Chapter 77: Call to the Chancellor

Jude paused. "You know who I am?"

"Yes," she said. "I’m a sophomore in the strings department. A lot of students saw you in the auditorium yesterday."

She looked genuinely relieved, standing there in a worn coat with scraped hands, without the attitude common among the crowd Jude usually dealt with.

"What’s your name?" Jude asked. "Are you taking the masterclass today?"

"Sophie Reed," she answered. "I didn’t have the credits to register, but I watched from the upper tier yesterday."

Jude looked down at her bicycle; the front wheel was bent out of shape and unrideable. He pointed toward the black Koenigsegg parked at the curb.

"The bike is done," Jude said. "Leave it by the rack and put your violin inside. I’m heading to the main gates anyway; you can pick up a replacement after class."

Sophie hesitated, looking at the car, then nodded quickly. "Thank you, Mr. Lawson."

A minute later, sitting in the passenger seat of the Jesko, Sophie held her violin case tightly on her lap, still surprised to be riding in an ultra-rare hypercar.

As Jude drove the remaining 2 blocks, he checked the mirror. "The girl in the Maserati... Vanessa Thorne. Does she go to the school?"

"Yes," Sophie said. "Her father is a commercial developer. People on the student boards call her one of the ’Four Swans’ because of her family’s money."

Jude gave a dry smile. "Four Swans? Are you on that list?"

Sophie waved her hands quickly, turning red. "No, definitely not. Those girls all come from major families. My background is completely average."

"Money doesn’t set the standard," Jude noted as he turned the corner. "Without the designer labels, you handle yourself better than she does."

Sophie looked down, a small smile breaking through.

Jude pulled into a faculty parking spot near the side entrance, and they walked toward the main gates.

"Sophie!"

A voice called out from the curb.

Parked in the red zone right outside the entrance was a red Ferrari 488. Leaning against the hood was a young man in a designer tracksuit holding a large bundle of roses.

Sophie stopped, her face tightening. "Please ignore him, Mr. Lawson. I’ve told him to leave me alone, but he keeps showing up."

Seeing her, the young man walked over, blocking the gate with the flowers.

"Sophie, I called your name," he said, holding the roses out. "Take them."

"I don’t want them," Sophie said, stepping back. "Please stop waiting here."

"Not into roses? Fine, let’s get dinner at Le Bernardin after your classes," he insisted, stepping into her space. "Just 1 dinner, Sophie. If you say no, I’ll be here every morning until you agree."

"I said no," Sophie repeated, her voice shaking with annoyance.

Jude stepped between them, cutting off the path.

"She gave you her answer," Jude said evenly. "Move away from the gate."

The young man blinked, looking at Jude’s dark suit and assuming he was a junior faculty member.

"Who asked you?" he snapped. "Mind your own business and keep walking."

"You’re blocking a student at the campus gate," Jude replied, his tone flat. "That makes it my business."

"Your business?" The young man laughed, pointing at his chest. "Listen, adjunct. I’m Lucas Vanguard. My father runs the Vanguard Consortium. If you don’t back off in 3 seconds, I’ll have you off this payroll by noon."

Jude looked at him for a second, a smirk touching his lips.

Lucas Vanguard.

Of all the trust-fund kids in town, Silas Vanguard’s son was standing right in front of him...

Dealing with Silas had already taken up enough of his week; dealing with his son was almost routine.

"Lucas, stop," Sophie intervened, stepping up. "You have no right to talk to Mr. Lawson like that."

Lucas’s expression soured. "Why are you protecting him, Sophie? Did you turn me down for a junior lecturer?"

"Watch how you talk," Jude said, pulling his phone out. "Does your father know you spend your mornings causing scenes outside school gates? Clear the sidewalk before security removes you."

"Campus security?" Lucas laughed. "Nobody on this campus touches a Vanguard."

"Let’s check," Jude said.

He called Vivienne Cross, the head of the Conservatory, who had spent yesterday afternoon trying to secure Lawson Capital’s support for their performance wing.

"Chancellor Cross, I’m at the Amsterdam gate. Send security to clear a trespasser off the walkway."

40 seconds later, the side doors opened. 6 campus security officers came down the steps, moving quickly toward the entrance.

Lucas’s grin vanished. He was alone without drivers or private security, and the guards were heading straight for him.

"Fine," Lucas said, backing toward his Ferrari. "Hide behind the guards. The second you leave this gate tonight, we’ll see how tough you are."

He got into his car, hit the gas, and pulled away from the curb just as security reached the sidewalk.

"Mr. Lawson, Chancellor Cross called," the lead officer said, catching his breath. "Are you alright, sir?"

"Everything is handled, Chief. Thank you," Jude said, gesturing for Sophie to head inside.

As they crossed the courtyard, Sophie looked over, clearly worried. "Mr. Lawson, I’m sorry. The Vanguard family has resources, and Lucas doesn’t let things go. What if he brings people back after your seminar?"

"Let him bring whoever he wants," Jude said. "It won’t change my schedule."

"You helped me twice this morning," Sophie said, looking down. "If you’re free after class, could I buy you a coffee near the library? And would it be alright if I sat in the back of your lecture today?"

Jude knew that if Sophie left campus on her own that afternoon, Lucas would likely track her down to get to him.

"Both are fine," Jude said.

Sophie smiled, gave a nod, and headed toward the rehearsal building.

Jude watched her walk off, pulled out his phone, and dialed the estate.

"Anna," Jude said as she answered. "You back at the house? Good. Clear your afternoon and bring a security team to the Conservatory gates at 5:00 PM. Silas’s son is looking for trouble outside."