Chapter 3 - The Billionaire's Rage
Oakbridge Preparatory was in a state of absolute chaos when the bus pulled through the wrought-iron gates. News vans were parked on the lawn. Parents in designer coats and luxury SUVs were swarming the entrance.
As the students filed off the bus, they didn't run to their parents. They stopped and looked back at Elena, who was quietly inspecting the tires.
Julian’s father, Richard Vance, pushed his way through the crowd. Richard was a billionaire tech mogul, a man who solved problems by throwing money and lawyers at them. He grabbed Julian by the shoulders.
"Are you hurt?" Richard demanded. Without waiting for an answer, he turned his fury toward the Headmaster. "I donate four million dollars a year to this institution, and you put my son on a bus driven by a traumatized war veteran? She purposely drove them into a danger zone!"
Elena closed the engine compartment and wiped her hands on a rag. She looked at Richard with eyes like chipped ice.
"The highway was blocked, Mr. Vance," Elena said calmly. "I navigated a sixty-foot vehicle through a multi-car pileup without a single student suffering a scratch."
"You exposed them to a burning vehicle!" Richard shouted, stepping into her personal space. "You're a liability! You want to play hero? Join the police force. You are fired, as of this minute."
The crowd of parents murmured in agreement. Wealthy people despised unpredictability, and Elena was a variable they couldn't control.
"Wait!"
Everyone turned. It was Julian. He stepped between his furious father and the bus driver.
"She didn't put us in danger, Dad," Julian said, his voice shaking but gaining strength. "She saved our lives. The truck ahead of us blew a tire. If she hadn't turned the wheel exactly when she did, we would have gone over the cliff. I have it on video."
Richard stared at his son, stunned by the insubordination. "Julian, get in the car."
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"No," Julian said, looking back at Elena. "I'm sorry. For what I said on the bus. I was an idiot."
Elena studied the boy for a long moment. The anger in her eyes softened, just a fraction. "Apology accepted, Julian. Now do as your father says. Go home."
