Inside Principal Lawrence's office wasn't just an office.
It was the office where silence had power, and luxury spoke louder than words 💼✨
Floor-to-ceiling tinted glass windows framed a breathtaking view of the manicured school lawns and the private helipad for VIP parents 🚁.
Marble floors gleamed under golden light from a chandelier imported straight from Italy.
A sleek espresso machine hummed softly in the corner untouched, except during meetings with billionaire parents.
The principal's desk? Custom-made dark walnut wood with gold-plated edges.
Behind him, a glass wall glittered with trophies: national and international.
Framed certificates from Harvard, Oxford, and UNILAG whispered his legacy 🎓.
A touchscreen panel controlled everything; blinds, doors, cameras, even the temperature.
In front of his desk stood two black leather chairs: expensive, stiff, and cold enough to remind you: don't get comfortable.
He sat upright in his jet-black ergonomic throne, tailored suit sharp, the school crest glimmering in gold on his chest pocket.
A limited-edition Rolex peeked from his wrist not for show, but a quiet reminder: time is discipline ⏰
On the wall behind him, in bold brushed steel, read:
>>> "Excellence is not begged for. It is built, earned, and protected."<<<
This was the one room everyone feared.
One wrong word… and you could disappear from the school system with a single signature in black ink, on thick cream paper 🖋️
Inside the office sat Lolade, Diana, and Lizzy, their guardians beside them.
To the right, near the door, stood Gift and Big Dave, quiet not as suspects, but as senior prefects assigned to observe.
Lizzy's parents were abroad, so her family lawyer came instead.
Diana's mom sat stiff, her face carved in anger.
Both of Lolade's parents were there too silent but sharp-eyed.
"Good morning, sirs and mas," Principal Lawrence began, voice calm but firm.
"I'm sorry we're meeting again under such circumstances. It's disappointing."
Diana's mom leaned forward, eyes hard.
"No problem, sir. We just need to know the truth!"
Principal Lawrence nodded slowly. "The celebrant has already been questioned. We just need some confirmations. After all, the birthday celebrant is the Lead Labour Prefect and things like this can't go scot-free."
He opened a thick file, eyes settling on Lolade.
"Let's begin," he said evenly.
"Who gave you the invitation to the party?"
Lolade straightened up, forcing a calm tone.
"It was posted in our WhatsApp Classroom group, sir. Oscar sent it."
Her voice didn't shake but her hands did 🥶
Principal Lawrence turned to Diana.
"And you? Who gave you access too?"
Diana hesitated. Her mom's glare could kill.
But for MideFlex's sake, she told the lie.
"The invitation QR code was sent to the class group chat, sir. Everyone had access."
"The same thing Lolade said?" he murmured, flipping a page.
He looked up at Lizzy. "And you too?"
"Khadijat gave me her IV," Lizzy said boldly. "She doesn't go to parties."
"So you used someone else's IV?" his tone sharpened. "That's impersonation."
"She gave it to me. So it became mine." Lizzy shot back without blinking 😤
Principal Lawrence raised a brow.
"Gift, call Khadijat here," he ordered.
Gift nodded and left quickly.
Turning back to Lizzy, he continued, "So you collected Khadijat's IV. Why didn't you use the class QR code like Lolade and Diana?"
Lizzy smirked slightly. "Because it wasn't an access. It was just a message."
The air froze.
Busted 😭💔
Principal Lawrence's face darkened at Lolade.
"If you think we're here to play games, you're mistaken."
"It was an access, sir!" Lolade said, still lying, voice trembling.
"Really?" he leaned back. "Diana, open your class group chat from your phone."
"ButSir, it's our private class chats," Diana said firmly. "We have our students right to keep it confidential."
Principal Lawrence frowned.
"And how do I know you're not hiding something?"
He glanced at Big Dave. "These days, even prefects aren't trustworthy."
Lolade lowered her head.
The tension in the room could slice through glass.
A soft knock.
Gift returned with Khadijat.
She stepped in, hands behind her back.
"Good afternoon, sir," she greeted reading the hot atmosphere.
"Good afternoon," Principal Lawrence said. "Just a few questions. Did you give Elizabeth your IV for Oscar's party?"
"Yes, sir. I don't go to parties," she replied calmly.
Before anyone could breathe, Diana's mom hissed angrily and said
"See your mate o! You hear? But you only know how to shake nyash up and down like the rest of you!" 😡
Diana froze, face red.
The principal raised a hand.
"So you gave it to her, or she asked for it?"
"She asked for it," Khadijat replied quietly.
