"Well that's because you're still in college and you're young. I agreed to keep this more casual to make you happy. But I don't see anyone else. Other girls don't interest me. I only want you. When you graduated, I always figured we'd get more serious. I want to marry you."

"Oh," I whispered. "I guess I never thought you were that serious about me."

"I am, babe." He touched my face softly. "I love you Scarlett. And I know we would be really good together. My parents think so too. How amazing is that?"

"Pretty amazing."

"I'll let you see other guys up until graduation. Then we're exclusive. We'll date awhile longer, I'll ask you to marry me, you'll say yes and then we start our lives." Grayson explained. 

"Okay," I whispered.

"Hey, I'm not trying to tell you what to do. But if you marry me you will always be taken care of. I've taken care of you well the last four years right?"

I nodded. "Yeah you have,"

"And I'll continue to do so," Grayson kissed me. "Just don't fall in love with anyone else. You're mine."

"You're a jealous little rich boy,"

"I just always get what I want. And I want you, Scarlett. Forever. So I will have you."

"There's a more romantic way to say that you know?" I pointed out. 

"I'll save real romance for when we're exclusive."

My phone buzzed and I checked it. It was a text from Lee.

Need help with Marketing. My room in ten?

I typed back a yes.

"Who is that?" Grayson asked. 

"Lee Winsdor."

"I meant to talk to you about him. I've heard you've been to his room a lot. It's nothing serious right?"

I really hated how severely he kept tabs on me. He claimed his parents wanted him to, but no way they were interested in whose bed I slept in.

"You don't have to worry about Lee." I rolled my eyes. "I'm not even sleeping with him. I'm sleeping with his roommate Wesley. But I have no intention of falling in love with either of them."

"Good. I don't want to have to fight for you, but I will. And I'll win." Grayson said seriously. 

"I should go," I slid off the desk. "Got Marketing homework."

"Come to my place tonight. I'll send the car for you."

Sometimes I despised how Grayson would tell me to do things as opposed to asking me.

"Okay, see you then." I kissed him hard before exiting the office.

As I walked to Lee's room I thought about the fact that my life had pretty much been planned out.

So why didn't I feel secure?