cked. Eight

vanished from his eyes. The desperate father d

his knees. He looked at Mer

nto the cushions of the sofa and pulled out an i

en and turned the v

ge was grainy, taken in a dark all

uild as her. The girl was leaning against a brick wall, ne

deo turned her fac

Every feature, right down to the faint, petal

ed at the screen. Her heart hammered against her ribs. I

he sofa. "This is fake! I

hink the internet cares if it's fake? Do you think the Eth

oment this video hits the internet, your full scholarship is gone. You will be expel

uld barely pull in a breath. All her late nights studying, all he

inutes

ded on the front door. The sound echoe

into Frieda's chest. He forced a Montbl

d. "Sign it, and the video gets deleted. In three

on her lower lip so hard she tasted copper.

smile. She thought of her lab. She

minute

erce's voice cut through

id down her cheek. She opened her eyes. The f

hed her signature across the

rs from her hands, his ey

he corner. She ripped the lid off and pulled

shoulders. Two maids rushed in and forced the heavy,

stood in the doorway. His eyes la

't check her ID. He just extend

Frieda's arms and ma

ell and Meredith standing in the doorway. She memorized their relieved faces. She

of the armored Rolls-Royce. The heavy

d away from the curb,