Chapter 432. Abstaining

Maja

She stared unseeingly at the surface of the table. Maja had a job at the same school where her children were studying, the very same place where Melissa Lord was a Deputy Headteacher. Maja herself was a lowly primary school teacher. The job had been made available because James Schwartz had pulled a few strings although he had never said it. Maja knew that the man felt sorry for her but she tried to be cool and not reveal her crazy infatuation for him.

Melissa Lord was now watching Maja in that cool way she had, her head tilted just slightly to the side, green eyes narrowed a little. She was dressed immaculately, in a pale purple pantsuit and sneakers. A fashion statement alright, thought Maja enviously, and the woman had the grace to carry it off with aplomb. Maja absently noted a scarf around her neck, which had slipped to reveal a hickey…

***

Melissa Lord cleared her throat loudly. It was evening, and the kids could be heard making a