~🌺 Chapter twenty 🌺~
By morning, things had shifted dramatically. I was summoned, not by the usual student council or familiar faculty, but by someone much higher up. The administrative building felt different—quieter, colder and more controlled. This was the kind of place where decisions were made silently, leading to consequences that arrived without warning.
I walked down the long corridor, my steps steady, unfazed by the weight of attention i felt. A secretary stopped me just outside a closed office. "They're waiting."
Inside, I felt something different in the room. Three people sat across a table. These weren't lecturers or student reps; they were pure authority. "Miss Sinclair," one began, folding his hands calmly, "you understand why you're here."
I didn't sit immediately. "I assume it's about the allegations," she replied. A quick glance passed between them. "Allegations backed by evidence," another added.
She took her seat slowly. "Evidence can be fabricated."
A measured silence followed, watchful.
"You're in a precarious spot," the first man continued. "Your reputation, your academic standing, your entire future,it's all on the line."
I met his gaze, unblinking. "Then it's fortunate I'm not guilty."
A subtle shift rippled through the room. Not approval, not disapproval, but interest. One of them leaned forward. "This is bigger than you realize."
My expression remained calm. "I'm starting to see that."
"Are you?" he pressed.
For a moment, no one spoke. Then, a file was pushed across the table. "Review this."
I opened it, scanning the pages rapidly. More documents and "evidence." But this time, there was something else: a recommendation. Temporary academic suspension, pending a final review. Her fingers paused on the page, just for an instant.
"This is premature," she stated, closing the file.
"It's precautionary," one corrected.
"It's strategic," I countered. That earned a subtle reaction, real but small.
"You're in no position to challenge this," another voice stated, firmer now.
I leaned back slightly,my gaze unwavering. "I'm always in a position to challenge what's wrong."
Silence again, heavier this time.
"You should consider stepping down voluntarily," the first man suggested. "It would make things easier."
I didn't answer right away. It was clear now. This wasn't about an investigation; it was about getting rid of me. My voice, when it came, was steady. "No." The word was firm, without hesitation.
"You're making this difficult," he said.
I held his gaze. "No,"I corrected softly. "I'm refusing to make it easy."
Another pause, longer this time. Then, quietly, "You're being advised," he said, his tone shifting slightly, "to stop looking into certain matters."
There it was. No longer hidden, no longer indirect. My eyes didn't waver. "Or?" she asked.
A faint smile touched his lips. "Or this situation becomes permanent."
For the first time, the threat was explicit. But Amara didn't react as they expected. No fear, no hesitation. Instead, she stood. Slowly. "I understand," she said.
They watched her, trying to understand her unspoken thoughts then I picked up the file, placing it back on the table. " let's be clear," I continued.
My voice remained level, but sharper now. "I didn't come this far to step down because someone is uncomfortable. And I won't stop," I added, "because someone is afraid of what I might find."
A long silence followed. They understood her now.
And that made her more dangerous.
"Be careful, Miss Sinclair," one of them said quietly.
I walked toward the door. "I am,"i replied.
The door clicked shut behind her. Outside, the corridor seemed longer, but her steps didn't falter.
This reached higher, deeper, was more controlled than I'd imagined. Yet, a small, steady certainty settled within me. They were reacting. Which meant I was getting closer.
But as she stepped out of the building, my phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number. This time, it wasn't a warning. It was a single line: "You should have accepted the offer."
I stared at it for a moment, then locked at my phone. There was no going back now but only forward.