Chapter 6: A chance to a better life.

Ella's POV.

  “I have a feeling she's going to make me pay for that somehow,” I murmured.

  “Speaking of top students,” Sylvia said in a warning tone, “you should hurry to Prof. Wilson’s office. Wouldn’t look good for either of you if you get caught lollygagging.”

  I blinked, already spacing out, then nodded quickly. “Yeah… I need to go.” I glanced at my wristwatch and sighed. “You should head to the exam hall. I’ll catch up with you later, Syl.”

  “Bye!”

  – – – – – – –

  Soon, I was standing outside Professor Wilson’s office. My stomach twisted and my heart thudded faster.

  I knocked gently and turned the door knob when he gave me permission.

  The office smelled of old books and ink. He was bent over a stack of papers, with a red pen in his hand. When he looked up, his eyes widened as he adjusted his glasses.

  “Rhaella Hammond?” His voice called out in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”

  “Hi, Professor,” I said softly.

  “Hi… the board already called me. Your admission’s been revoked.”

  “Yes, Professor. I know that.” I pulled off my cap, holding it against my chest as I stepped closer, letting the door click shut behind me.

  He leaned back, studying me. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  “I know, sir,” I admitted, my voice cracking before I steadied it. “But please… just hear me out.”

  He set his pen down. “Go on.”

  “I need to sit for my final exams. Just my two main courses: Warrior Training and Political Leadership & Administration. If I pass, I’ll have my diploma and warrior license. Even if they strip me of everything else, I’ll still have that. It means I could work, build a life for my mom and me… anywhere. Please, Sir. I’m begging you. Just let me finish what I started.”

  He sighed, adjusting his tie, his brows furrowing. “Rhaella, you’re asking me to bend rules that aren’t mine to bend.”

  “I’m not asking for special treatment. I just want a chance to prove myself. After that, they can throw me out, erase my name, whatever they want. But please… let me take this exam.”

  “It’s going to be difficult,” he admitted. “There are eyes everywhere. If they find out, both of us won't be able to face the consequences. But…” He glanced toward the door, lowering his voice. “If there’s a way, I’ll find it. Maybe you’ll sit for the exams here, in my office, after everyone’s gone, under my supervision. Maybe…” He shook his head. “We’ll see.”

  Relief loosened the knot in my chest and my lips trembled. “Thank you, Professor. Thank you.”

  “Save the thanks for later,” he said, picking up his pen again. “Go. And keep quiet about this. I’ll call you when it’s time.”

  I stepped out of Professor Wilson’s office, sliding my cap back on. I scanned the hallway carefully, making sure no one saw me around.

  Then, as quietly as I could, I left. I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched. I brushed the thought out of my mind as the cab pulled away from school.

  ……

  Third Person POV

  “The nerve of that bitch!” Tasha hissed under her breath as Rhaella's words kept replaying in her head. 

  Her friends followed behind her as she left the campus café, but once Tasha got outside, she turned to them, narrowing her eyes.

  “I need to be alone,” she said, raising a hand to halt their steps. “W…what? One of them stammered. “Why?”

  "Don't you understand English anymore?", Tasha folded her arms across her chest. “Leave.”

  They sulked but they knew better than to argue with Tasha. They soon left, leaving Tasha alone with her thoughts. Tasha walked around the campus; she had no exam today, and she was thinking about returning to her dorm suite for a bubble bath. She needed to rid her mind of every thought of Rhaella. 

  As Tasha walked through the campus and towards the dorms, she paused when she saw a familiar figure sitting in the yard. The fellow had a dark hoodie pulled over their face and a smile spread across Tasha's lips as their eyes met from across the campus.

  She knew this person as a friend and she had known them for quite a while. She also knew that this friend couldn't stand Rhaella. She straightened her posture as he walked across the campus and towards this friend.

  "Rhaella is so annoying," Tasha muttered as she sat beside her friend in the yard. "You won't believe she had the gut to show her face in school. She even went as far as claiming that she was smarter than me?”

  "What did you expect?" Her friend added. "She's always been a boastful brat. So fearless. And that's one of the reasons I can't stand her."

  “What are you even doing out here?” Tasha asked, staring at her friend with a pointed look. “You never hang around the yard. You always said the view here was too ‘basic’ for you.”

  Her friend rolled their eyes and sighed.

  "I actually needed to see you."

  Tasha raised her brows.

  "For what reason?"

  "Because I need your help," they said, turning so they were facing Tasha completely. "I need whatever dirt you can find on Rhaella; something that'd completely break her for good; can you do that?"

  "And how do you expect me to do that?" She asked. "It's already public news that she was rejected because she had an affair, and that she aborted.”

  Her friend nodded thoughtfully.

  “There must be more information. Something we are overlooking. Because there's no way her scandal is this simple. She even showed up in school? She's definitely up to something and I need you to find out what it is.”

  “And what's in it for me?” Tasha asked, raising a brow.

  Her friend smirked.

  “Because if we play our cards right, we could get rid of Rhaella once and for all. Then, you'd be the top student,” her friend replied.

  Tasha's eyes lit up.

  “I like the way you think,” she said with a wink. “I'm in. I'll find out more and see what she's really up to.”

  After she parted ways with her friend, she saw Rhaella walking out of Professor Wilson's office. Tasha hid around the corner upon seeing her and her brows furrowed as she wondered what business she could possibly have with the Professor. 

  Is professor Wilson sponsoring her? Or is he one of her sugar daddies?

  Tasha screamed internally.

  It was no wonder she was wagging her tongue with all that confidence!

  She pulled out her phone from her bag and dialed a number. A stern voice answered from the other end,

  “Report.”

  Tasha straightened. “Just saw Ella coming out from one of the lecturers' offices. Thought you’d want to know.”

  “Who?”

  “Professor Wilson. Department of Pack Politics Admin.”

  A low, satisfied hum rumbled through the phone. “Good girl. Leave the rest to me.”

  Tasha hung up and slipped her phone into her bag, smiling. She could already imagine Rhaella’s face when she learned what her little stunt had cost her.