Chapter 2

The silence in the auditorium was thick.

Brenda stared at me, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.

Kevin looked confused, then angry.

"That's... that's a lie!" Brenda shrieked, finally finding her voice. She whirled around, pulling out her own phone. "I'm calling Richard! He'll sort this out!"

Her fingers stabbed at her screen.

The call connected. "Richard! You need to get down to the school, now! This... this girl is saying you didn't fund the Arts Center! She's saying her mother did! Some Eleanor Vance!"

Richard's voice, tinny and panicked even over the phone, was audible. "What? Eleanor? Uh..."

He was clearly blindsided.

"Richard, they're trying to take Kevin's scholarship away!" Brenda wailed.

A moment of silence, then Richard's voice, suddenly booming with false confidence. He must have realized he was on speaker.

"Nonsense, Brenda, darling! Of course, I'm a major benefactor! To prove my commitment to this fine institution, and to ensure Kevin gets what he rightfully deserves, I will personally fund an entire new Science and Robotics Wing for the school!"

A gasp went through the assembly. A whole wing? That was millions.

Brenda's face transformed, a triumphant smirk spreading across her lips. She shot me a venomous look.

Kevin puffed out his chest, already imagining himself at MIT.

"See?" Brenda crowed. "That's the kind of man Richard Miller is! Generous to a fault!"

Principal Peterson looked like Christmas had come early. "A new Science and Robotics Wing! Mr. Miller, that's... that's incredibly generous!"

I just watched them. My father, digging a deeper hole.

"Scholarships are supposed to be about academic merit, Principal Peterson," I said calmly. "Not about who can buy the school a new building."

Brenda laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Oh, listen to Little Miss Merit! Honey, money talks. You'll never escape your middle-class limitations."

Kevin chimed in, "Yeah, Ash. Some people are just born to win. Others... not so much."

Their arrogance was astounding.

I took a slow breath. "If we're talking about funding school wings, Mrs. Sullivan..."

I paused, letting the anticipation build.

"Then I will personally fund *two* Science and Robotics Wings."

A wave of shocked silence, then outright laughter from some sections.

Brenda and Kevin howled. "You? You'll fund them with your babysitting money?"

Principal Peterson looked at me with pity. "Ashley, please. Let's not get carried away."

I ignored them. I pulled out my phone again.

"Excuse me for one moment."

I dialed a number. It rang twice.

"Mr. Davies, please," I said, my voice businesslike. I put the call on speaker.

A crisp, professional voice answered. "This is Alistair Davies, CFO of NovaCore Industries. How can I help you, Ms. Vance?"

The use of "Ms. Vance" sent another ripple through the crowd. My mother's name.

"Mr. Davies," I said, "I need you to process an immediate wire transfer from my personal trust account. Twenty-five million dollars. To Northwood High School, for the construction of two Science and Robotics Wings."

"Certainly, Ms. Vance," Davies replied without missing a beat. "Consider it done. The funds will clear within the hour. Shall I send confirmation to Principal Peterson?"

"Please do," I said. "Thank you, Mr. Davies."

I ended the call.

The auditorium was dead silent. Jaws were literally hanging open.

Brenda's triumphant expression had frozen, then shattered.

Principal Peterson's phone buzzed in his hand. He stared at it, then answered, his voice trembling.

"Yes? Mr. Superintendent... Yes, I... A multi-million dollar anonymous donation? Just cleared? For *two* science wings? I... I see."

He hung up, his face pale, and stared at me as if he'd seen a ghost.