CHAPTER 16: Fake It To Earn It.

"ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!!! Miss Jade Qing, your presence is needed in the Principal's office."

The students went silent as they listened to the announcement that passed through the speakers installed in the walls of the classroom.

Jade tilted her head with an intrigued eyebrow wondering why the principal had sent for her. First, it was her minion, Gina. Now her?

She went to the principal's office and stood in front of the door. She halted to straighten out her uniform with her hand, adjusting her collar and pleated mini skirt.

Jade knocked on the door, then she puffed out air through her mouth. As she twinkled her fingers to twist the doorknob, it clicked open. There came Gina, coming out of the principal's office with a gloomy expression on her face.

She looked up at Jade then Jade talked silently without her voice being audible "Why? What is going on in there? Did something happen?".

"Come inside Miss Jade Qing" The principal called from inside.

Gina fled quickly leaving Jade anxious with curiosity.

She entered inside the principal's office. To her surprise, her mother was sitting right in front of the principal, having a discussion.

"Mom? Why are you here today?" said Jade.

With the worrisome expression on her mother's face, leaving no clue, Jade turned to look at the utterance on the principal's face. The principal drew down her medicated glasses, looking upward at her conspicuously.

"Good morning Ma'am" Jade bowed in greeting.

"Have a sit Miss Qing" The principal replied.

Jade folded her lips in her mouth. With her heart racing, she grabbed a seat as she thought anxiously; "Am I in trouble? Why is Mom here?"

"Mrs. Qing, with your daughter here, a better explanation would do." The principal said to Jade's mother.

Jade's mother turned to Jade "Child, what is this I'm hearing about you? Did you stripe your classmate naked, harassing her? My God! What has gotten over you".

"No Mom, I never did such. She was still in her uniform, although torn. But it wasn't my fault mom, she struggled with me. To be fair, she deserves worse for stealing my precious bracelet. You know how I value gifts from Papa" Jade pouted her lips with puppy dog eyes, portraying an innocent act to her mother.

"C'mon now Jade, that is not fair. You shouldn't have taken matters into your hands when you discovered someone had stolen from you" her mother corrected.

"But Mom, what could have been done about it? I only---"

"You should have reported to the school authority for us to handle this matter in a mature way. There was no concrete evidence Miss Mae Li stole from you. Or did you catch her red-handed?" The principal hijacked the conversation, fixing her gaze on Jade which drove her more anxious.

She wouldn't have felt that way if her dad was rather here. He always takes her side but no, mother always sees the wrong in everything she does.

"Why isn't Papa here?" Jade asked her mother.

"Your dad had to catch a flight to a conference meeting outside the city. I am here, ain't I?" her mom raised an eyebrow.

Jade gulped in saliva as she looked at her mother in the eyes. She turned to the principal saying "I'm sorry, I took matters into my hands. Next time I'd call on the school authority" she spoke in a low tone, picking her fingernails.

"Very well then, but I'm afraid your apology is passed down the wrong way. You should rather apologize to the victim" The principal said leaning backward.

"What? B-but" she stuttered and then turned to her mother "Mom!" she breathes fiercely with aggravating anger.

Her mother looked at her and shook her head. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she said "You heard the principal Jade, you should apologize to your classmate.

"No Mother! I can't do that. What will people say?" Jade's eyes darted through the room, surging for a route out of this situation.

The principal leaned forward, clasping her palm on the table "People are already talking. Our school's reputation is at stake in the public eye. With this insolent behavior condoned, parents would withdraw their children from the school. It would be said that the school is no longer safe and conducive for learning. Do you understand what I'm saying Mrs Qing?".

"People are talking? People are talking? I know my daughter very well. It is unusual for her to act this way. Jade is well-cultured. Did you perhaps think of some circumstances that may have triggered her action? If her bracelet wasn't stolen, my daughter would never had being in this mess in the first place." Mrs Qing defended, holding Jade's hand as she spoke with Jade nodding in agreement. She had never been this proud of her mother before.

"I am sorry Mrs Qing. I know how much you have contributed to uplift this school and I appreciate that. However, it is uncontroversial for your daughter to render an apology to the victim, considering your husband's career hanging by a thread." Turning to Jade, she continued "I am talking out of great concern, you have to comply with the term, Jade... For the sake of your father" The principal added.

"What? How could this be that the people are angry with the mayor? Mrs Leslie, you have to do whatever it takes to bring down that video and save my husband's reputation." she said to the principal, opening her handbag and loading on the table bundles of cash. "I hope this will do"

The principal's mouth widened, greatly astonished "I-I will tr-try my best ma'am" she stuttered.

Jade's mother dropped more bundles of cash on the table, raising an eyebrow at the principal.

