Chapter 3 - Purging the Rotten Roots
The fall of the Sterling family was swift, brutal, and sent shockwaves through the highest echelons of the city’s elite.
By the next morning, Victoria Sterling’s official resignation was broadcast on every major news network. Federal agents were seen raiding the offices of Sterling Properties, while Stacy was spotted by paparazzi wearing an orange volunteer vest outside the downtown soup kitchen, wiping tears from her eyes as she handed soup bowls to the local homeless population.
But my work at St. Jude Academy had only just begun.
At 8:00 AM on Wednesday morning, a fleet of four black SUVs pulled up to the main administration building of St. Jude Academy.
I stepped out of the lead vehicle, flanked by Eleanor, Carlos, and a team of six independent forensic accountants from Ernst & Young.
The main courtyard—usually bustling with loud, arrogant children of wealthy politicians and CEOs—was dead silent. Students stood along the brick walkways, whispering in hushed tones, watching me as I walked toward the board room.
In the grand conference room, twelve members of the St. Jude Board of Trustees sat around a massive oval marble table.
Sitting at the far end was Principal Evelyn Vance, looking terrified, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Beside her were wealthy donors, corporate sponsors, and senior department heads who had built the school's prestige over the last two decades.
I walked into the room without knocking, stepping straight to the head of the table. Carlos pulled out the executive chair for me, and I sat down.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen," I said, resting my hands on the marble table.
The board members looked at each other nervously.
A wealthy trustee—a hedge fund manager named Julian Thorne—cleared his throat, trying to adopt a firm, authoritative tone. "Mr. De La Cruz. While we recognize your position as the controlling trustee of the real estate, the board feels that yesterday’s events were handled with excessive publicity. The reputation of St. Jude Academy has suffered immensely. Enrollment applications are dropping, and—"
"Julian," I interrupted, raising a single finger.
Julian stopped talking instantly.
"Carlos," I said. "Read Mr. Thorne's file."
Carlos opened a blue folder. "Julian Thorne. Board member for six years. Has voted down three separate proposals to expand the school's merit-based scholarship program for low-income students, citing 'cultural dilution.' Meanwhile, Mr. Thorne has used school endowment funds to pay for eighteen private jet trips under the guise of 'international student recruitment.'"
Julian’s face turned bright red. "That... those were legitimate recruitment trips!"
"You were in Cabo with your mistress, Julian," Eleanor corrected smoothly, sliding a stack of photographic evidence across the table. "Paid for by the St. Jude General Scholarship Fund."
Julian gasped, staring at the photos in sheer horror.
"The entire administrative structure of this academy," I said, looking slowly around the table at every trembling face, "is rotten. You built a country club disguised as a school. You charged fifty thousand dollars a year in tuition, ignored systemic bullying, accepted bribes from wealthy parents, and treated scholarship kids like second-class citizens."
"Mr. De La Cruz," Principal Vance whimpered, tears filling her eyes. "I... I tried to maintain discipline! But the donors... the donors threatened to pull their funding if we punished their children!"
"Then you should have resigned, Evelyn," I said coldly. "Instead, you stayed, took your two-hundred-thousand-dollar salary, and looked the other way while a ten-year-old girl was forced to hand over her lunch money every single day."
I stood up, resting my hands on the table, leaning forward.
"Effective noon today," I announced, "this Board of Trustees is officially dissolved."
A gasp went around the table.
"You can't dissolve the board!" another female trustee cried out. "The bylaws require a two-thirds vote!"
"The bylaws," Eleanor explained, pointing to the charter document, "state that if financial embezzlement from the scholarship fund exceeds fifty thousand dollars, the controlling trustee holds absolute authority to terminate the entire board without notice."
"Every single one of you will vacate your offices by lunch," I said. "Our forensic audit team will spend the next two weeks going through every receipt, every expense report, and every disciplinary file logged over the last five years. Anyone who took a bribe will face criminal prosecution."
I turned to Principal Vance.
"Evelyn," I said.
She flinched, looking up at me with absolute dread. "Yes, sir?"
"You are fired," I said flatly. "And your teaching license is being submitted for state revocation."
Principal Vance buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably as two auditors stepped up to escort her out of the room.
Julian Thorne stood up frantically, clutching his briefcase. "You're destroying this institution, De La Cruz! If you fire the board and kick out the wealthy donors' kids, who is going to pay for this school?!"
I walked over to the grand double doors, opening them wide to reveal the sunlit courtyard outside, where dozens of scholarship students were standing quietly, watching the administrative building.
"I am," I said quietly. "Every single cent. From now on, St. Jude Academy isn't a playground for arrogant rich kids."
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I looked back at Julian with a cold, victorious smile.
"It's a school."
