Chapter 13 - The Meeting Room
The university's vendor review session began at eleven.
Tatum arrived with a bandage over her cheek and a portfolio of glossy banquet photographs.
She greeted the committee as if the graduation had been an unfortunate weather event.
I sat in the back beside Dahlia and Melanie.
I wanted to stand the second Tatum began speaking.
I kept my hands folded instead.
Tatum described her company's experience, its community donations, and the “unpredictable family altercation” that had damaged her equipment.
She never said the word fountain.
A committee member asked whether her company was involved in any pending fraud dispute.
“Baseless family accusations,” Tatum said.
“Nothing more.”
Melanie had already submitted Dahlia's written dispute, Nina's documents, and Harper's footage to the procurement office.
The committee chair announced that the catering award would be deferred pending an ethics review.
Tatum's fingers tightened around the edge of her portfolio.
For once, her smile failed.
Afterward, she caught me in the hallway.
“You think stopping one contract will save your precious daughter?”
“I think she deserves a chance to start her life.”
Tatum leaned close.
“You hit me in public. You gave me the cleanest story I could ask for.”
I stepped back instead of answering.
That single movement felt harder than the punch.
Dahlia came around the corner holding a paper handed to her by the university's risk officer.
It was a letter supporting Tatum's vendor application.
It claimed Dahlia had willingly guaranteed financing for the business as part of a family partnership.
May you like
At the bottom was her typed name and a signature that looked almost perfect.
The letter had been submitted through Severin's university alumni account.
