off the table, his fingers gripping the metal

darted back and forth, scanning the digital watermark

nd fell in rapid

vis demanded, leaning

perfectly manicured nails dug

o a hysterical octave. "It has to be! Gorge, look at i

oudly. Her face was pale, her eyes

. "Forging academic documents is a felony in New York State. You c

onto the mahogany table. The loud

the table. He pointed a sha

you pay to mock this up? Or worse..." His eyes dragged up and down Elia's simple clothes,

the room tu

e flat, detached look vanished, repl

one ste

eight behind it made Gorge instinctively take a

hone. She checked th

it back into

ried across the room like a physical threat. "I am only staying in this house

, shrinking ba

r mouth to scre

g-d

of the front doorbell cut

one f

ining room, his shoes clickin

e red flush of anger from his face. He assumed it was a

er hair, pasting on a

front do

al male voice echoed from the foyer.

Mavis and Geri trailing closely behind him. Eli

rp, charcoal-grey suit. He wore gold-rimmed g

a gleaming black Rolls-Royce

eme wealth and power. He stepped forward, ext

pman. How can I

ge's outstretched han

e polite but entirely dismissive. "Dean

ped to his side.

her hand flyin

t the man, he

Elia standing in the dining room doorwa

ast Gorge. He stopped th

heavy, cream-colored envelope sealed with red w

the Chapman family, Mr. Va

lope out to Elia

t. "The Headmaster sends his regards. Your official physical enrol

envelope. She reach

thank you. Sh

e lunged forward, pointing at Geri. "My daughter Geri is the st

ooked at Mavis over the rim of his gol

make mistakes, Mrs. Chapm

, gave one last nod, a

away, leaving a deafeni

nst her thigh. She looked at Gorge,

rgery held up," E

weeping staircase, leaving the

they drew blood. She pulled out her phone, her hands shaking wi

s coming to school tomorro

se overlooking Central Park, K

. A red dot blinked over the l

shedding the tailored charcoal-grey suit jacket

d, Boss," Lex reporte

ower lip. He remembered t

mile spreading across his face.