Chapter 2 _ The Decision
The study door closed behind them.
“Step forward,” Richard said.
Elena stepped forward.
Rosa stayed slightly behind her.
Damon stood beside his father’s chair, smiling.
Richard looked at Elena.
“You’ve shown responsibility.”
Pause.
“Your intellect has remained consistently high.”
Another pause.
“And your contribution to Damon’s academic progress has been noted.”
Elena blinked once.
Richard continued.
“Damon has spoken highly of you…… noble things ,I must say.”
Damon nodded slightly.
Richard turned to him briefly.
“You’ve improved his discipline.”
Pause.
“His performance in history.”
Then back to Elena.
“You have maintained his academic standard.”
Silence.
Richard moved to his desk, opened a drawer, and took out an envelope.
He closed it and walked to the table.
He placed it down.
Clean and deliberate.
“That’s yours, Elena.”
Elena stepped forward and picked it up.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened it.
Her eyes moved across the page once.
Then again.
“…St. Alden’s.”
Rosa stiffened.
Elena looked up.
Richard spoke immediately.
“You will attend.”
Silence.
Then,
“You will maintain excellence.”
Pause.
“You will maintain distinction.”
Another pause.
“You will maintain the standard.”
His gaze stayed steady.
“You will not fall below it.”
Elena tightened her grip.
Her voice came out carefully.
“…And if I do?”
Silence.
Rosa stopped breathing for a moment.
Damon’s smile faded slightly.
Richard looked at Elena longer now…… the boldness ….. how brave she was .
Many did not possess the audacity this little girl possessed..
Then, he smiled and said;
“Then you prove privilege was misplaced.”
The room went still.
Elena exhaled slowly.
Tears formed in her eyes.
Not fear.
Relief….. joy….. fulfillment.
“…Thank you, sir,” she said.
Rosa stepped forward slightly.
Elena repeated softly.
“Thank you sir…”
Damon stepped in.
“Congratulations, Elena.”
Elena turned.
“Thank you.”
Richard closed the drawer.
“You may leave.”
No emotion.
No delay…… dismissed.
Rosa guided Elena out.
Elena held the envelope tightly.
Rosa stopped walking.
Elena turned.
“Mom?”
Rosa pulled out her phone.
“I need to call your father.”
“Yes.” Elena responded emotionally.
She dialed.
One ring.
Two.
John answered.
“Talk to me .”
Rosa took a breath.
“John… she’s been accepted.”
Pause.
“St. Alden’s.”
Silence.
Then John’s voice dropped immediately.
“…I don't understand...”
Rosa frowned.
“She got admission into St. Alden’s. Mr Harrington himself approved it.”
A sharp breath on the other end.
“No,” John said instantly.
Rosa blinked.
“What do you mean no?”
“I mean that place,” he replied.
“I told you I wanted better opportunities for her. Not that system.”
Rosa’s voice rose slightly.
“John, this is elite placement. Harrington doesn’t hand that out casually.”
“That’s exactly why I don’t trust it,” he cut in.
A pause.
Then lower:
“How did it happen?”
Rosa hesitated.
“Harrington said she met their standard. Damon also spoke about her performance in his studies.”
Another silence.
John exhaled sharply.
“…So they’re already involving her in their system.”
Rosa frowned.
“What system, John? It’s a school.”
John didn’t answer immediately.
Then:
“I’m coming ,round up on time today, so I get you both….”
Rosa blinked.
“Coming to get us early?”
“Yes.”
His tone tightened.
“We need to talk properly. Not over a phone.”
Rosa stepped aside slightly.
“John, you’re making this sound like something dangerous.”
His voice dropped.
“It is.”
A pause.
Then he added:
“And I don’t want her inside it until I understand why they chose her.”
Rosa swallowed.
“John… Harrington said she earned it.”
John responded immediately.
“That’s what worries me.”
Silence.
Then the call ended.
Rosa didn’t move.
Elena stepped closer.
“Mom?”
Rosa forced a small smile.
“It’s fine.”
Elena frowned.
“That didn’t sound fine.”
Rosa nodded quickly.
“He’s just… surprised.”
“About the school?”
“Yes.”
Elena watched her.
“…He didn’t sound surprised. He sounded upset.”
Rosa didn’t answer.
That silence confirmed it.
Then she said softly:
“He’s coming home.”
Hours later, Rosa I'd rushed some duties.
Then, a car horn sounded outside the gate.
Rosa stopped.
Elena turned.
Rosa lowered her phone slowly.
“…He’s here.”
Elena frowned.
“Dad?”
Rosa didn’t answer, because John Parker had just arrived…. And whatever he was about to reveal…
was not approval.
It was a warning he had been holding for years.
