A/N: Thank you all for your patience! This has been an insane few months. Finding the drive to write this had felt impossible sometimes and I'm really sorry for that, especially as my muse keeps pulling me in other directions. I've been continuously sick for most of November to January, somehow managed to separate a joint in my shoulder in December and got my wisdom teeth out on Valentine's Day (and at my age, that's no fun). I know this isn't as long as some of my other chapters, and isn't as well edited as some, but I wanted to get it out there to you. Also, the next few scenes are going to be...interesting. You'll see why. Thank you all again for your unending support and patience. I love you all. Enjoy.
Chapter Thirty-One
I step up to the office. Catherine's mood seems to deflate as soon as she sees me. I smile. Subconsciously or not, I cannot help my reaction to her. It's a small distraction and an easier problem than my other major concerns in my life. Including the woman whose office is behind Catherine's desk.
"She's not in." Catherine snaps.
"My messages say different," I reply. "And I have an appointment." I step past the desk and up to the door. I knock quickly and hear a sharp 'enter' in response. I raise my eyebrows at Catherine and walk inside.
Jeanine is sitting behind her desk as expected. She looks up as I enter and puts down the tablet she was looking over. "What news?"
I try not to let any expression cross my face. She is not going to be pleased. "There has been...a complication."
Her eyebrow raises and she is silent until I continue. My throat is dry at the idea of having to explain to her what occurred. Best to air the wound quickly.
"The room is destroyed."
She inhales sharply and her eyes narrow. "How?"
"I do not know. Eric, the dauntless, I have been working with, informed me on site that those responsible have been caught and dealt with. He did not deem to explain more."
Jeanine snaps. "Idiots!" She stands up faster than I expected and I nearly flinch at the sound of her palms slamming on the desk. "Months of work! Undone!"
"I know," I nod, swallowing tightly. Jeanine stares at me and I can nearly imagine her mind working through the problem. I am only able to pray that she does not connect it to Eric or to me.
"If it-" She takes a deep breath, trying to maintain her control. Somehow she seems to succeed. "I want to know everything. I want all footage and evidence of these culprits as well as knowing exactly what was done in response. We will have to ensure it cannot be repeated. Arrange a meeting with Max and Eric. Everything is contingent on the Dauntless and their involvement." Jeanine steps away from the desk and closer to me. She appears to have calmed, but I have long learned that Jeanine holds on to everything and will strike when you least expect it. "Amelia, this is your duty. We need a new space in the compound that is more secure. I expect more of our people to be there and be involved. Do you understand? This must not happen again."
I hear the threat under her words. She will hold me responsible. I am not certain if she is aware of Eric's interest or not, but she is clear regardless. If this happens again, I will not survive it.
"I understand. I will do everything in my power to ensure proper measures are in place."
She is silent for a moment before she nods. "I am certain you will." I watch as Jeanine moves back to her desk. She sits back in her chair, all evidence of her anger gone, before speaking again. "In regards to Riley Givens, what is your report?"
In all the action of dealing with Eric, I had nearly forgotten about Riley. I feel myself straighten before I respond. "In all confidence ma'am, I intend to have him removed as an educator."
She peers at me over her glasses. "Your reasoning?"
"The man is clearly incapable of regulating his emotions to the benefit of the faction and our youth. As you are aware, I refused his proposal. There is too much that needs my attention at this time that I cannot pull away from to give any to him. He was less than pleased. Repeatedly has he demanded me to change my mind, as if I have not made an informed decision. He then informed my brother that he would be held back, not moving ahead with his peers of whom he is more than intellectually matched with, because of using a nickname for Abnegation. No others were informed to receive the same consequence despite how common the use is. As such, it is clear that his emotions are impairing his skill to lead our educators and our youth."
Jeanine doesn't speak. Her finger taps on the desk before she eventually nods. "Indeed, it is clear his emotions are gaining control over him. How intriguing that you have caused such a commotion in a man, would you not agree?"
I freeze at the comment. Somehow I manage to tilt my head and frown at her. "It is not my concern that a man cannot accept that my position and responsibility to you and our faction take precedence over his...desires."
Jeanine smiles and it is as sharp as glass. "Men are easy prey to their desires. That is why it is up to us, as women and as Erudite, to maintain that logic and intellect where they fail."
I nodded. "Of course." I did not expect her to agree so easily, but with all that I know of Jeanine, there is more that I do not. Perhaps she has dealt with similar things. To have anything in common with Jeanine is a terrifying thought.
"Get to work on those meetings. I expect you to find a space in Dauntless immediately and start setting it right this time. We have no time to lose. Inform Catherine about Givens reassignment. I will approve it. Go back to Dauntless and return with the information I require. Now."
I nod and leave quickly. None of those were easy tasks and at the moment they all felt...herculean. I start with the easiest.
I stop at Catherine's desk. She takes her time to finish typing what looks like a schedule meeting change. Once she finishes, she refuses to glance at me while she opens another window on her screen. I try not to roll my eyes. She is being obtuse on purpose.
"Jeanine has asked that I pass on a demand to you," I say clearly. She is less likely to ignore me if it is a task coming from Jeanine. "Now shall I pass it on to you or shall I go back inside and inform her you are refusing to do a basic task of your position?"
Her gaze snaps to me. "What is it?"
"Riley Givens is to be reassigned. It will need to be sent to Jeanine for approval."
"Are you reassigning him because he did not want a fiancé who had been...sullied by a brute?" She smirks as she asks.
"No," I smile back, hoping it looks anything close to that sharpness of Jeanine's. "I'm reassigning him because he has proven himself incapable of setting aside his emotions for the good of the faction. You should remember that."
I leave quickly before she can say anything in response. It's an easy warning considering Jeanine is already aware of Catherine's feelings towards me.
Second on the list to achieve is obtaining a new tablet. The man at the desk is surprised to see me again so soon, most people do not need to get new devices unless they break for a more mundane reason. Certainly not for hitting someone in the head with it...unless it was an experiment. My actions against Eric certainly were not intended to be.
The car ride back to the Dauntless compound is agonizingly slow and yet over in seconds. I do not want to be here. Everything has gotten worse since I first stepped foot on the ground leading in to it. My path keeps leading me back though and I am certain it is because Eric is controlling things to ensure that it does. Somehow I need him to promise that he will not break this room unless he plans to kill me. Whatever his plans, it will not go the way he thinks it will.
Jeanine holds the cards. He does not understand her or any of this situation like I do. He does not understand me the way he thinks he does. I am not certain if I do either anymore. I have already given up so much to get this far and I have to keep going. My survival is contingent on making it through this year intact.
Looking through the window to see Eric standing in the doorway, waiting for me with a smirk, does not fill me with any confidence that I will make it.
[tbc]
