Chapter 3

Word must have gotten out that I'd gone to the public complaints office.

Before the president could even call them in, Oliver Gilbert showed up on his own, dragging Teresa Fox along with him.

"So somebody swiped one lousy admission spot. Does she really have to blow it up like this? Now she's got Director James involved. This woman doesn't know a good deal when she sees one."

Oliver's irritated voice came drifting down the hallway before he'd even reached the door.

Then the door banged open.

He strolled in like he owned the place.

Teresa trailed behind him in a white dress.

Her eyes were red, as if she were the one who'd been wronged.

The second she saw me, she bit her lip and said, "Marianne, I know I owe you. But I really wanted to go to Riverton University. Please, just let me have this... Oliver said if you agree, he'll give you two million. That's enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life..."

"Right. Exactly." Oliver draped an arm smugly over Teresa's shoulder and cut me a sideways look.

Then he tipped his chin up and gave Frank James a polite little nod. "Well, Director, you're here too. Perfect. Do me a favor and be our witness today, so Marianne Finch can't back out on us later."

Even now, Oliver didn't take any of this seriously.

To him I was just a poor girl from the old downtown district.

Two million was supposed to knock me flat and leave me grateful.

He had no idea how big the mess was that he'd made.

Frank's face went so dark it could have dripped water.

He honestly hadn't expected the Gilbert heir to be this brazen.

Threatening the family of a decorated national servant, right in front of him, in broad daylight.

He slammed the table and shot to his feet, jabbing a finger at Oliver. "Oliver Gilbert, enrolling under a false identity is a crime. You think money can just buy that? What have you got in your head? Mush?"

Oliver laughed.

He leaned against the door frame, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.

He blew a slow smoke ring. "Director, you shouldn't put it that way. It's one university spot, that's all. There's nothing in this world money can't buy. It's only ever a matter of settling on a price. Tell you what... I'll do you the courtesy today and double it for her. Four million. Four million ought to do it, don't you think?"