Chapter 4

Richard Miller went white as a sheet. He looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Brenda, however, still hadn't grasped the situation. She turned on Eleanor, her face flushed with anger.

"And who do you think you are, barging in here..."

Eleanor didn't raise her voice. She didn't need to. She simply looked at Brenda.

One single, withering look.

Brenda's tirade died in her throat. She physically recoiled, a flicker of fear finally dawning in her eyes.

The auditorium was utterly silent. Even the goons Richard had brought stood frozen.

Eleanor's gaze shifted to Richard. Her voice was quiet, but it cut like a razor.

"Richard. Explain yourself."

Richard stammered, "Eleanor, I... I can explain. This is all a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" Eleanor's eyebrow arched. "It looked rather straightforward to me. You were having my daughter assaulted. After attempting to defraud this school, and her, using my money. And then there's the matter of your... associate." She flicked a glance at Brenda.

"The affair, Richard. Did you think I didn't know?"

Richard crumbled. All the bluster, the fake authority, drained out of him. He looked small, pathetic.

"Eleanor, please," he begged, his voice hoarse. "Forgive me. I... I made a mistake."

"Mistakes," Eleanor said, her voice devoid of emotion. "Plural, Richard. A long series of them. Your entire association with me has been predicated on your mistaken belief that my resources were yours to squander."

She then turned to the stunned assembly, her voice regaining its composed, public tone.

"For those of you who are confused, allow me to introduce myself. I am Eleanor Vance. I am the founder, CEO, and sole owner of NovaCore Industries."

A collective gasp went through the room. The name NovaCore, finally linked to the quiet, powerful woman standing before them, and not the blustering fool who was now visibly trembling.

Brenda looked at Richard, then at Eleanor, then back at Richard. The realization hit her with the force of a physical blow. Her face crumpled. He was a fraud. Her entire fantasy of a wealthy, powerful protector was built on lies.

Eleanor walked over to me, her expression softening as she gently checked my cheek where Brenda's nails had scratched. "Are you alright, Ashley?"

"I'm fine, Mom," I said, managing a small smile.

Eleanor nodded, then turned back, her face hardening once more as she addressed Richard, Brenda, and a now terrified-looking Kevin.

"You three will leave this state. Immediately. You will have no further contact with my daughter. Ever."

Her voice was absolute. There was no room for argument.

"The scholarship," Eleanor continued, her eyes meeting Principal Peterson's, who looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him, "belongs to Ashley. It was awarded on merit. It will remain hers on merit."

Peterson nodded vigorously. "Yes, Ms. Vance. Of course, Ms. Vance. Absolutely."

Richard, Brenda, and Kevin were escorted out by Eleanor's security, looking utterly defeated.

Later that night, a desperate, sobbing voicemail from Richard appeared on my phone.

I deleted it without listening.