d open the heavy oak door of the stu

walked straight to the massive desk, pull

or open. His tie was pulled loose. The d

f paper down in front of her. "Preston has a

cal register. "Amara, we are profoundly disappointed in you. We took you in, and this is how you beha

own good, we have contacted a highly disciplined boarding school in Nevada. They special

e pulled out a fresh lollipop, unwrapped it, and pl

cade of a concerned patriarch instantly shattering into raw rage.

or and pulled out a thick manila envelope, one of the countless contingency plans-Plan B-prepare

the oak desk and pushed the

black text at the top of the pages. Declaration of

these, and I walk out the front d

teen-year-old girl sitting in his chair, tryin

ature line. "I already signed it. I am waiving the hundred-thousand-dollar severa

His pulse slowed. A violent, emotionless dau

on the desk. "Sign it, Sterling! Before she chan

s jacket pocket. He pressed the nib to the

, invisible weight lifted off Ama

ded it, and shoved it into her backpack. She

efficiency. A sudden, cold knot of pan

t of dumpsters in a we

er hand on the brass knob. "I hope you n

irs. She did not look at Brandie, who was h

ront doors. A torrential down

e black umbrella. Her eyes were red. She tri

umbrella. She leaned in and wrapped her ar

nd stepped into the rain. The hea

ay. The rain pounded against th

ssive, armored black SUV sat idl