Another.
Nothing.
Then another.
Nothing.
He looked up.
"You didn't notify the parents."
Valerie's face remained neutral.
"We use discretion."
"You concealed complaints."
"No."
"You concealed complaints from me."
"That's not the same thing."
"It is when I'm responsible for student safety."
Valerie leaned forward.
"Daniel, you need to understand the position we're in."
He stared at her.
"Explain it."
"If every complaint becomes an official disciplinary case, this school will drown in paperwork."
"Paperwork?"
"Parents complain. Students exaggerate. Reputations get damaged."
Daniel looked at the files.
"And what about Evelyn?"
Valerie didn't answer.
Daniel leaned back.
"Did Madison Blake's parents contact you?"
A pause.
"Once."
"What did they say?"
"That Madison was being accused unfairly."
"By whom?"
"Other students."
"Did you investigate?"
"Yes."
"Did you investigate Madison?"
Valerie's eyes shifted.
Daniel noticed.
"You didn't."
"Sir—"
"You protected her."
"No."
"You protected the school."
Valerie said nothing.
Daniel stood.
"Same thing."
Valerie looked at him.
"Please think carefully before you make accusations."
Daniel smiled without humor.
"I'm not accusing you."
He held up the files.
"I'm documenting."
That afternoon, Daniel called an emergency board meeting.
Madison's father arrived furious.
"This is absurd."
Daniel sat at the head of the table.
Mr. Blake slammed a hand onto the desk.
"My daughter has been publicly humiliated."
Daniel looked at him.
"Your daughter poured a bucket of dirty water over another student."
"After being provoked."
"By what?"
Mr. Blake hesitated.
"By Evelyn's behavior."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"What behavior?"
"She deceived everyone."
"By wearing inexpensive clothes?"
Mr. Blake said nothing.
Daniel continued.
"By taking the bus?"
Still nothing.
"By refusing to tell students her father was principal?"
Mr. Blake's face hardened.
"This isn't about money."
"No."
Daniel looked at him.
"It's about power."
He pushed the complaint files across the table.
"Seven reports."
Mr. Blake looked down.
"These are nothing."
"Seven reports."
"Children exaggerate."
"Seven reports from the same student."
Mr. Blake glanced at Valerie.
Then back at Daniel.
"You're protecting your daughter."
Daniel's expression didn't change.
"Yes."
The room became silent.
Then Daniel added:
"I'm also protecting every other student whose complaint disappeared."
Mr. Blake leaned forward.
"You can't ruin my daughter's life over a school prank."
Daniel answered quietly.
"You ruined your daughter's life the moment you taught her that money could protect her from consequences."
Mr. Blake stood.
"This isn't over."
Daniel nodded.