Chapter 3

The next day, I was summoned to the office of the Dean of Student Affairs.

Dean Albright' s office was filled with generic inspirational posters and dying plants. He sat behind a large desk, a self-satisfied smile on his face. Maya sat in the chair next to him, looking fragile and tear-stained. Hailey was there too, for moral support.

"Chloe, thank you for coming," the Dean began, his tone dripping with condescension. "We need to discuss an issue of campus climate. Maya has brought a serious allegation to my attention."

I remained standing. I didn' t look at Maya. I looked directly at him.

"She feels, and frankly I agree, that you' ve created a hostile environment based on socioeconomic status. Bullying a fellow student over a piece of clothing is simply not in line with this university' s values of equity and inclusion."

He leaned back, steepling his fingers. He was enjoying this. The chance to lecture the rich girl.

"This university prides itself on being a place where students from all backgrounds can thrive," he droned on. "Your privilege does not give you a license to be cruel."

I let the silence hang in the air for a moment after he finished. Then, I spoke. My voice was calm, almost conversational.

"My father is Marcus Thorne."

The Dean' s smug expression didn' t change. The name didn' t register.

"He' s the CEO of Thorne Industries," I continued. "Last year, he pledged a fifty-million-dollar donation for the new Thorne Center for Applied Sciences. The first installment of ten million is due to be wired next Friday."

I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He sat up a little straighter.

"I' ve just sent him a text message," I said, holding up my phone. "I told him I' m having a very negative experience on campus due to the administration' s biased handling of a personal dispute. I suggested he might want to reconsider his philanthropic relationship with this institution."

The Dean' s face went pale. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

I wasn't finished. I turned my head slightly, my eyes finally landing on Maya.

"And Maya. You' re here on the Thorne Family Endowment for Promising Scholars. My family pays for your tuition. Your housing. Your meal plan. Every single thing."

Maya looked like I had slapped her. Hailey' s jaw was on the floor.

I turned back to the Dean, whose face was now a waxy, terrified mask.

"So, Dean Albright," I said, my voice dropping to a cool, business-like tone. "Are we going to continue this conversation about my 'privilege' ? Or are you going to handle the real issue here, which is my roommate' s escalating and obsessive behavior?"

He stared at me, speechless. The power in the room had shifted completely. He was no longer a biased authority figure. He was just a man terrified of losing a fifty-million-dollar check.

"I... I see," he finally managed to croak. "Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding."

"No misunderstanding at all," I said, turning to leave. "I' ll be moving out of the dorms by the end of the day. I expect my housing fees to be fully refunded. Send the check to my father' s office."