Chapter 84. Underneath His Desk

June POV

I force a beam back at sweet perfect Vanessa as we walk side by side down the corridor. Her tray clinks softly, the wrong shade of brown swirling in Mr. Grande’s cup. My chest aches with the weight of what I almost did.

I could’ve let her crash and burn. I could’ve her serve him that sweetened garbage and watch his eyes sharpen like knivesthaut no—I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t be the villain.

Ugh.

I swallowed the devil on my shoulder and told her the right way, how dark he likes it. Jus like tar, and sin.

“You became the bigger person,” I whisper under my breath, tapping my chest with the back of my hand. “That’s right.”

Vanessa glances at me with that polite little smile, and guilt presses harder on my ribs. “Thank you again, Miss Alexander. I would have embarrassed myself if not for you.”

“Don’t mention it,” I mutter, plastering a nod on my face.

At the door to the hall, she pauses, turning back, gratitude spilling off