Jonathan and Henrietta were still arguing, so they didn’t notice me squeezing through the crowd and sneaking away.
His disgusting confession had reminded me that I couldn’t go easy on him. In the past, I’d given up the chance to apply for a scholarship, allowing him to get it–he was the last on the list. I would also drag him along to various competitions so that he could get awards despite not being able to help.
This time, I applied for the scholarship and switched my participation in the competition from a group entry to an individual entry. I also called my assistant and told him to follow the company’s policy when distributing the corporate financial aid. He didn’t need to give Jonathan and Henrietta any more special favors.
Stoneridge Group’s corporate financial aid was the highest among them all. Jonathan and Henrietta had fallen far from the requirements, but I’d asked my assistant to leave their names on the list.
I’d initially only asked him to put Jonathan on the list, but Henrietta had shamelessly grouped herself with him and made it seem like I was looking down on them both if I didn’t help her. I’d kept her on the list just so I wouldn’t upset Jonathan.
A few days later, the lists of financial aid and scholarship receivers were released.
Henrietta came to question me when she didn’t find her name on the list despite scrutinizing it. “What gives you the right to have Jonathan and me removed from the list, Thalia? Do the employees at Stoneridge Group take orders from you alone?”
“You can say that.” I faked a smile. “You two have never qualified for financial aid anyway. You would never have been on the list in the first place if I hadn’t had you added there!”
“What about Jonathan, then? Why hasn’t he gotten a scholarship?” she demanded.
I shrugged. “It’s not my fault that his grades aren’t good enough, right?”
“Why are you taking the scholarships from us when you’re already so rich?” she screeched.
Our classmates gathered round and whispered among themselves.
I smiled and said, “Whose spot have I taken? Let me ask around. Have I taken any of your spots?”
