<b>Chapter </b><b>67 </b>
…
Alicia nodded. “Yes, President Lee. That’s me.”
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Derek Lee smiled warmly at Alicia. ‘She’s a pretty and charming girl, he thought. ‘No wonder even the stoic Charles Yates would get involved for her sake.‘
“Alicia,” Derek said, “we are very sorry for the trouble the situation on the school forum has caused you. The school will handle this and make things right.”
Alicia offered a polite smile. “Thank you, President Lee. I understand this wasn’t what the school wanted. I just want the truth toe out.”
“Good. The school will post a statement on the forum to clear this up,” Derek promised.
“Okay, thank you, President Lee,” Alicia said. After a brief pause, she added, “I’m requesting a full investigation into whoever made that post. They need to be dealt with seriously.”
“Of course,” he replied instantly. “The school will see that justice is done.”
Alicia nodded. “Thank you. I’ll get to ss now.”
“Alright,” Derek said with a nod.
As Alicia walked out of the Office of Student Conduct, her mind raced. ‘President Lee rarely gets involved in school affairs anymore. For him to show up today, and seemingly on my side… Could Charles have stepped in?‘
It had to be. So, in this life, was he going to be her protector?
A thrill ran through her and she clenched her fists. If she had managed to change this, it was a huge opportunity. But she also had to prepare for the possibility of things going sidewayster.
She had to figure out an exit strategy.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice. “Alicia, are you okay?”
Alicia looked up <i>to </i>see Sienna Gray watching her with a worried expression.
She pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind and smiled. “I’m fine, Sienna.”
“Did the school say what they’re going to do?” Sienna pressed, still concerned.
Alicia nced over at Tiffany Lawrence and Nora Judd, who were still standing at the bottom of the building’s steps. Nora shot them a re. Tiffany, however, put on a wless mask of concern and walked over. “Alicia, are you alright? Did President Lee say he’d look into it?”
Alicia leaned in close, her voice a low whisper only Tiffany could hear. “Of course I’m fine. But the person who made that post is in deep trouble. Oh, right, you’re new here, <b>so </b>you probably don’t know President Lee’s reputation. Maybe you should have Nora fill you in. You’d hate for this little n to blow up in your face.”
<b>19:16 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b>1
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She wasn’t trying to warn Tiffany, just to unnerve her. She knew Tiffany wasn’t the one who had physically made the post, so an investigation wouldn’t lead directly back to her. But if Tiffany got scared and started doing more to cover her tracks, she’d be more likely to slip up and leave a trail.
With that, Alicia took Sienna’s arm and started walking toward their ssroom.
“You mentioned President Lee?” Sienna asked. “He was here? Did he say how he’s going to handle this?”
“I’m not sure about all the details,” Alicia said as they walked, “but with him involved, I’m sure things will be set right. He said they’re going to post a rification on the forum.”
Sienna nodded, impressed. “Wow, it even got his attention? He hasn’t been involved in day–to–day stuff for ages. This must have blown up bigger than I thought. But he’s the fairest person I know. If he’s on it, you’ll get justice.”
She beamed. “Alicia, I think you’re really in the clear this time. Come on, let’s go get breakfast in the ssroom. I’m starving.”
“I told you to eat without me,” Alicia chided gently.
“How could I eat? I had to see how things turned out for you first,” Sienna said.
“Thank you, Sienna,” Alicia said, a wave of emotion washing over her.
It had been a long time since anyone had cared about her like this, not since she’de to the Lawrence family.
“We’re friends, don’t be silly,” Sienna said, linking her arm through Alicia’s. “No more ‘thank you‘ between us. I know you’d do the same for me, right?”
“Yeah,” Alicia agreed.
The two made their way to the ssroom, where Sienna unpacked the breakfast Alicia had brought.
As they ate, Sienna pulled out her phone to scroll through the school forum. Her face lit up. “Alicia, the post about you–it’s gone.”
Alicia nodded. “Looks like President Lee works fast.”
Meanwhile, Tiffany was still processing Alicia’s whispered words. ‘What did she mean by that?
‘She’s fine? How could she be fine? She’s obviously some rich guy’s sugar baby.
‘She’s just bluffing. I’ll just wait and see what the school decides.’
Trying to appear calm, she led Nora toward the ssroom.
On the way, Nora asked hesitantly, “Tiffany, what did Alicia say to you back there?”
“Mind your own business,” Tiffany snapped.
Nora bit her lip. She had her own issues with Tiffany, but what choice did she have? In a school full of rich kids where everything was apetition, she needed someone totch onto. Her family wasn’t wealthy
At least Tiffany was generous. The money she paid Nora for doing her dirty work was good, enough <b>that </b>Nora hadn’t needed to ask her parents for living expenses for the past three months. It took some of the pressure
off them.
Just think of it as a part–time job,‘ she told herself. ‘And what job doesn’te with a little grief?
Nora fell silent and followed Tiffany into the ssroom.
Inside, students were gathered in small groups, their hushed conversations audible.
“Hey, that post on the school forum is gone.”
“What’s that about? Does this mean Alicia was framed?”
“Who knows? The school will probably release a statement. Let’s just wait and see.”
“If you ask me, the whole thing was thin air. So she came out of a fancy apartment building and had a nice meal? That doesn’t mean she’s a sugar baby. It’s not like she was caught walking out of a hotel with some old geezer. The <fn9831> Fresh chapters posted on find~novel</fn9831>
The poster didn’t have their facts straight.”
“Exactly. They should find out who posted it and make an example of them. The school forum is for academic stuff, not this kind of garbage.”
Nora quickly pulled out her phone and opened the school forum. The post she’d made was, indeed, gone.
She lowered her eyes and sat down, a sudden, inexplicable panic tightening in her chest.
AD
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