The emergency school board meeting was called with less than twenty-four hours' notice, summoning parents, faculty, alumni representatives, and select students to discuss "recent developments affecting academy reputation and student welfare." The vague agenda fooled no one—this was about the bedroom photo scandal, the newspaper acquisition, and the escalating family conflicts playing out through Ashwick's elite student body.
I arrived at the academy boardroom with my grandmother, who'd flown in from Italy specifically for this meeting. She was wearing an elegant Armani suit and the kind of expression that suggested she was ready for warfare disguised as diplomatic discussion.
"Remember, Isabella," she said as we approached the boardroom, "you represent not just yourself but the entire Vi
