Chapter 9: Chapter 9

"You shouldn't be too strict on her," Francis gently spoke when Kate was gone. "According to her teachers whom I have called to ask about her usual behavior and personality, she is well-mannered and polite and not even a shade of what this Andrew Kindberg said about her which I assumed anger Kate Taylor and ending up breaking his arm in the process," he explained thoroughly.

Nick smiled when he heard about the Principal trying to clear Kate's personality to him as the guardian.

"I know that very well, Sir," he politely replied. "I am even proud she can protect herself, but I cannot let that show. She might go overboard if she notices my honest reaction," Nick chuckled as he made known to the Principal his opinions.

"Do you mind if I ask, who is Kate Taylor to you?" Francis cautiously stated. "But no need to answer if you don't want to. I can't help but curious, you know," he snorted.

The two men shared soft laughter, and Nick decided to open up. He just had to avoid the most personal details. Nick told Principal Johnston that Kate is his stepmother's daughter, but due to Kate not agreeing to be legally adopted by Elijah Eudovic, she does not bear the same last name as Nick and Elijah, as well as Kelly's married name. Kelly is at work in a hospital as a nurse, so he was asked to come over as Kate's guardian. They are stepsiblings, after all. He is older than Kate, so Nick can stand in her parent's place when needed be.

Principal Johnston realized Kate and Nick's connections are not that light. They may have different last names, but they are family. Nick will definitely do anything to bring justice for Kate Taylor, even if they are going to fight against a senator's grandson.

"I can bring this to court if Andrew's party would not want to cooperate, and I will make sure they do not abuse their political power if they are thinking about doing so," Nick calmly stated. He will dig more into what he can counter-attack against them if they try to intimidate Kate.

"If they are not aware you are behind Kate, they might try to intimidate her," Francis stated a matter-of-fact possibility.

"I want them to dare. They cannot be doing such things just because they think the person of their target or interest seems weak and just nobody. I think it's time we put a dot in all these Andrew and his kinds are doing. If he has anything to do with the previous cases, especially with the student who jumped off the building, I am sure he won't get out of it so easily," Nick's knuckles whitened as he clenched his fist in anger. He does not even want to picture Kate being devastated and committing such foolishness if she gets bullied to no end.

"What plans do you have in mind?" asked Principal Johnston eagerly.

He is ecstatic that such a huge and hopeless matter in his school could possibly be dealt with with Nick's help. He does not want to retire with this issue still unsolved. It will make his successor look down on him. He doesn't want that to happen, but he has been unable to do anything about this matter. It had reached the point of their school being on the news headline when a female student committed suicide inside the school premises not so long ago. She left a note about being bullied not only within the school compound, but her naked photos were also all over the internet, posted by her bullies who pretended to court and date her first, then slept with her and took nude pictures of her in her unconscious state. As the Principal, Francis Johnston, along with every staff, the teachers, and the school director, had to be investigated, interviewed, and asked why they let the situation come to such a point. The whole city knew and heard about the news. Their school became the ugly talk of the town. Nick did not have to hack anyone's information to know about it. It's a case unsolved. The parents are still waiting for justice. The mother was already brought to the hospital after a few weeks of picketing right by the school gates every day until she fainted.

"I would like to ask for your help to do this, Sir," Nick answered politely. He cannot show himself in front of Andrew's family or representative. They might try to settle things differently if they find out Nicholas Eudovic is on Kate's side. They will not attempt to fight head to head with him, and Andrew's behavior will not change if things get solved according to their ideas.

"Tell me, what can I do?" Francis firmly replied.

"Please relay the message that if they demand compensation for Kate breaking Andrew's arm, I will not hesitate to give their demands, but Kate's party will bring this issue to court. I will contact my lawyer right away to prepare the legalities. But if Andrew admits that it was all his fault and apologizes to Kate, sign a legal document that he will never, allegedly or proven, do the same offense again, or else we will file a case against him. Harassment, sexual offender, or whatever that my lawyer finds that suits to deal with him," Nick answered, in an icy cold tone.

Nick believes Andrew's behavior is not to be taken lightly. He has a wild guess Andrew is involved in those unsolved cases regarding female students being bullied. If so, Andrew is a growing disease of society. He is just a teen, but he is a bad influence to his friends and an oppressor to the opposite genders in their school or maybe outside as well. Andrew must be too confident no one will stand in his way with his families' background. He must be too laid back to think that no one will dare sue him for such offense. Even if there is evidence, who would come forward just to be silenced with money if not oppressed with life circumstances? Even the rich don't want to bring their name to shameful scandals, so even if his victims are not from the very least families, he still gets away with whatever accusations he is being thrown with. But not with Nick, not when Kate is involved. Kelly, his stepmother, does not deserve another heartache. And Kate does not deserve such offense, not under Nick's watch!

"Can I ask for your lawyer to be present when Andrew's party comes?" Francis asked earnestly.

It would be more formal, and the Kindberg will not take things too lightly with a lawyer around. The woman, Bonnie Kindberg, Andrew's mom, is known to be a proud person. She looks down on everyone else that she thinks is around to serve her. Even the personnel from the school are treated below her status as she believes they are being paid off their services from the student's payments given to the school. To top it all, she is a known philanthropist as she pledges to donate every once in a while.

"Yes, I will inform my lawyers to prepare as they may come raiding your place anytime soon," Nick nodded as he agreed with the Principal's requests. It would always be more convenient for the Principal to have a law expert witness their conversation so as to deal with them legally more efficiently and effectively.

"Thank you, Nicholas. I am guilty to say that despite having a family of yours dragged into this mess, I am happy that it was you who came for Kate as a guardian," Francis Johnston shook hands with Nick firmly.

"I am glad we can cooperate to end these ugly events in my alma mater," Nick stood up from his seat with the Principal's hand still shaking with his. "I will bring Kate home, then, Sir."

"Yes, yes, of course. And again, my sincerest apology for all these unpleasant things happening," the Principal walked Nick to his door, and they both saw Kate slumped, with her legs crossed, sitting on the floor across the door. She quickly stood up when she noticed the door open, and Nick walked out of it with Principal Johnston behind him. Kate bit her lip as she waited for what Nick was going to order her to do next. Her eyes did not leave Nick's face to be sure she wouldn't miss anything. She cannot annoy Nick more than she has already done ever since yesterday.

Kate nodded her head as she bowed goodbye to the Principal. Then turned to follow her guardian.

"He will definitely hate me more," Kate murmured as she walked behind Nick when he said they were leaving.

"What did you say?" Asked Nick when he heard her make a sound.

He was so attentive to her that he could swear he could count how many times she had sighed deeply as she walked behind him ever since they left the Principal's office door.