Chapter 3 - A Proxy's Greed
The entire auditorium descended into a state of shocked, echoing silence.
I gripped the edge of the velvet curtain, my knuckles turning completely white.
President Thorne tried to politely take the microphone back, but Haley practically growled and yanked it away.
"I have the VIP authentication ticket right here," Haley announced, holding my stolen gold envelope up to the camera.
My father stood up in the front row, his chest puffed out in a display of nauseating arrogance.
"My daughter is the rightful proxy, so hand over the oversized check and let's get this over with!" he shouted.
The wealthy hospital donors sitting in the balcony began to murmur amongst themselves in clear disgust.
Dean Bradley stepped out from behind the curtain, his academic robes flowing behind him like a storm cloud.
"Miss, this grant is strictly non-transferable," the Dean announced, his voice booming without the need for a microphone.
Haley rolled her eyes and crossed her arms like a spoiled child denied a toy.
"My dad already authorized the wire transfer on his computer, so the money is basically ours anyway."
She reached out and tried to rip the giant presentation check out of the President's hands.
A collective gasp echoed through the room as the cardboard check tore slightly down the middle.
"Security, remove this young woman from the stage," the Dean ordered, waving his hand toward the guards.
My stepmother let out a theatrical shriek and rushed toward the stairs to defend her daughter.
"Don't you dare touch her, she's an influencer with over ten thousand followers!" she screamed.
Two guards easily blocked the steps, forcing my stepmother to wait at the bottom.
Haley was now clutching the torn half of the check, looking wildly around the stage for an escape route.
"You can't do this, the VIP ticket proves I have clearance!" she cried out.
Dean Bradley walked up to the podium and adjusted the microphone to his towering height.
"The ticket grants access, but the release of the ten million dollars requires a final, unalterable security measure."
My father's smug expression finally began to crack as he stared up at the Dean.
"What security measure?" my father demanded, his voice cracking with sudden panic.
A sleek, metallic pedestal slowly rose from the center of the wooden stage, glowing with blue LED lights.
"The funds will only be released from escrow upon a successful biometric retinal scan of the actual award winner," the Dean stated calmly.
He gestured toward the glowing machine and looked directly down at Haley.
"If you are the proxy, then the machine will surely recognize your family's genetic profile."
Haley smirked, confidently strutting over to the machine and pressing her face against the scanner.
A harsh, blaring red light instantly filled the auditorium.
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An automated robotic voice echoed through the speakers, making my family's blood run cold.
"Warning: Retinal mismatch detected. Initiating lockdown of all affiliated network accounts."
