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Officer Brenda Hayes reached for her belt, her hand hovering instinctively near her radio. The cafeteria had gone completely dead; even the humming soda machine seemed to hold its breath. / Chapter 8 / 10

Chapter 8 - The Emergency Board MeetingWhile Darius and Amara were enjoying a quiet dinner at a private steakhouse overlooking the city skyline, the Whitmore University board of trustees was holding a midnight emergency session.

Thomas Vance slammed his fist onto the mahogany table.

"We dodged a bullet today," Vance hissed at the remaining board members. "If Coleman had pulled that funding permanently, our bond rating would have tanked by morning."

"It’s not over yet," one of the junior trustees pointed out, sliding a tablet across the table. "Look at the student petitions. They aren't just calling for Sullivan's firing anymore. They’re demanding an audit of the entire financial aid and housing allocation system across all departments."

Sterling rubbed his temples, a splitting headache throbbing behind his eyes. "Let them audit. If we block them, Coleman will find out, and he won't just pull the endowment—he'll fund a competing research institute across the street."

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The heavy mahogany door of the dressing room seemed to close in on us, trapping the suffocating tension inside. Richard’s hands were shaking as he clutched the small, tarnished silver pendant. His knuckles were bone-white.

The heavy mahogany door of the dressing room seemed to close in on us, t...

The heavy silver fork slipped from my fingers, clattering sharply against the gold-rimmed porcelain of my dinner plate.

The heavy silver fork slipped from my fingers, clattering sharply agains...

The heavy mahogany door of the Fairmont Copley suite clicked shut with a muffled, expensive thud.

The heavy mahogany door of the Fairmont Copley suite clicked shut with a...

The room fell silent. Everyone understood the reality. Darius Coleman wasn't just a wealthy donor; he was a titan of modern science with unlimited capital and zero tolerance for institutional corruption.

"Accept all their demands," Vance muttered defeatedly. "And make sure Amara Coleman gets VIP treatment for the rest of her natural life."

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