Chapter 12 - THE ROOM WHERE ALLISON HALE FINALLY HAD TO ANSWER
Allison agreed to an interview only after her attorney advised cooperation.
Ariana was not legally required to attend.
She asked to.
So did Dana.
The meeting took place off campus.
Allison wore a navy suit.
No crest.
No family jewelry.
She looked at Dana first.
“I remember you.”
Dana answered:
“I know.”
Allison turned to Ariana.
“I’m sorry your information was included improperly.”
Ariana almost laughed.
“Improperly?”
Allison’s attorney shifted.
Ariana continued.
“You wrote that I had escalating aggression.”
“I relied on reports.”
“One of them put me on campus while I was seventy miles away.”
“That should have been verified.”
“You added my file yourself.”
Allison’s composure flickered.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because of the incident involving Victoria.”
“You mean when she copied my research.”
Allison looked at the table.
“My daughter believed you were targeting her.”
“Did you believe her?”
“I believed the situation was becoming unhealthy.”
“For who?”
Allison looked up.
Ariana waited.
Finally:
“For Victoria.”
There it was.
Intentional favoritism stripped of polite language.
Ariana asked:
“So you protected her by making me financially removable.”
Allison’s attorney interrupted.
“That characterization—”
Allison raised a hand.
“No.”
She looked at Ariana.
“I convinced myself I was protecting the institution too.”
“From me?”
“From conflict.”
Dana laughed quietly.
Allison turned to her.
Dana said:
“You still talk exactly like your old grant office.”
Allison stiffened.
Dana continued.
“Conflict always means the person with less money is causing trouble.”
Allison’s face changed.
Not anger.
Recognition.
Ariana asked the question no attorney had.
“Would you have opened a sustainability review on Victoria if I had copied her work?”
Allison did not answer.
“Would you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Allison’s voice dropped.
“Because Victoria does not receive aid.”
Ariana leaned back.
That was the whole system.
Full-pay students had discipline.
Scholarship students had existential risk.
A bad decision by Victoria might cost her a position.
A bad accusation against Ariana could cost her school.
Allison had understood that difference.
She had used it deliberately.
Before leaving, Dana stopped beside her.
“You told me three years ago Ariana might become symbolic.”
Allison looked up.
Dana’s voice remained calm.
“You were right.”
Ariana glanced at her mother.
May you like
Dana finished:
“She became the student who made everybody explain the rules they thought nobody poor would ever ask to see.”