Principal Lawrence nodded. "Alright. Now, about the QR code that was supposedly posted in the class group, what about that?"
Khadijat frowned. "QR code? There was no IV code in the group, sir. It was just a message."
Lolade's mouth fell open.
Diana's heart dropped.
Lizzy chuckled; low and smug.
The truth had finally landed 💥
Maybe this was why Khadijat got that AllStars Foundation College Scholarship —her honesty was raw, brutal, and unstoppable.
Too real to fake.
Too smart to lie.
Or maybe… she just didn't want trouble.
"So it was just a message?" Principal Lawrence asked, dropping his glasses on the table.
"Yes sir," Khadijat said. "Oscar only dropped the location. The actual access code was given physically — and some people paid for it,I was given for free."
She barely finished when Diana snapped
"Will you shut up?!"
She stood, but her mom smacked her back down in a flash.
"Sit down! Enough embarrassment!"
The room went silent.
"So the access is a physical QR code?" Principal Lawrence confirmed.
"Yes, sir."
"You may leave."
Khadijat bowed slightly and left the room.
The principal turned sharply to Lolade, eyes piercing.
"You're still lying? Your parents are right here, you still want to disgrace them?"
Lolade's mom gave her a teary, gentle smile.
"Say the truth my dear, whatsoever it is."
Lolade inhaled deeply.
"Actually, MideFlex bought it and gave it to me," she whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek 💧
Principal Lawrence turned to Diana.
"And you?"
"Tomi called me and said MideFlex bought mine too," she said shakily.
The lawyer leaned forward. "Who's this MideFlex?"
"His real name is Adeniran Olamide, the school's Sport Prefect," Principal Lawrence replied.
He turned to Big Dave.
"Go and call Olamide here. Don't tell him why."
Big Dave nodded and stepped out.
Lizzy's lawyer adjusted his tie.
"My client is innocent, sir" he began smoothly. "Under the principle of mens rea, guilt requires intent. Miss Elizabeth merely accepted a freely-given IV — no fraud, no deceit. Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution presumes her innocent until proven guilty. Unless evidence proves otherwise, this line of questioning is—"
Principal Lawrence chuckled coldly.
"Counselor, we're not done. And for your information, Elizabeth asked Khadijat for the IV, it wasn't freely given."
The lawyer frowned.
Just then, two phones rang: Lolade's dad and the lawyer's. They both stepped outside.
Moments later, the door opened again. Big Dave entered with MideFlex.
"Good afternoon, sir," MideFlex greeted quietly.
Principal Lawrence leaned forward.
"We won't waste your time. How did you get two IVs for Lolade and Diana?"
MideFlex blinked, clearly shocked by the directness.
But he didn't flinch.
"I bought them from Oscar's bodyguards," he said softly.
"For how much?"
"Twenty dollars each. Forty in total."
Gasps filled the room 😱
Even Gift and Big Dave exchanged glances.
"Alright," the principal said, scribbling notes. "You may leave."
"Sir...," MideFlex said, standing his ground. "Before I go… please investigate properly. The champagne used at the party was alcohol-free. Either someone sneaked in something else..." he looked straight at Lizzy "... or they brought their own alcoholic champagne."
"Do you have anyone in mind?" the principal asked, eyes narrowing.
"Yes," he said simply. "Lizzy of course! She came with just a purse, but I saw her drinking from a silver water bottle flask that night."
BOOM.
The room exploded in whispers.
At that exact moment, the two adults re-entered, eyes darting between the faces.
"So you're saying she was drinking alcohol?" Diana's mom asked sharply.
"I'm not sure," MideFlex said. "That's why I said Principal should investigate properly."
He bowed slightly and left the office.
Principal Lawrence sighed. "See my students, they want to turn me into a detective."
He turned to Lizzy.
"Whose bottle were you drinking from?"
"It was Bayo's."
"And what was inside?"
"Water," she replied flatly.
"Sir," her lawyer interjected, "her driver even checked her alcohol level that night before taking her home."
"I'd like to see the results," the principal said, eyes rising to the lawyer.
"It's with her parents. They always receive the results directly."
Principal Lawrence nodded slowly.
"Fine. Today is Wednesday. I want the three of you with your parents back here on Friday by 12 noon. By then, I'll have the CCTV footage from the rented lounge, the fingerprint analysis, and the alcohol test results from Lizzy's parents."
He stood, phone in hand.
"Good day, everyone."
Good day?
That was just the calm before the storm.
Friday was coming…
and the truth was about to explode 💣✨