CHAPTER SIXTEEN: TOUCH OF POWER

The scene at “The Grand Table” was chaotic, the restaurant’s serene ambiance now replaced by a whirlwind of accusations and confusion. Jamie, still reeling from the unjust treatment, was being dragged towards a security van when a sleek black car screeched to a halt. Chris Wyatt, the Chief Security Officer, stepped out with an air of authority that silenced the murmurs and drew all eyes to him.

“Stop right there!” Chris barked, his voice cutting through the noise. The guards, momentarily stunned, froze in their tracks. He strode over, his eyes scanning the scene with a mix of anger and disbelief. “What’s going on here?” he demanded, his tone sharp and commanding.

The guards, unsure of how to react, started to stammer out their version of the story. “We were just following orders, Chief. Lucas said—”

Before they could finish, Chris held up a hand, his face darkening with fury. “Enough! You’re all fired. Right now.” The guards, taken aback by the sudden dismissal, looked at each other in disbelief. The restaurant’s patrons watched in stunned silence, the atmosphere now thick with tension.

Chris turned to Jamie, his expression softening. “Jamie, I’m so sorry. This shouldn’t have happened. I received a direct call from Chancellor Cole Blair, who also got a disturbing call from higher up. This is beyond just a campus issue. You shouldn’t have been treated this way.”

Jamie, still in shock, nodded slowly. “Thank you, Chris. I appreciate it.” His voice was steady, but the anger and humiliation were evident in his eyes.

“Would you like to be anywhere? I've been assigned to escort you in case you encounter any disturbance,” Chris Wyatt said.

“Thank you. Please take me to the bank. I need to do something there,” Jamie said as Chris nodded.

“As you wish,” Chris said, taking Jamie to his car and they drove away.

Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, Lucas and Bella stood in stunned silence, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Lucas’s face was a mask of shock and anger. “How did Jamie manage to pull this off? One call and the Chief Security Officer is firing our guards? This is insane!” He paced back and forth, his mind racing.

Bella, equally bewildered, shook her head. “I don’t get it, Lucas. This is way out of our league. How did Jamie even get to the Chancellor? And why would they listen to him? Something isn't adding up,” Bella said sitting down. She was carrying a worried look.

Lucas’s frustration boiled over. “I don’t know, Bella. But I’m not letting this slide. I'll never let Jamie have so much power over me,” Lucas said.

“So what do you plan on doing?” Bella asked, looking at Lucas.

“I’m calling my dad. He's the mayor of New York. He needs to know about this. He’ll know what to do. If Jamie thinks he can mess with us, he’s got another thing coming.”

With determination, Lucas pulled out his phone and dialed his father’s number. The phone rang several times before Mayor Boswell's voice came through, authoritative and commanding. “Lucas, what’s going on? You sound restless.

“Dad, you won’t believe this. Jamie just got the Chief Security Officer to fire our guards. He’s causing a scene at the campus restaurant, and everyone’s in a frenzy. I need your help. We need to know what’s going on, who’s behind this. Can the Chancellor and know who's behind Jamie because I know he can't do all these on his own. I don't know what you want to do but it must be done,” Lucas said, his voice a mixture of anger and fear.

“Don't worry son. This is not an issue. I'll handle it. Just relax,” Mayor Boswell said as Lucas nodded, ending the call.