Chapter 4 - The University That Could Be Bought
The Westbridge boardroom was packed.
University president Charles Whitmore sat at the head of the table.
His son Tyler stood behind him.
Senator Hale sat beside Brandon.
Richard Cole arrived with Ethan.
Then Daniel entered alone.
President Whitmore frowned.
“This is a private meeting.”
Daniel closed the door.
“So was the attack on my daughter.”
“You have no right—”
Professor Hannah Kim entered behind him.
Whitmore stopped speaking.
Professor Kim looked exhausted.
And furious.
Daniel pulled out a chair for her.
“Professor.”
“Thank you.”
Whitmore stared at her.
“You resigned.”
“No,” Kim replied. “You pressured me to resign.”
Senator Hale turned toward her son.
“Brandon?”
He looked away.
Daniel placed a laptop on the table.
“I'll keep this simple.”
He played Lily’s recording.
When it ended, nobody spoke.
Whitmore recovered first.
“That proves academic misconduct. It does not prove assault.”
Daniel nodded.
“Correct.”
Tyler smiled slightly.
Daniel noticed.
“So we'll use the other recording.”
Tyler’s smile vanished.
“What other recording?”
The door opened.
A young campus security officer entered.
“Name?” Daniel asked.
“Jason Miller.”
President Whitmore stood.
“You're fired.”
Jason swallowed.
“That’s why I kept a copy.”
He placed a flash drive on the table.
“I was told to erase the science building footage. I did.”
Lily’s attackers exchanged terrified looks.
“But our system automatically mirrors footage to an off-site server. Mr. Whitmore didn't know that.”
Daniel looked at the president.
“Neither did your son.”
Jason inserted the drive.
The video had no audio.
It didn't need any.
Three young men followed Lily outside.
They surrounded her.
The confrontation escalated.
Then Lily fell.
Daniel looked away before the worst moments.
Senator Hale covered her mouth.
Richard Cole whispered:
“Ethan...”
His son stared at the floor.
President Whitmore reached for the laptop.
“Turn that off.”
Daniel closed it.
“Now we talk.”
Whitmore’s voice shook.
“How much?”
Daniel stared at him.
“What?”
“Money. That's why you're doing this.”
Daniel almost looked amused.
“You think I want your money?”
“Everyone wants something.”
“I want three things.”
He raised one finger.
“Professor Kim gets her position back and an independent investigation into the research fraud.”
Second finger.
“Jason Miller receives whistleblower protection.”
Third.
“And the three men who attacked Lily face the same legal process anyone else would.”
Senator Hale looked at Brandon.
“Tell me the truth.”
“Mom—”
“Did you touch that girl?”
Brandon started crying.
“Ethan started it.”
Ethan spun toward him.
“You coward!”
Tyler shouted.
“You both did it!”
Daniel watched quietly.
There it was.
The protection collapsing.
One accusation at a time.
Whitmore slammed both hands onto the table.
“Enough!”
Daniel looked at him.
“No.”
His voice remained calm.
“For families like yours, maybe enough is whenever you decide it is.”
He stood.
May you like
“For my daughter, enough comes when the truth does.”
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