System Revenge: From Trash Boy to Top Boss

Chapter 28

The Olive Branch was electric. It was a burst of giddiness mixed with anticipation and still-shock. Ernie and his bunch were gone, Beatrice, Chloe and Daphne had stood up and moved to a corner In shame, the whole thing turned to Damon and, as he stood, there was a silence with which he radiated, awaiting his next move.

"Okay, well - Damon said in a decidedly cool, husky tones, "that... was - was - interesting, to be sure, sorry I made the mess, but I feel like I had to address certain... misconceptions.”

But then he stopped, turned and looked over his fellow students. “But I didn’t join you all here to see a social collapse; I have a rather different announcement to make, one I think will be of benefit to the whole university community. ”

A rumble of curiousity sounded through the room. People leaned forward to hear what Damon had to say.

"As some of you may know, " Damon continued, "I have been working on a couple of projects outside my studies. One of those projects has just culminated in a rather large partnership.

He paused to give us dramatic effect, then dropped the bombshell: "I'm delighted to announce I have secured a very significant partnership between Omni Corps -- and, my company -- Yorkers bank -- one of the world's leading financial and holding companies.

A collective gasp echoed out. OmniCorp. And it was well known for being innovative, a huge part of our culture, and for offering lucrative internship programs. It all made sense what Damon was about to announce.

“This partnership, ” Damon roared, with eager anticipation, “will open a world of opportunity to our university previously unexplored. We are talking internships, scholarships and, perhaps most importantly, a new campus resource center outfitted with sophisticated technology and staffed by industry experts.

The room erupted in cheers. Those students in red, shiny gleaming faces — that was it. They were looking forward to internships at OmniCorp, scholarships to help with their college costs, and a state-of-the-art resources center on campus.

But - Damon said, his voice rising above the noise - there's a catch.

The applause died down, replaced by a nervous silence.

“I don’t think that everyone should be chosen for this, ” Damon zipped his head a little, “but some of us, and we are all here – those who demonstrate merit, character and true commitment to our community, those who practice truth, integrity and respect.”

He paused, letting his words sink in. "Therefore," he announced, his voice ringing with authority, "this opportunity will not be available to those who have engaged in malicious behavior, those who have spread lies and rumors, those who have attempted to sabotage others for their own personal gain."

The implications were clear. Beatrice, Chloe, Daphne, and Ernie's crew were effectively excluded from the most significant opportunity to come to their university in years.

Beatrice, who had been sitting in stunned silence in a corner since Damon's initial announcement, finally found her voice. "That's not fair!" she exclaimed, her voice shrill. "You can't do that! You can't punish us for… for expressing our concerns!"

"Expressing concerns?" Damon countered, his eyebrow raised. "Or engaging in a deliberate campaign of defamation and sabotage? I think the evidence speaks for itself, Beatrice."

Chloe chimed in, her voice laced with desperation. "But… but this is our future we're talking about! You're ruining our lives!"

"You ruined your own lives," Damon replied, his voice cold and unwavering. "You made your choices, and now you have to live with the consequences."

Daphne, ever the pragmatist, attempted a different approach. "Damon," she said, her voice softening slightly, "can't we talk about this? Can't we find some way to… to make amends?"

"There's nothing to talk about, Daphne," Damon replied, his voice firm. "The decision has been made. And it's final."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small card. "For those of you who are genuinely interested in this opportunity," he said, his voice regaining its warmth, "please take one of these cards. It contains information about the application process, the eligibility requirements, and the timeline for the internships, scholarships, and resource center."

He gestured to a nearby table, where a stack of cards was neatly arranged. Students eagerly lined up, their faces filled with hope and anticipation.

Beatrice Chloe and Daphne, however, remained seated in their seats, their faces stained with despair. They watched as their friends rushed towards the table -- dreams of a splendid future wafting through their fingers.

"And" Damon said, his voice sounding as though it were closing, "for those of you who still have any doubts of my action I would remind you that I have just now forwarded to the university authorities a list of names along with all the evidence that can be found of the accused, who will be carrying out their own investigation and I have no doubt that they will take the appropriate action. "

He paused, looking over the audience. "This is an opportunity that is about merit, character, and community, " he said confidently, his voice proofing on every element. "It's about building a better future for all of us -- a better future on the basis of truth, integrity, and respect, and I'm confident that we can achieve that together. "

The room turned into another massive cheer that was, frankly, louder and more enthusiastic than ever before. Students cheered, bright smiles on their lips – thanks very much and admiration for a man who had not only exposed the evil doings of his detractors but provided for a real and tangible solution to a brighter future for the whole university.

Beatrice was now fuming as she charge towards Damon and swings her hand as she attempts to slap Damon. Annoyed that the pauper she knew a few weeks ago was now humiliating her in front of the whole school.

But just as she swung, a faster hand claim landing in her cheek.

“SMACK!!!”

The entire crowd was shocked as Aria landed a sounding slap on Beatrice face leaving a red mark on her otherwise pale face. Beatrice stumbled back landed on her ass, has she held her face with tears spilling out of her eyes, from the pain of the slap.

Aria stood tall looking down at her, “that enough of you bullshit. I can’t tolerate you disrespect to me because we were once friends, but I will not tolerate that to my boyfriend Damon.”

Aria continues with her voice firm and loud, “we are no longer friends, you three have always been below me, but I cared for you a lot and you still betrayed me, I even gave you a chance to apologize but instead, you seek to discredit Damon. You guys are nothing but pathetic leaches and I have out grown you.”

The "face slap" started about the moment Damon, having delivered his speech, turned to the manager of the restaurant. "Excuse me, sir, " he muttered with an impeccably polite voice, "can you please send Beatrice, Chloe, and Daphne out of here? I think that their presence no longer contributes to a good atmosphere here. "

Manager eager to be noticed, the mix of awe and dread gradually dawning on him, nodded anxiously. "Of course, Mr. Newton, " said his voice full of relief. "Good start. "

He reached over and approached the three ladies, whose expression lay sorry. “I'm sorry ladies, ” he said, “but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. ”

Beatrice, Chloe, and Daphne - faces red with humiliation, shouting wildly -- ran out into the street and ran away. With their reputations forever damaged, they walk out the door of this restaurant. The crowd broke away to let them out, and their laughter at the girls was utterly humiliating.

Damon watched them leave, a dim smile on his lips. He was victorious not only in keeping his reputation, and in protecting his relationship with Aria, but also in using the power he had wielded to shape a better future for the entire student body, and doing it all with grace, intelligence, and unwavering conviction. The power play was spot on.