Chapter 7
The oak-paneled boardroom of St. Jude Academy smelled of beeswax, old leather, and repressed anxiety. Sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows depicting the school’s founding patrons, casting multicolored patches across the long mahogany table. Headmaster Sterling sat at the head of the table, flanked by two members of the school board—wealthy donors whose expressions made it clear they considered this meeting an inconvenient waste of their morning. Clara Hayes sat straight-backed on one side of the table, wearing her black blazer, while Leo sat beside her, clutching a fresh, unblemished notebook. Across the table sat Arthur Vance himself, impeccably tailored in a charcoal suit, with Julian seated beside him, wearing an expression of practiced, untouchable innocence.
"We are here today to address the unfortunate incident in the courtyard and restore institutional harmony," Headmaster Sterling began, clearing his throat nervously as he shuffled a stack of papers. "The school board has reviewed the video footage and listened to preliminary statements. While certain behavioral infractions occurred, we must also examine overall student conduct, academic standing, and adherence to St. Jude’s code of conduct regarding extracurricular compliance." Arthur Vance raised a manicured hand, cutting the headmaster off mid-sentence with a polite, condescending smile. "Let’s dispense with the bureaucratic euphemisms, Sterling. The reality is simple: Mr. Hayes here gained admission through a discretionary diversity waiver. His presence has consistently caused friction among the student body, culminating in an avoidable physical altercation where my son was provoked."
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Clara stood up so abruptly that her chair scraped loudly against the parquet floor. "Provoked?" Clara’s voice cut through the solemn room like a surgical blade. "Your son violently tackled a defenseless boy to the pavement, destroyed his belongings, and publicly degraded him based on his socioeconomic status. That is not friction; that is battery." Arthur didn't even flinch. He turned his cold, calculating gaze toward Clara, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips. "Mrs. Hayes, emotional outbursts do not change contractual realities. St. Jude reserves the right to revoke any scholarship at a moment's notice for behavioral disruption. In fact, our financial auditors have noted certain discrepancies in your son’s attendance records that warrant immediate expulsion."
Leo felt his heart hammer against his ribs. He looked at his mother, expecting her to break under the immense pressure of the corporate titan and the corrupt school board. Instead, Clara reached into her briefcase and pulled out a certified copy of the original Hayes Bio-Tech partnership agreement, slamming it onto the mahogany table. The legal papers slid across the polished wood, stopping inches from Arthur Vance’s coffee cup. "You can expel my son from this corrupt institution, Arthur," Clara said, her voice ringing with absolute authority. "But the moment you do, I will file a federal motion to reopen the probate and patent fraud investigation of Thomas Hayes. Let’s see how your investors react when the truth about how Vance Global was built comes out in open court."
