Baited by Love novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Play It

"Sit down, Miss Kincaid," Preston's father said again, and this time the microphone on the platform carried it.

Lorelei did not sit.

"Sir," she said, with a catch in her voice, "I only wanted to protect the school."

"I'm sure you did."

He stood, buttoned his coat, and walked down from the family box to the lectern, where I was still standing with my knees shaking.

He took the microphone from its stand.

"Mr. Ashdown," he said. "Whenever you're ready."

Lars came up the center aisle with a small silver drive in his hand.

The dean's assistant, a pale young man with a lanyard, took it from him.

He plugged it into the sound desk at the side of the stage.

"Miss Kincaid has told me that a chemist with a crush spliced something together," said Preston's father to the hall.

He looked out over it.

"I've invited you all to judge."

He nodded.

There was a rustle through the speakers, and a stairwell echo, and then Preston's voice, lazy and clear.

"My father likes her. Keep it that way until Founders' Day."

Two hundred people turned their heads toward Preston.

He stood by the wall with his arms hanging.

Then Lorelei's voice came out of the ceiling, light and low.

"He'll like her until she's the problem. I'll make her the problem."

The hall made one long sound.

"I have her read my toast," Lorelei's voice went on.

"After that, nothing she says about you will ever sound like anything but sour grapes."

The recording ended.

For a moment nobody spoke at all.

"That's edited," said Lorelei, much too quickly. "It's a clip. Anyone can make a clip."

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