Chapter 13

 

The principal stood in front of me, bowing with a level of respect I had never experienced before. It was an odd feeling, not one of triumph or revenge, but something much more profound—a sense of quiet assurance.

I noticed the crowd around us, watching in stunned silence as they took in the unexpected scene. I could tell they were still live streaming, judging by the comments flying in.  

“Why did the principal act like that?”  

“This is wild; I bet everyone in the city is tuning into this.”

I stole a glance at the director, still holding his sore cheek, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. The principal had just slapped him in front of the whole school.

“Get this disgrace out of here,” he ordered, pointing at the guards. “And just so you know, you’re fired.”  

“Fired?” echoed the director along with a few others.

The director attempted to reason with the principal, but the guards stepped in, dragging him out like a common criminal—just moments ago, they had been the ones restraining me. He pleaded, his voice trembling, “Please, sir, there’s been a mistake—”

The principal didn’t even glance his way. "Get him out of here," he said to the security guards in a frosty tone. They didn’t think twice; they were eager to escort him out, but when he refused to budge, they ended up dragging him away, his protests fading into the noise of the crowd. People murmured, trying to piece together what had just unfolded, but I stayed calm and collected.

I zeroed in on the principal. He had to be in my corner; he had to know something about me—my identity as a Langston. Did he realize I was the long-lost heir? He seemed a bit doubtful, but maybe he was just trying to look out for me because he understood the whole deal, wanting to protect something of his own, just like the director did with Mikky.

That thought kept swirling in my mind as I waited to see if it was true. I noticed Mikky. His face twisted into a sneer, clearly misreading the situation. He stepped forward, oozing arrogance, and said, “Sir, I think you’ve got it wrong. Jordan is nothing. A nobody. He doesn’t deserve—” 

The principal shot him a sharp look that silenced him instantly. Mikky’s confidence wavered for just a moment, but he kept pushing, convinced the principal would back him up once he realized who he was. After all, Mikky’s family had thrown money at the school, and they loved to flaunt their influence, thinking it gave them power.

Mikky started again, “Jordan is just—” but the principal interrupted him, his voice filled with rage. 

“Enough!” The word rang out across the courtyard, silencing the crowd and their whispers, all eyes glued to the scene unfolding. Mikky flinched as if he’d been hit, his bravado fading fast. The principal jabbed a finger at him, shaking with fury. “You really think I don’t know who you are, Mikky? You think your family’s little donations carry weight here? Let me make it clear: keep this up, and you’ll be the next one kicked out of Kingsford University. Got it?”

Mikky stood there, frozen, his mouth moving like a fish gasping for air, completely at a loss for words. The crowd was stunned, the live streamers still focused on us, capturing every second. I could almost feel the viewers collectively gasp, relishing the sight of Mikky—who usually dished out the humiliation—getting torn apart in front of everyone.

I just stood there, unfazed, slowly buttoning up the shirt Mikky had tried to rip off earlier.

I locked eyes with Mikky as he glanced my way, desperation creeping into his expression. He knew he was losing ground, that his usual scare tactics weren’t going to cut it today. For the first time, I noticed fear in him. He’d always thought he was invincible, but now he was starting to see just how shaky his position really was, and I bet he never thought I’d be the one to challenge him. His nightmare.

The principal turned back to me, his face softening. “I’m really sorry for what you’ve been through, Jordan. I promise this won’t happen again.” He looked at the crowd before adding, “This school will make sure every student, no matter their background, is treated with respect and dignity.” I started to see the principal in a new light.

“Thanks,” I said, keeping my tone calm.

The crowd was still buzzing, their shock evident. The livestreamers were probably freaking out over how quickly things had turned around. 

I didn’t need to say anything else. I could sense Mikky fuming, but I didn’t glance back. Let him wallow in his defeat. This wasn’t finished, not by a long shot.

I would take him down—but I’d do it with a quiet precision. Just like a true Langston.

“OMG! The views have shot up by 10 million,”  

“That’s right, Kingsford is trending. I think the principal made the right call.”  

“But the director shouldn’t be fired.”  

“I think the principal did the right thing.”  

The comments kept flooding in.