Chapter 2 - The Scramble in the Executive SuiteFive floors above, in the mahogany-paneled board room, university president Dr. Arthur Sterling was busy laughing at a joke made by the chairman of the board, Thomas Vance.
"Coleman’s investment is going to put Whitmore on the map for the next fifty years," Vance said, swirling scotch in a crystal tumbler. "Twelve point five million dollars. Unprecedented."
Before Sterling could answer, the heavy oak doors flew open.
Brenda Hayes stood in the threshold, breathless, her uniform cap slightly askew. Behind her stood the frantic Director of Dining Services, who had just sprinted up the stairs after receiving a frantic call from the cafeteria floor.
"Dr. Sterling," Brenda said, her voice cutting through the celebratory mood. "You need to come down to the main student cafeteria right now."
Sterling frowned, straightening his silk tie. "Officer Hayes, this is a private meeting of the board of trustees. Unless there is an active emergency—"
"There is," Brenda interrupted. "Mr. Darius Coleman is currently downstairs. And he is furious."
Thomas Vance choked on his scotch, setting the glass down with a sharp clatter. "Darius? He’s supposed to be touring the labs with the department head. What is he doing in the cafeteria?"
"He's watching his daughter get harassed by the dining staff," Brenda said bluntly. "And he wants everyone down there now."
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The silence in the board room was absolute. Vance turned white. Sterling grabbed his blazer from the back of his chair, his hands visibly shaking. If Darius Coleman walked away from the endowment over a cafeteria dispute, Whitmore University’s financial future would implode overnight.
"Move," Sterling barked, leading the panicked stampede toward the elevators.
