Chapter 9: The Boardroom Doors
Karen didn't move her hands from the desk, but her eyes darted past Arthur to the young boy standing nervously behind him. "And the student? Since when do you bring minors into executive security hearings?"
"Since the student became the primary exhibit," Arthur said, stepping forward and placing his hand firmly on the corner of the mahogany desk, blocking her reach to the silent alarm. "Don't press it, Karen. The feed from this floor is already being mirrored to the state department of education."
Karen's face paled slightly, though she maintained her rigid posture. "You're bluffing. The state doesn't care about a minor disciplinary infraction in a rural district."
"A disciplinary infraction?" Leo stepped out from the elevator, holding Clara Vance's file up for her to see. "Is systemic psychological torture and forced physical alteration just an infraction to you people?"
Karen looked at the file, and for a split second, her professional mask slipped, revealing a flash of genuine fear in her eyes. She quickly recovered, forcing a cold smile onto her lips. "Children lose their hair all the time, young man. It grows back. But leaked classified documents carry federal prison sentences."
"Try us," Arthur said, turning toward the heavy frosted glass double doors at the far end of the waiting room. Bold black letters across the glass read: EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – PRIVATE SESSION.
Muffled voices could be heard through the glass, discussing budgets, compliance metrics, and district restructuring.
Arthur didn't wait for Karen's permission. He walked straight up to the double doors and pushed them open wide.
The voices instantly died down. Five men and women in expensive business attire sat around a long, polished conference table beneath a massive brass chandelier. Principal Higgins sat at the far end of the table, looking up with a look of pure astonishment as Arthur and Leo walked uninvited into the room.
"Arthur Sterling," a stern-looking man with graying temples at the head of the table spoke up, standing slowly. "You have no right to interrupt this meeting. Security!"
"Security is currently busy reviewing state-level audit logs," Arthur interrupted, his voice cutting through the room with authority. "Sit down, Director Miller. We are going to have a very public conversation about what happened in Room 204 today."
Director Miller narrowed his eyes, glancing at Principal Higgins for an explanation. Higgins stood up quickly, his face flushed with anger.
"He's compromised, Miller," Higgins shouted, pointing a shaky finger at Arthur. "He's harboring a runaway student and inciting a riot!"
"And you're orchestrating a thirty-year cover-up of child abuse," Leo shouted back, stepping into the center of the boardroom, his voice echoing off the expensive wood paneling.
Karen didn't move her hands from the desk, but her eyes darted past Arthur to the young boy standing nervously behind him. "And the student? Since when do you bring minors into executive security hearings?"
"Since the student became the primary exhibit," Arthur said, stepping forward and placing his hand firmly on the corner of the mahogany desk, blocking her reach to the silent alarm. "Don't press it, Karen. The feed from this floor is already being mirrored to the state department of education."
Karen's face paled slightly, though she maintained her rigid posture. "You're bluffing. The state doesn't care about a minor disciplinary infraction in a rural district."
"A disciplinary infraction?" Leo stepped out from the elevator, holding Clara Vance's file up for her to see. "Is systemic psychological torture and forced physical alteration just an infraction to you people?"
Karen looked at the file, and for a split second, her professional mask slipped, revealing a flash of genuine fear in her eyes. She quickly recovered, forcing a cold smile onto her lips. "Children lose their hair all the time, young man. It grows back. But leaked classified documents carry federal prison sentences."
"Try us," Arthur said, turning toward the heavy frosted glass double doors at the far end of the waiting room. Bold black letters across the glass read: EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – PRIVATE SESSION.
Muffled voices could be heard through the glass, discussing budgets, compliance metrics, and district restructuring.
Arthur didn't wait for Karen's permission. He walked straight up to the double doors and pushed them open wide.
The voices instantly died down. Five men and women in expensive business attire sat around a long, polished conference table beneath a massive brass chandelier. Principal Higgins sat at the far end of the table, looking up with a look of pure astonishment as Arthur and Leo walked uninvited into the room.
"Arthur Sterling," a stern-looking man with graying temples at the head of the table spoke up, standing slowly. "You have no right to interrupt this meeting. Security!"
"Security is currently busy reviewing state-level audit logs," Arthur interrupted, his voice cutting through the room with authority. "Sit down, Director Miller. We are going to have a very public conversation about what happened in Room 204 today."
Director Miller narrowed his eyes, glancing at Principal Higgins for an explanation. Higgins stood up quickly, his face flushed with anger.
"He's compromised, Miller," Higgins shouted, pointing a shaky finger at Arthur. "He's harboring a runaway student and inciting a riot!"
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"And you're orchestrating a thirty-year cover-up of child abuse," Leo shouted back, stepping into the center of the boardroom, his voice echoing off the expensive wood paneling.
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