The principal looked at Jack for a moment, then glanced toward Leo and Bella before speaking carefully. His gaze moved between the three of them.
"I suggest we can do whatever you want here," the principal said carefully, his voice calm and cautious. "We can handle this here."
Jack immediately shook his head. His response was quick, almost dismissive, as though the principal's suggestion was beneath his consideration.
"No. I want to settle everything with them privately."
There was a smugness in his voice that made the principal pause. The confidence in Jack's tone was misplaced, almost absurd and it took the principal a moment to fully register what he was hearing. Jack spoke as though he had already won, as though the outcome was guaranteed.
He looked at Jack again, this time more carefully. He studied the man's posture, the self-assured tilt of his chin, the way his eyes gleamed with barely concealed greed.
Then his eyes shifted toward Leo.
