Jesus Freaks: The Prodigal (Jesus Freaks #2)(27)

A criminal grin spreads through his overstuffed cheeks. “You’re a threat, Miss Sawyer.”

“Excuse me?” I snap, standing with my hands clenched into fists at my sides.

Relax them.

“You, your father, the boy on the football team, and a hundred other students are perceived as threats to the university by some faculty and students. Being threatened can lead people to do all kinds of things they wouldn’t otherwise do.” Dean Jackass moves back to his desk, standing behind it and leaving us at a face-off across his gratuitously wide workspace.

What does Matt have to do with this, other than his association with me?

“Before you knew who my father was, you saw my application to this university, Dean Baker. You didn’t have to admit me if you thought I was a threat.”

He clicks his tongue and looks me straight in the eyes. “It wasn’t my call to make. I’m the Dean of Students. Whichever students they allow in here. I’m not on the Admissions Committee.”

“I thought Christians weren’t supposed to feel threatened,” I challenge.

One of his eyes pinches at the side, like a sudden tic he’s developed. “False prophets have all kinds of ways to break through the armor of undisciplined disciples.”

“Are you suggesting my father is a false prophet?” I can’t believe the direction that this meeting has gone. And I hate that I can’t believe it. Immediate retrospect informs me that six months ago, reading a report that highlighted a meeting like this wouldn’t have shocked me at all.

Dean Baker takes his seat, seemingly out of breath. The room is humid from his exertion around the room. “I would never speak poorly about a member of the faculty.” Didn’t you just … “But what I will tell you, Miss Sawyer, is that you better get yourself in line with the principles of this university. The national spotlight surrounding your paternity won’t die down anytime soon.”

Suddenly, it’s clear. An open door. I can make my move. He has no idea who he’s dealing with. He thinks I’m just some liberal threat against his tenderhearted student body? Well, I was raised by someone who spent a significant portion of her life on Capitol Hill.

The jugular.

“Interesting you should mention that.” I lean forward and place my hands square on his desk, so we’re eye to eye, even if we are a couple feet apart. “Here I was, nervous that when the Today Show does their in-depth interview with Roland and I in a couple of weeks I wouldn’t have anything to talk about. But, this conversation has been very enlightening.”

Got him.

The red in his face nearly clouds the whites of his eyes and a fresh sheen of sweat blankets his forehead. “Are you threatening me, young lady?”

“Are you threatening me, Dean Baker?” I counter, begging God to keep my nerves steeled. “After all, the nation knows that one of your students was disgustingly blasphemous. Not only against another student, but against one of the most-liked Evangelical pastors in the history of the United States.”

It’s the first time that I’ve verbalized the truth about Roland’s popularity. Everyone freaking knows him. And, those who didn’t before our interview this past Monday do now. His name has spent half the week trending on twitter and Google searches of him have increased something ridiculous like a thousand percent. This is big, and Dean Hershel Baker knows it. What I want to know, then, is why is he doing this. Why is this alleged man of God attempting to intimidate a student—the daughter of the most popular Evangelical pastor—in the privacy of his office?

I sit, maintaining eye contact with him as I cross my legs and fold my hands on my lap.

“You’re correct in asserting the attractive nature of Pastor Abbot,” Dean Baker finally speaks. “And, I think you would be wise not to ruin it for him. He’s skating over patches of thin ice as it is.”

My throat constricts and I desperately want to throw something at this … this …

Breathe, Kennedy.

“What do I have to do with his thin ice?” It’s of no surprise that Dean Baker brings up the tenuous relationship Roland has with CU. Some love him, some hate him, and those on the fence give the illusion that they’re in the latter camp. My guess is to avoid ticking off the likes of the pompous ass in front of me.

Watch your mouth.

The dean leans forward, crossing his arms on his desk. “After his little prayer for you on the Today Show? About God being in charge of your life? That puts your actions as a direct reflection of him. I’d be careful if I were you, Dear.”

Little prayer?

I’m not dealing with a man of God at all.

I’m dealing with a tyrannical coward who is afraid of losing his pull at Carter University as the faculty and staff slowly comes to realize that their old ways are no longer relevant to the student body or the world as a whole. As the school—with Roland’s input—moves to focus more on Jesus’ message of love, the greedy, selfish desires of men like Hershel Baker are at stake.

Yes, I threatened him, but I can go no further. If there’s one thing my mom’s time in policy has taught me: you’ve got to know the size of the giants your dealing with, and the strength of their friends.

“I understand,” I concede confidently, nodding as I uncross my legs. “I’ll do my best, Dean Baker. Thank you for your time.” Extending my hand across the desk, I cringe internally when his warm sausage fingers encase my hand.