Chapter 5 - The War of the Headlines
Nathan stepped away from Clara, his eyes instantly shifting into the sharp, clinical focus of a seasoned corporate commander. "What is it, Marcus?"
Marcus held out the tablet. "The Chicago Daily News just dropped an online breaking story. It was posted ten minutes ago."
Nathan took the tablet and scanned the headline:
TECH BILLIONAIRE NATHAN REED WITHDRAWS $7M SCHOOL GRANT AFTER ALTERCATION WITH ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL; INSIDERS CLAIM REED ACCUSED STAFF OF CHILD EXPLOITATION TO COVER PRIVATE FINANCIAL DISPUTE.
The article was a masterclass in journalistic assassination.
It claimed that Nathan Reed had arrived at Garfield Elementary in a volatile state, had verbally assaulted Principal Caldwell, and had used a fabricated story about a child cleaning bathrooms to justify reneging on his public pledge to donate the seven-million-dollar digital learning center.
The article quoted an "anonymous senior official from the Department of Education" who claimed that Reed was facing liquidity issues with his venture capital firm, Reed Global Enterprises, and was using the school scandal as an excuse to pull his funds.
Attached to the article was a grainy photograph taken from a security camera in the Garfield hallway—showing Nathan aggressively confronting Principal Caldwell outside his office while holding Lily.
"They're spinning it," Clara whispered, reading over Nathan’s shoulder, her face draining of color. "They're turning you into the villain!"
"Superintendent Julian Mercer," Nathan said softly, his voice dropping into a register of sheer, lethal ice. "He’s behind this."
"Who is Julian Mercer?" Clara asked.
"The man who sits on top of the school district's fifty-million-dollar budget," Nathan explained, handing the tablet back to Marcus. "Caldwell wouldn't have the courage or the media connections to pull a hit piece like this off in three hours. Mercer is protecting something."
"Mr. Reed," Marcus warned, "the board of Reed Global is already calling your private line. The stock price for your subsidiary tech holdings dropped four percent in after-hours trading. The public relations team is recommending you release a statement apologizing for the 'misunderstanding' at the school."
Nathan let out a low, bitter laugh.
"Apologize?" Nathan asked, turning to face Marcus. "Tell the PR team they are fired if they issue a single word of apology."
He turned back to Clara, taking her hand once more.
"Mercer thinks he can play media games with me," Nathan said, a dangerous, brilliant smile spreading across his lips. "He thinks I'm going to defend my reputation. He doesn't realize I'm not going to defend anything. I'm going to destroy him."
Nathan looked at Marcus. "Get Arthur Vance on the line."
May you like
Marcus blinked. "Your uncle? The retired federal prosecutor?"
"Yes," Nathan commanded. "Tell him I need a forensic audit team sent to the central offices of the Chicago Public School District tonight. And tell him to bring federal subpoenas."
