Chapter 3 - The Land Deal
Olivia called Alexander.
He arrived at her dorm within fifteen minutes.
Security came with him.
So did academy staff.
Olivia hated that.
The hallway filled with adults before she finished explaining.
The photograph went into an evidence sleeve.
Malcolm looked offended.
“This is becoming absurd.”
Alexander turned.
“My daughter was threatened inside your dormitory.”
“It may be another student’s bad joke.”
“You use that phrase often.”
Malcolm’s expression cooled.
Olivia interrupted.
“What does the message mean?”
Alexander looked at her.
“Which part?”
“Why you came to buy Westbridge.”
“I wasn’t buying Westbridge.”
“Then what?”
He hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
“Dad.”
“We were considering purchasing adjacent land.”
“Adjacent?”
“The south acreage technically belongs to a related holding company.”
“Controlled by who?”
Alexander exhaled.
“Westbridge Foundation.”
Olivia folded her arms.
“And?”
“Reed Hospitality proposed a joint development.”
She stared.
“So you did come here for a real estate deal.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“You asked me not to interfere with your experience here.”
“That isn’t the same thing.”
“No.”
Olivia felt betrayed in a way she could not fully justify.
Her father was allowed to conduct business.
But she had built her identity at Westbridge around one belief:
She had chosen the academy independently.
Now she wondered if her father had always intended to own part of it.
“Did you send me here because of the deal?”
“No.”
“How do I know?”
Alexander’s face changed.
“You know because I’m telling you.”
“That’s not evidence.”
The words were his own lesson thrown back at him.
He absorbed it.
“No. It isn’t.”
He took out his phone.
“I’ll show you the emails.”
She stopped him.
“Later.”
Alexander nodded.
“Fair.”
The threatening photograph created another problem.
Police were notified because it had been placed inside Olivia’s secured residence.
The academy insisted the wording did not constitute a direct threat.
Alexander’s lawyer disagreed.
No arrest followed.
But the incident became documented.
The next morning Olivia searched public county property records with Liam.
Westbridge Foundation owned 420 acres.
The academy itself occupied about 300.
The south 120 acres were valuable.
A planned highway expansion would dramatically increase access.
Liam frowned at the map.
“This isn’t just a lodge.”
“What?”
“If the highway goes through, this land could be worth a fortune.”
Olivia leaned closer.
He was right.
Luxury resort.
Event center.
Equestrian competitions.
Residential villas.
The academy’s beautiful isolation could become prime development land.
Then they found a second filing.
Westbridge Foundation had borrowed $18 million two years earlier.
The lender was Vale Capital Partners.
Sienna’s family.
Olivia felt her stomach drop.
“If the academy defaults…”
Liam continued.
“Vale Capital could take the land.”
Now Sienna’s family’s influence made sense.
Not only donations.
Debt.
Olivia contacted Paige.
They met in the library.
“Did your mother know about the loan?”
Paige looked uncomfortable.
“Yes.”
“How bad is Westbridge financially?”
“Bad.”
“How bad?”
Paige whispered, “They’re months from covenant default.”
Olivia stared.
The academy looked rich.
Imported horses.
Stone barns.
Indoor arenas.
European trainers.
But appearances were not cash flow.
“What happened?”
“Expansion. Lawsuits. Insurance. Enrollment decline.”
“What lawsuits?”
Paige hesitated.
“Horse injuries.”
That caught Olivia’s attention.
“What kind?”
“Colic. Lameness. One transport accident.”
Liam frowned.
“Those don’t usually destroy an academy.”
“No.”
Paige looked around.
“There were insurance claims.”
Olivia leaned forward.
“What are you not saying?”
“My mother found invoices that looked fake.”
“For what?”
“Veterinary services.”
Olivia stared.
The story widened again.
That afternoon, Alexander showed Olivia the emails proving she had chosen Westbridge before Reed Hospitality pursued the land deal.
The timeline cleared him.
But the proposal still bothered her.
“If Westbridge owes the Vales eighteen million, why would they negotiate with you?”
Alexander answered immediately.
“To refinance them out.”
“So your deal would weaken Sienna’s family.”
“Yes.”
“Did Victoria know?”
“Absolutely.”
Olivia thought of the bucket.
Could Sienna have known who she was before Liam revealed it?
“Did the Vales know I’m your daughter?”
Alexander’s expression changed.
“They might.”
“How?”
“Victoria has met you.”
“No.”
“At a Reed Foundation gala three years ago.”
Olivia remembered hundreds of guests.
“I don’t remember her.”
“She may remember you.”
Olivia felt cold.
Sienna’s shock in the courtyard had looked real.
But maybe Victoria knew.
Maybe Sienna did not.
That distinction mattered.
Later, Olivia approached Sienna outside Barn Two.
Sienna’s friends moved closer.
Olivia said, “Did you know who my father was before yesterday?”
Sienna laughed.
“No.”
“Did your mother?”
Sienna’s smile faded slightly.
“Why?”
“Answer.”
“My mother knows everyone.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Sienna stepped closer.
“You think because your dad owns hotels you can interrogate me?”
“No. I think because you poured filthy water over me, I’m allowed to ask why.”
Sienna’s face hardened.
“I didn’t know.”
Olivia believed her.
Then Sienna added:
“But my mother did tell me to stay away from you.”
Olivia froze.
“When?”
“Your first week.”
“Why?”
“She said you were trouble.”
“What kind?”
Sienna shrugged.
“Corporate trouble.”
Olivia’s pulse quickened.
Before she could ask more, a stable hand ran from Barn Four shouting for help.
Everyone turned.
Inside, one of Westbridge’s most valuable competition horses, a gray gelding named Monarch, was trembling violently.
Foam gathered at his mouth.
The veterinarian rushed in.
Olivia followed until staff stopped students at the aisle.
Minutes later, Dr. Keene emerged.
His expression was grim.
“What happened?” Malcolm demanded.
The veterinarian held up a feed scoop.
“There’s something mixed into his grain.”
Olivia stared.
“Medication?”
Dr. Keene looked at her.
“Possibly.”
Then the barn manager found something beside Monarch’s stall.
A navy fabric strip.
Torn from a hoodie.
Everyone slowly looked at Olivia.
Her hoodie.
May you like
The one still drying after Sienna’s bucket.
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