Chapter 9 - THE SENATOR’S EMAIL
Naomi requested preservation of Charles Hargrove’s communications with the school.
His attorney refused.
Then the anonymous source sent another file.
This time it was an email.
FROM: CHARLES HARGROVE.
TO: VICTORIA HARGROVE.
SUBJECT: MERCER.
The message was short.
IF THE GIRL HATES THE EXPERIENCE, MERCER WILL END THE PILOT AND MOVE HIS MONEY ELSEWHERE.
THAT GIVES US THE ARGUMENT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE FOUNDATION GRANT WITH STATE FUNDS.
Elliot read it twice.
Lila’s suffering had not been random.
They wanted him angry enough to pull funding.
Then the Hargroves planned to replace private oversight with public money they could influence more easily.
Naomi kept reading.
Another email followed.
MAKE SURE THE DAUGHTER DOES NOT RECEIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT.
THE WORSE IT LOOKS, THE CLEANER OUR BREAK WITH MERCER.
Elliot stood.
“I’m going to destroy them.”
Naomi looked at him.
“No.”
He stared at her.
“Excuse me?”
“We’re going to prove what they did.”
“Those are different things.”
She was right.
Lila entered the office.
She had overheard.
“Dad.”
He looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For bringing you here.”
She shook her head.
“You didn’t do this.”
“I let you stay.”
“You trusted adults.”
Elliot almost laughed bitterly.
“That seems to be my mistake.”
Lila sat beside him.
“Are you going to close the school?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because then everyone on scholarship loses.”
Again, she saw beyond herself.
Elliot realized revenge would be easy.
Responsibility was harder.
The Mercer Foundation announced it would not withdraw funding.
Instead, it placed future payments into an independent protected account accessible only for verified student services.
Every expense would be published.
Every family would have a complaint channel outside the school.
Victoria called it a hostile takeover.
Elliot called it accounting.
That evening, Ashbury sent Lila an email.
NOTICE OF INTERIM SUSPENSION.
Her alleged violation?
Unauthorized removal of food from a restricted cafeteria area.
The emergency snack cabinet.
The same food she had taken because her lunch account was disabled.
Lila stared at the screen.
“They’re suspending me?”
Elliot felt rage climb through his chest.
Then he saw the second allegation.
May you like
DISHONEST REPRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATUS.
They were punishing his daughter for hiding that she was rich.
