Chapter 2

"You won't sign it?" Kendra shouted. "Then we'll protest outside the Department of Education Office!

"We'll show up at your old workplace and make a scene! We'll make sure you never get a decent job again!"

The crowd of parents outside raised their fists.

"That's right! Ruin her reputation!"

"She doesn't even have a teaching license. Who does she think she is, calling herself a teacher?"

"We're not leaving until she pays us back!"

Damon pulled out another document.

"Ms. Dawson, since you've admitted that you don't have the required credentials, please sign this notice ordering you to cease operating an unauthorized tutoring program."

I took a deep breath. Ignoring Kendra's triumphant expression, I picked up the pen on the desk.

"Fine. I'll sign." My voice was remarkably calm as I signed my name.

Kendra and the other parents erupted in cheers.

"See? Was that so hard? You should've cooperated from the beginning."

"Typical bookworm. One little scare and she folds."

Damon watched me.

I pulled the parents' joint compensation demand toward me. At the bottom, I wrote, "I accept these terms," and signed my name.

"I'll refund every cent you've paid me." I looked up at Kendra, whose face had flushed with excitement. "And I'll pay the emotional-distress compensation you've demanded in full.

"But from this second on, this living room is permanently closed to your children." I pointed toward the door.

"You tore up our agreement with your own hands. When they're sitting for the SATs, I hope your kids don't regret losing these final three days of tutoring."

Kendra burst out laughing. She jabbed a finger against my shoulder. "That's hilarious. You really think the world stops turning without you? My son will do better without some unlicensed woman like you!"

Whitney chimed in impatiently, "Enough talking. Transfer the money! Even if you paid me, I wouldn't let Hayden come back here."

The other parents sneered as they pulled out their phones to confirm their payment details, tugging their children toward the door.

Right in front of them, I called Evelyn Reeves, my assistant.

"Transfer a total of $1.65 million to these thirty-three accounts."

I deliberately paused before continuing, my voice turning cold. "Make sure every transfer is labeled 'Advance compensation payment made in response to recipient's extortion demand.' Save the complete security footage from the apartment, along with the recording of this entire conversation."

Within five minutes, the full $1.65 million had been distributed among the thirty-three accounts.

The parents were so blinded by the money that not one of them paid attention to the transfer memo.

"I got it!"

"They really sent $50,000! This is amazing!"

Just as everyone was preparing to leave in triumph, I walked over to the TV console and opened the safe.

Then I took out a thick stack of papers I hadn't even had time to bind yet. I'd spent three consecutive nights putting them together.

Based on the latest testing trends that year, I had created twelve final practice exams specifically for these thirty-three students. I'd planned to hand them out for free that night as their last intensive round of preparation.

I turned around.

In front of every parent and every city official, I gripped the thick stack of exams in both hands. Without the slightest hesitation, I tore them in half.

Pieces of paper covered in closely guarded formulas and critical test concepts fluttered to the floor.

My face remained expressionless.

Kendra glanced contemptuously at the scraps. "What? Now that you know we're reporting you, you're destroying the evidence? Those cheap knockoff practice tests of yours aren't even worth the paper they're printed on."

One of the parents stepped forward and stomped hard on the scraps, eager to show how clever she was. "She's obviously afraid the school district will find something illegal in them. Even if she gave us those questions for free, I wouldn't touch them."

Only a few of the highest-performing students hadn't left yet. They stared at the familiar formatting of the pages scattered across the floor.

Something seemed to click. Their eyes filled with desperate longing as they looked at me for help.

But moments later, their parents dragged them roughly out the door.

The officials placed a seal across the entrance to the study area.

"Standard procedure. Don't leave the city for the time being, and remain available to cooperate with the investigation."

Then they left with the entire case file.

The spacious living room fell silent in an instant, the floor littered with debris. I stood alone among the torn pages.

Then I picked up my phone and dialed an encrypted number.

"Shut it down. Cancel statewide distribution of this year's Apex practice exams."

The person on the other end hesitated for a moment before answering respectfully, "Understood."

I looked out at the darkening sky. "Let's see how they clear that hurdle without me protecting them every step of the way."