Chapter 41 An Unexpected Proposal.

The atmosphere in the school boardroom was tense, the air thick with anticipation. Marcus had called for this meeting on short notice, and his presence alone was enough to set everyone on edge. As Kai and I sat at the head of the table, we exchanged a glance, silently preparing for whatever Marcus had up his sleeve this time. Marcus had always been a formidable rival. His ambition and business acumen were well-known, and while he had once been an ally in the school's development, our paths had diverged sharply when Kai and I made the decision to focus on academic excellence rather than commercial expansion. Now, Marcus was back, seeking to re-negotiate and potentially join forces once more. But we were determined to stand by our principles, no matter how persuasive his arguments might be. Marcus entered the room with his characteristic swagger, his confident demeanor undiminished by the years. He greeted us with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes and took a seat across from us