She Fell for the College Janitor Everyone Looked Down On
Chapter 5
The invitation arrived two days later.
It was written on thick cream paper.
A formal dinner at the Whitmore estate.
Samuel nearly refused.
Eleanor insisted.
“My father wants to meet you.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It might be.”
Samuel smiled.
But the smile disappeared when he entered the dining room.
Eleanor’s father sat at the head of the table.
Beside him were Caldwell’s father and two college trustees.
Samuel understood immediately.
This wasn’t dinner.
It was judgment.
Eleanor sat beside him.
Her father studied Samuel.
“So you’re Reed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You work at Hawthorne.”
“Yes.”
“As a caretaker.”
“Yes.”
Caldwell’s father laughed.
“A noble profession.”
Samuel ignored him.
Eleanor’s father leaned forward.
“What exactly do you want from my daughter?”
Samuel looked at Eleanor.
“Nothing.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t expect anything from you.”
The room became silent.
Eleanor nearly smiled.
Her father did not.
“You are beneath her.”
Samuel stood.
“Then perhaps you should ask your daughter why she continues choosing my company.”
Eleanor’s father slammed his hand against the table.
“You will not speak to me like that.”
Samuel remained calm.
“I apologize.”
He looked at Eleanor.
“I should go.”
She stood.
“I’ll walk with you.”
Her father shouted her name.
She stopped.
Then continued.
Outside, Samuel exhaled.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
“Done what?”
“Chosen me publicly.”
Eleanor turned.
“I wasn’t choosing between you and my father.”
Samuel looked confused.
“I was choosing what I believed was right.”
She stepped closer.
“You keep thinking you have to apologize for existing.”
He said nothing.
“I don’t want you to.”
Samuel’s eyes softened.
“Eleanor…”
“I know.”
“What?”
“That you are hiding something.”
He looked away.
She touched his sleeve.
“You don’t have to tell me tonight.”
Samuel swallowed.
Then said quietly:
“My father taught at Hawthorne.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened.
“Professor Nathaniel Reed?”
Samuel nodded.
She remembered the name.
Everyone did.
“What happened?”
“He accused the trustees of corruption.”
“And?”
“They destroyed him.”
Eleanor’s expression changed.
Now she understood why Samuel had remained silent.
And why her father’s reaction had been so immediate.
Her family was connected to the men who had ruined his.
She whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Samuel looked at her.
“You didn’t do it.”
“No.”
“But my family did.”
