In the office of the Student Affairs Committee, the secretary leaned back in his chair, sipping tea while scrolling through his phone.
One message in particular caught his eye—Jason's.
Instantly, his expression sharpened.
Leaking student aid details was a serious violation. Sure, offices weren't machines, and conversations happened, but this wasn't gossip that should ever reach random ears.
And more importantly—this message came from Jason.
That changed everything.
On paper, Jason was "just" a student. But in reality, he was one of the university's most important donors. He had already given two million thousand dollars upfront, and pledged ten annually for the next nine years.
Universities thrived on funding. Government grants kept the basics running, but donations? Donations made everything else possible: better programs, better facilities, better rankings. And better rankings meant promotions for administrators.
Besides, Jason wasn't just some wealthy kid acting on his own. His family—who had pushed him to donate—clearly had major influence. The kind of influence no administrator wanted to offend.
The secretary immediately got up, found the Committee Chair, and handed over the recording without hesitation.
The Committee Chair frowned deeply as he listened. Without a word, he ordered the secretary to call in Deputy Secretary Martin.
When Martin arrived, the recording was played for him.
His face went pale. "I—I never told Frank anything directly. He overheard something by accident, and I warned him not to spread it! I didn't think he'd actually run his mouth."
The Committee Chair's tone was cold, his fingers tapping the desk. "Save the excuses. The first step is removing Frank from the office immediately. After that, we'll determine whether this becomes a bigger issue."
"Yes, yes, I'll handle it at once," Martin stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.
Before he could leave, another secretary walked in. "Deputy Secretary Martin, the vice provost is asking for you."
Martin's stomach dropped.
In the vice provost's office, the air was even heavier. The administrator's glare was ice-cold.
"You've been in this system long enough to know better. How could you make such a careless mistake? Critical student information—handed to someone completely unrelated?"
"I… it wasn't intentional, I—"
"Enough." The vice provost cut him off sharply. "You'll be reporting to the Office of Student Conduct and Compliance immediately. They'll handle this from here."
Martin's legs went weak. The Office of Conduct was effectively the university's internal disciplinary board—and once they got involved, things could snowball fast.
It wasn't just that the breach was serious. It was that it involved Jason—the university's golden donor. That alone made the fallout ten times worse.
Martin left the office with dread crawling over him. He knew he needed to act fast to protect himself. First step: cut Frank loose. He cursed himself for ever bringing that arrogant fool into the office in the first place.
Meanwhile, Frank—still smug back at the dorms—was lounging around when his phone buzzed.
It wasn't Martin calling. He wasn't important enough anymore.
The number flashing on his screen was from the Committee's central office.
And suddenly, his little game didn't feel so clever anymore.
In the office of the Student Affairs Committee, the senior staff member already knew that Deputy Secretary Mark had been burned badly by Will Franklin, and his tone was cold over the phone:
"Will, your work-study stipend for the next two weeks will be sent to you. But from today, you're not allowed in the office anymore. Also, be ready to write a full review—your careless leaking of information will be formally noted."
Will was stunned. He opened his mouth to explain, but the other end of the line had already hung up.
He sat frozen for a moment, not understanding why he had suddenly been kicked out of the office. Leaking information? Was this about *Jason's grant? He had only mentioned it in passing—how could things turn around this fast?
His roommate, who had warned him before, wasn't surprised when he overheard the call. "Told you," he said calmly. "Retribution comes fast."
Will's face twisted. "You mean Jason pulled strings to get me kicked out of the office? Just because he's rich? He can't do whatever he wants."
The roommate chuckled. "That's exactly your problem. You have no idea who you're messing with."
"You think wealthy people are just rich? Middle-class families might have some money, sure—but when someone reaches a certain level of wealth, they're not people you or I can touch."
"You haven't seen how polite the student government president and VP are to Jason. Think about it. Do you really think you're more important than them?"
"Even if student government technically doesn't have much authority, the president and VP are connected. They have relationships, they get things done. If they nod and bow to Jason, who the hell are you to try to threaten him?"
"And don't forget—you yourself said that Olivia's bursary was approved by Jason. Do you know what that means? Approval for financial aid goes through university leadership first, then the state education board. If Jason can wave his hand and make it happen, it means he has direct access to top administrators. That's… not normal."
"That kind of influence? It's terrifying. And you went and picked a fight with him?"
"To be honest, this is the dumbest thing I've ever seen anyone do. It's not about being tempted by money—you just don't have the brains to see how dangerous this is. Honestly, I share a dorm with you, and I'm worried about being collateral damage when the lightning strikes."
"Kicking you out of the office? That's just the beginning. If I were you, I'd swallow my pride, apologize sincerely, and pray he's willing to let it slide."
Will's face was pale, but he forced a bitter laugh. "I don't buy it. What can he actually do to me? Barefoot people don't fear those wearing shoes."
Meanwhile, Jason was already sending a message to Mike, the student government president, asking for Will's background information.
Technically, student records weren't locked away in some vault, but they weren't supposed to be shared casually either.
Yet within minutes, Mike sent everything over—admissions details, personal background, and even family info.
Turns out Will's family had owned a small factory a few years back. But according to the report, when the business started struggling, it was Olivia's Mother who had stepped in to help—not only covering school expenses for Will but also offering loans to keep the family business afloat.
"Olivia's mom really is one of the good ones," Jason thought. "But these days, it's tough for good people to get repaid with kindness."
His eyes darkened as he came to a decision. Will had crossed a line. If you're going to strike, you don't just swat the snake's tail—you go for the seven-inch mark, right where it hurts.
Jason was already planning his move.
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