She cleared her throat, speaking confidently "Ahem! I will see to it that the video is brought down"

"Very good. I should take my leave now. I have places to be" Mrs Qing said, standing up from her chair with her designer handbag hung on her forearm. Jade arouse from her chair also, bowing to the principal.

The principal got up briskly, stretching out both arms to give Mrs. Qing a handshake "Thank you for your time Mrs. Qing."

Jade's mother brought out her right hand and they shook hands. Mrs. Qing exited the principal's office with Jade following behind. There was an awkward silence between them as they walked together through the hallway. Jade knew what her mother was thinking. She knew her mom would have scolded her if they weren't in public.

"I'm sorry Mom" she broke the silence.

"Feel sorry for yourself. You heard the principal, you have to make a grand apology to erase your father's name off this mess you've created unless you want to have your 18th birthday cancelled." The mom responded without turning to look at the pitiful expression on her daughter's face.

"No Mom. Not my birthday... That's beyond far now. I've already invited my friends. How can I stoop so low to apologize to a low life? I invited her even to my birthday, isn't that enough? You should see her Mom, she definitely has the face of a criminal. I am scared she might steal from my friends too" Jade shivered down her spine.

"Stop this nonsense already!" Her mom raised her voice to shun her. Then she looked around to see if anyone had witnessed the scene. There wasn't any sign of social beings in the hallway. Mrs Qing let out a sigh of relief.

She spoke with her teeth jammed, her neck veins becoming pronounced "I don't care what you have to do. You want to stream a live apology? go ahead. Make use of your social media accounts effectively. In spite of that, make use of your brains!" she tapped on Jade's temple.

Then she relaxed as she continued to talk "Your friend told the principal right in front of my eyes that she didn't see the girl you accuse of theft going through your stuff. Are you retarded? How can you act without thinking? No proof to your claim yet you stand on your ground to still say your classmate is the thief. You must have misplaced your bracelet somewhere---"

"I didn't misplace it Mom. I swear it was right on my wrist. I had searched everywhere for it". Jade interrupted with a trembling voice. Tears stood in her eyes. She sniffed with her eyes fixed, trying her best not to allow it to pour down.

"Shut your mouth. I am still talking" her mother said. The sound of her mother's voice shook her even more. She immediately wiped out her blurry vision.

"Even if you have to fake it to earn it, render that apology today! Your father's career is on the line, in a highly precarious state." she emphasized. "You wouldn't survive a day sleeping with the dogs. Hmph!". Mrs. Qing stamped her feet and walked out of Jade, infuriated.

Jade stood still, clenching her fist with her lips trembling as she watched her mother leave. She tried not to blink as her eyes became wet, blurring her vision by the second. She couldn't hold it in any longer, then fled into the lady's room and cried in front of the mirror.

She monitored her appearance in the mirror, making sure she maintains beauty and did not ruin her mascara. When she saw that too many tears would ruin her makeup, she stopped, frowning and flaring at her reflection as she washed her hands aggressively in the sink.

"You will pay for this." she said to herself, glaring fiercely at her reflection.

She took out her mobile phone and strongly dialed her minion's line. With the phone on her ears "Both of you, come quickly to the washroom now!" she commanded.

It didn't take up to two minutes and the girls clumsily rushed inside the Lady's room. They frightened when they saw how she glared viciously at her reflection.

"Uh oh... are we in trouble?" One of them said to the other, having no clue that the other had snitched on their queen bee.

Gina gulped as she quaked in her sneakers. She suddenly knelt down, creeping to Jade "Please my queen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell on you. The principal threatened me to speak the truth else I'd do community service on suspension if I was caught lying. I am sorry. I didn't want the situation to escalate. I did not want her to call my father. She had threatened to press dial button if I don't speak up. I'm really sorry my queen" she begged at Jade's feet.

"Shut up! Are you dumb? Are you retarded? Where you not created to think with your brain?" she tapped on Gina's temple just like how her mother had done to her. "You say you are my friend yet you are not loyal to me. Who the heck are you anyway?" Jade lashed out on her.

Gina tightened her eyelids, holding firmly on Jade's pleated skirt. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. It won't happen again. I promise to be a better friend obligated to you. Forgive me Jade". Gina wailed, blinking frequently to force tears out of her eyes.

The other minion joined in, pleading for Jade to pardon them.

"You all are bunch of fools. Useless I must say. My dad's reputation is ruined all because of you. The only way out of this is to apologize to that cockroach. I will forgive you this one time. If you mess up this apology, kiss this friendship goodbye. No more shopping sprees for you Gina, and you, Lisa, I'd make sure to terminate your dad's contract with my dad's organization. You better buckle up because it's gonna be a bumpy ride. Hahaha" Jade said on a serious note.

The both girls turned to look at each other and gulped.

"Now, here is the plan..." Jade continued.