You Have Nothing

Chapter 37

You Have Nothing.

Sage Dominic.

The minute Lyla disappeared from the office, I properly faced Michelle.

"Mr. Dominic, listen..." She was beginning to explain herself, but I couldn't care less.

I waved a hand to shut her up immediately as I went towards an empty seat.

"Why the display of power?" I leaned into the comfy chair as I stared at her.

She knew what I was talking about, but her eyes feigned ignorance.

"What are you talking about?" She made her way back to her seat which only irritated me.

"Did I ask you to sit?"

She froze at the corner of her desk, staring at me with a stiff expression on her face. I knew she was having an internal battle with herself... To defy me or not.

The only person that could defy me and partly get away with it was Lyla and no one else. My eyes dared Michelle.

"You know that you're not the only student we ask our teachers to tag. I sent her to you because both of you seemed close." She said resignedly, still standing and looking at me with a hateful glare. "You're not that special, Sage. Even if you leave this school, we will still be able to stand on our two feet."

"I don't doubt that." I shrugged my shoulders in response. "It's just that..." I sat up, "If I left and took the foundation of this school with me, it will crumble under your feet." I made sure to maintain eye contact with her, to show her that I wasn't making jokes.

She visibly gulped.

"I told you, in all you do, leave Lyla out of all your stupid games. That has been my only request to you ever since I started this school."

She scoffed. "What about the teachers and students that you've had me fire or expelled? Those were not requests?"

I frowned for a few seconds. "I don't think we've ever had any conversation concerning firing teachers and expelling students. I only remember stating my displeasure over the behaviour of some people, and you had them removed. Isn't that right, Michelle? I honestly thought that's how things work here."

Her jaw dropped in shock, her eyes wide open. "But... You!"

She knew I wasn't lying. She was always trying to butter me up by expelling the students, not that I asked her to.

"Anyway... Back to our main conversation. This will be the last time I warn you about messing with her. Tell that to your minions or whatever you call them, stay away from Lyla."

"I know the dirty things that both of you are doing together. You think I haven't seen the video?" She seemed to be getting pumped up by the second after she mentioned the video.

My eyebrows drew together in confusion. "What video?"

"The one in the parking lot where you were kissing her forehead."

She quickly picked up a remote control to black out her office, putting the entire room in darkness. Then, a light from the projector hit the nearest clear wall and a video began playing. It was footage from four nights ago; a choppy footage that didn't show our faces clearly.

"This is our parking lot, and that is your car, isn't it?" She sneered. "This was from the evening after she fell into the swimming pool and you stayed with her all evening and even took her home. But here... it clearly shows that you kissed her. An improper behaviour between a staff and a student. You know that her licence would be seized if this ever got out, right?"

She replayed the video over and over again before turning it off and bringing the lights back into the room. "So, you see, Mr. Dominic, I hold all the cards here. Yes, you fund the school very well, but I will hold this over your head. You're not in control anymore. I am."

She made a show to go to her seat, but my cold eyes pinned her in place.

"Is that all? Is there any more thing you'd like to add?"

"If you try to defy me again..." She shrugged with a cunning smile on her face. "Who knows? I may send the video to your father."

That struck a nerve, but it didn't show on my face. "Is that all?" My gaze was still fixed on her, and her smug smile wavered for a few seconds.

She nodded slowly.

"Now you've laid out all your cards, let me lay out mine." I stood up to my full height. "Stay away from Lyla and do not disturb her. Make sure that no one disturbs her. And if, by chance, I get wind that you have disrespected her, I will crush this school with you inside."

"You!" She pointed a finger at me, but I grabbed it and bent it, satisfied with the scream of pain.

"Do you know one thing about your life and my life?" I inched closer to her, "Even though you're the direct descendant of Oakwood Academy, you haven't made a name for yourself because you hide under the name of the school. And me? We both know I have made a name for myself. If it comes to a matter of swaying the public, use your smart mind, who do you think will win between the both of us?"

She shivered as she stepped away from my looming figure, but I wasn't done with her.

"You think they will believe some rumors and choppy footage that could as well be computer generated?" I cocked my head to the side with a scoff. "Will that compare to the physical hard evidence that I have of your money laundering? Bullying and Harassing both teachers and students? The unexplained expulsions? Confessions from the past teachers and students of this school... If I go to get these confessions from them, whose side do you think they will be on?" A light chuckle escaped from my lips. "And you will tell my dad? What are we? Five? And if that was even an option, do you think my father will trust you over his son? Think, Michelle, think. I'm the one with the power here. You have nothing!"