Page 21 of Secrets and Lies
He grins conspiratorially. “Yup, and this is where it gets really interesting. Apparently they’ve spent the last five days going to different guys in the house and asking if they want to accept their nominations.”
I wait for him to tell me the interesting part. Confirming that someone actuallywantsto run if they’re nominated is a normal part of the process. All four of us were asked if we accepted ours a week ago when the nominations were supposed to have closed.
“I know that look.” He tosses me one of his trademark smirks. “But don’t you fret, I saved the good stuff for last. Here’s the part that will really bend your noodle.” He pauses for what I assume is dramatic effect. “None of the guys they talked to were actually nominated. They were legit going to fake the results if they managed to get those guys to say yes to their bogus nominations, but no one would take the bait, so they had to close the nominations and continue the process.”
“Seriously?”
Fabricating nominations and tampering with election results is an insane thing to do, and it’s way more serious than changing the nomination timeline. That kind of shit will get youexcommunicated, and depending on your motives or how much damage you’ve done to the frat, your entire family line could be joining you.
Someone would have to be either desperate or stupid to even attempt something like that.
With our leadership, it’s definitely the second one.
Our four current leaders went into their positions with the mentality that it’s them versus the rest of us, so nearly everything they do and all the decisions and changes they’ve made are for their benefit, and no one else’s.
This isn’t exactly surprising considering they’ve been doing shady shit for years, but because of the power and influence their fathers have with the alumni, they’ve never had to deal with any pushback or consequences for their many screwups and scandals.
The four of us have always been involved with frat business, and we’ve all worked with the leadership teams in some capacity since we were freshmen, but this year we made sure to get top-level positions so we can monitor things from the inside.
At least we’re not the only ones who see their incompetence, and I know we’re not the only ones in the house who don’t trust them.
There’s a reason Liam tells me about whatever he finds before he hands the information over to the leadership.
“Yup,” Hazen says. “I heard it loud and clear.”
“Why would they try to add people to the race?” I ask, trying to piece all this new information together. “Were they trying to get specific guys in place for strategic reasons?”
“Doubtful. It sounded like they were going to the guys they felt would be the most likely to say yes. Guys whose fathers or brothers were leaders, keeners, and other tryhards. “
“But why?” I ask. “Why do any of this?”
He grins. “Because there were only four nominations, and as per the rules, they now have to call off the elections and name us the winners.”
I laugh and settle back against the couch cushions. I wasn’t expecting that answer.
There are usually at least a few people running for each of the four leadership chairs. Some put their own names forward, and others get nominated by someone in the house, but there’s always multiple candidates for each position.
As far as I know, this would be the first time in the house’s history there haven’t been enough nominees for an election.
Being in the house leadership is a lot of work and responsibility, but it also comes with a ton of perks, like direct access to all the house and Keepers' secrets and a lifetime position of power within the alumni.
Those are the kinds of opportunities that guys will spend their entire lives trying to get, and the fact that no one even bothered to run against us says something.
All of our grandfathers and fathers were leaders, and now, as the first sons, it’s our turn.
And it seems the entire house is okay with that.
“Have you told the others?” I ask.
“Not yet. I’m pretty sure Rath is in the gym right now. I’ll tell him when he stops ignoring his phone. And I’ll text my dumbass brother to come see me when he gets back from whatever bridge he fell asleep under and fill him in then.” He scrubs his hand through his hair again, messing it up even more. “Thanks for being so boring and predictable that you were in the first place I looked so I didn’t have to waste my time tracking you down.”
“Always glad to be of service,” I say dryly.
“Are you going to talk to your dad about any of this?” he asks, his expression shifting from amused to serious.
“I’m sure he’ll call with the news soon enough. He’ll know before they tell us.”
“Yeah, same with my old man.” He makes a face. “I hope to fuck he calls Connor first because I’m too hungover to deal with him right now.”
