“So, there’s no expectation of sexual obligations?” I asked,just to be clear.
Alexander’s blue eyes were like lasers. “That is actuallyagainstthe contract between sponsor and supporter, Ms. Madden,” he said. “It is forbidden for a member to get personally involved with his chosen supporter. The rule was implemented back in the eighties when such a relationship caused significant issues within the initiating class of that time.”
“So, what you’re saying is that…we’re just to help them out if they need us?” Laney asked, finally joining in on the questioning.
“Exactly, Ms. Spinner.”
“And if…a relationship does occur?” Laney asked, and it had me wondering if she had something going on with August Remington already. It also made me realize that, if I agreed to be a part of this madness, getting involved with Stone was off-limits.
“The member and his supporter will be stripped of everything they’ve worked for so far,” Alexander answered harshly. “The only exception is marriage.”
“So, if they get married, it’ll be okay?” Laney asked, and I was becoming more and more convinced she had a thing for August.
“Yes, Ms. Spinner,” he answered. “However, the intention needs to be declared before the contracts are to be signed. And if that’s the case, the couple need to marry within a month of the declaration.”Wow.“A few have declared without the intention of ever seeing it through just so they could engage in a personal relationship. Examples were made of those few, and that is no longer an issue.”
“So, wehelp them for a year, and then what?” Alexis asked. “What’s in it for us?”
Alexander turned his attentions towards Alexis. “You wish to go into broadcasting, am I correct, Ms. Wyatt?”
“Uh…yes,” she muttered, clearly taken aback by the possibility of just how much was known about us.
“Well, in exchange for successfully helping Mr. Harrington reach his full potential this year, upon graduation, you will intern at whichever network of your choosing. From there whichever anchor spot you want will be yours.” There was more than one audible gasp that could be heard, but he’d essentially just told us that all our dreams would come true if we agreed to do this. The thought was enough to knock the wind from your lungs.
Thesilence was loud until Kincaid spoke up. “What’s the catch?”
“Catch?”
“Oh, c’mon,” she huffed. “Our dreams in exchange for some babysitting? I don’t buy it.” I looked over as she shook her head. “There’s a catch. There’s no way there isn’t.”
“It’s not a catch, Ms. Black, so much as a…condition,” he replied, playing semantics with her.
“Which is?”
“There is an obligational period that ends when you reach the age of thirty,” he said. “After graduation, the men behind you will be spending the following years growing their empires and becoming men worthy of The Order. By the time they reach the age of thirty, their success should be already cemented.”
“So, what’s the obligation?” Jennifer asked.
“You wish to becomea university professor, correct?” Jennifer nodded, surprised just as Alexis had been. “Let us say that Mr. Carmichael needs a publication validated by a reliable source for…whatever reason.” Alexander grinned. “Mr. Carmichael would then call upon you to validate that publication, or whatever.”
“So, we’ll be just granting favors for the next eight years?” Alexis asked incredulously.
“Not at all,” Alexanderreplied. “It’s a one-time-only request and payment. Any other favors asked after that are between you and your sponsor and are optional.”
“For all fiveguys?” I asked. It was one thing to owe Stone something, but all five guys? That was too much.
Alexander shook his head. “No, Ms. Madden,” he answered. “You would be beholden to Mr. Lexington only.”
“And if we refuse tohonor the favor later?” I already knew the answer, but I wanted him to say it.
The woman who’d been standing on stage with the other two gentlemen walked over to the table and grabbed the files that had been stacked on top. She walked over and handed them to Alexander. He, in turn, handed us each one of the files, and I didn’t have to open mine to know what was in it. Lifting the cover, I saw an almost exact image of the bullshit Stone had texted me yesterday. Everyone, save Kincaid, started rifling through the papers in their folders, but I didn’t bother. I didn’t need to.
“If you refuse to abide by the contract you will be signing later tonight, and deny your sponsor his request, The Order will ruin everything you’ve worked for and our wrath extends to that of your family and friends,” Alexander explained. “After all, it’s the height of bad manners not to honor your word after you’ve been given your life’s dream, don’t you think?”
“It’s not that cut and dry, though, is it,” I countered. “IfStone calls me and asks me to rob a bank because he’s short on capital for his new venture, am I just supposed to walk into a bank and explain how I owe this guy from college a favor and could they,please,just hand over their money?” I shook my head. “What good is having my dream handed to me if it can be taken away in a blink of an eye later on?”
“You’renot sacrificial lambs, Ms. Madden,” Alexander replied. “You might be called upon to do something less than ethical, but hardly illegal.”
“But you can’tguarantee that won’t be asked of us, though, can you?” Kincaid asked.