My Loser Dad, The Secret Billionaire

After the school gave the guaranteed admission spot to the girl who bullied me, I decided to tank everything. Physics competition? Nope. Representative speech? No way. The seven-school joint exam? I handed in a blank paper.

But when the school board came to visit and my dad, who's a board member, asked to see me, I couldn't exactly skip that. So I went straight up to him and complained, "Dad, the school's playing favorites."

...

It all started when the joint exam scores came out. I got a 2280 (perfect score is 2400), the highest in our grade. But instead of congratulations, I got sneers. My teacher, Mr. Henderson, grabbed my score sheet and told me to go to the office. Ashley Parker, the principal's daughter, was also there, giving me a smug look.

Mr. Henderson got straight to the point. "The early admission decision is out." His eyes flicked between Ashley and me. Then he smiled at Ashley. "Congratulations."

I waited for him to finish, my face blank. "What about me?"

His smile faltered. "Katie, I wanted to talk to you about your options. I know you work hard, and you've won awards, but Ashley well, she has"

I finished his sentence. "Ashley has mediocre grades, bullies her classmates, and throws her weight around."

Mr. Henderson was speechless. Ashley was furious. "Katie, what the hell are you talking about? Haven't I taught you a lesson already?"

I gave her a cold look. Her "lessons" included locking me in the bathroom, putting bugs and a dead mouse in my desk, and throwing my books and supplies in the trash. Mr. Henderson knew about it.

I pointed at her arrogant expression. "Even so, she still gets the early admission?"

Mr. Henderson stammered, giving Ashley a look. Then he turned back to me, trying to placate me. "With your scores, you can get into any college"

I cut him off. "Didn't the announcement say the top scorer gets priority for early admission?"

He frowned. "Well, yes, but you don't really need it, do you?"

Yes, I did. I had a deal with my dad. If I got early admission, I could study music instead of business management.

I looked at Mr. Henderson again. "Three years, five national awards, sixteen state awards, countless school awards, always top of the class. Even so, she still gets it?"

He was sweating now, lips trembling. Ashley snapped, "Just give it up already! It's just one spot. If you piss me off, I can make your life a living hell!"

I ignored her, staring at Mr. Henderson until he finally said, "Rules are rules, but The decision is made. Just focus on the SATs. It won't make much difference."

I nodded and left. Ashley followed me out. "Katie, some people are born with silver spoons in their mouths, and some people are born to shovel shit. Blame your loser dad."

I called my "loser dad." He didn't pick up, but texted me, "Just arrived at the US Embassy. What's up, sweetie?"

I thought, Oh, nothing, just someone calling us losers.

He sent me $500. "Treat yourself. Daddy's got a meeting. I'll bring you souvenirs when I get back."

Back in class, Ashley was bragging, "Oh, early admission, no big deal." Her friends sneered at me. I sat down and ignored them. When Mr. Henderson called me after class, I walked right past him. He grabbed my arm. "Next Friday, there's a city physics competition. You're representing our school. Prepare this week"

Loud enough for the whole class to hear, I said, "Not going."

His jaw dropped. The other students were stunned. "Is Katie sick?" "She loves competitions!" "She's just mad about the early admission."

Mr. Henderson sputtered, "It's a school honor!"

"Who cares?"

He was furious. "I always gave you priority! This is how you repay me?"

Ashley strutted over. "I'll go, Mr. Henderson. I only missed five points on the physics section last time."

"Good girl, Ashley. I knew I could count on you." He glared at me. "Ungrateful brat."

After he left, Ashley confronted me. "Don't think you're so special. I'll beat you at the competition."

I skipped studying for the competition and went home. My sister-in-law, who was watching my nephew, was surprised. "Aren't you prepping for the competition?"

"How did you know about it?"

"I'm proctoring. Since you're here, come with me."

"Why?"

"Don't you want to try the physics problems? They have two new question types, really challenging."

I was hooked. Besides music, I loved solving puzzles. The next day, I went to the testing center with my sister-in-law. She gave me an office to work on the problems. Near the end, she stormed in. "Some girl was cheating. I took down her ID number." She picked up my completed test. "Done?"

"Almost."

"I'll take this to the grading team. You can go home."

Outside, I ran into Ashley, Mr. Henderson, and her posse. They surrounded me. "What are you doing here?" "Jealous much?" "Probably wants that prize money."

Mr. Henderson chimed in, "You had your chance."

I frowned. "I'm stalking?"

Ashley smirked. "How else would you know where the testing center is?"

"None of your business."

"Don't be a bitch!"

"Buzz off."

Her friend interjected, "She's just jealous, Ashley."

"You too," I said.

Finally, Mr. Henderson intervened. "Ashley, how did you do?"

Ashley beamed. "Piece of cake. I'll definitely get first place."

Her friends gushed. Mr. Henderson was ecstatic. "I heard the new question types were tough. Even Katie Well, I'm so proud of you, Ashley!"

Ashley smiled. "Katie can't compare to me. She's my loser."

I turned to leave. Ashley taunted, "Running away?"

"Not worth getting worked up over you," I muttered.

The next week, at the school assembly, the principal was praising Ashley. "Ashley Parker achieved outstanding results in the city physics competition! Let's congratulate her!"

Thunderous applause. Then he started criticizing me for "putting personal feelings above school honor."

Suddenly, a black car pulled up. Three men in suits walked onto the field. Mr. Henderson whispered, "They're from the competition's oversight committee."

The principal rushed over, all smiles. "Welcome! To what do we owe this honor?"

The lead man said, "We're looking for Ashley Parker."

The principal beamed. "Ashley, come here!"

Ashley strutted forward, sneering at me as she passed. The men confirmed her identity. "Regarding yesterday's physics competition, we"

The principal interrupted. "Yes, yes, you're here to congratulate her! We expected nothing less"

The men exchanged looks. "Please let us finish. After review, Ashley Parker is disqualified for cheating. She will be punished and publicly reprimanded."

The principal's face turned several shades of green. "Impossible! My daughter wouldn't cheat!"

The lead man handed him a document. "Here's the official notice. You can appeal to the city's board of education."

"But two proctors, four cameras"

"She hid miniature receivers in her hair clip and earrings. Such ingenuity, wasted."

The principal stared at Ashley. "Receivers?!"

Two thousand students stared at Ashley. She stammered, "I I didn't know anything about receivers."

"Don't lie. The evidence has been submitted to the police. Perhaps you'd like to join us at the station?"

Ashley crumpled. "Dad, it wasn't me! It was my friend's idea!"

The principal gritted his teeth. "Go back to class!"

Ashley slunk back, defeated. A rival teacher from another class smirked at Mr. Henderson. "I thought your star student was going to steal the show. Well, she did."

I almost burst out laughing.

Ashley was suspended and never came back. Mr. Henderson lost his bonus. He raged in class the next day, blaming me. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't"

I propped my head up on my jacket and nodded. "You're right. If only things hadn't been switched."

He meant the physics competition. I meant the early admission. He glared at me. "Get out!"

I grabbed my jacket and left. Three minutes later, I knocked on the door again. A handsome boy stood there. "Someone's here for you," I said.

Mr. Henderson's anger melted into a sycophantic grin. "Jason Lee! What a surprise." Murmurs rippled through the classroom. "It's Jason Lee from Northwood High! He was on the local news last year!"

Jason said politely, "I'm looking for Katie."

Mr. Henderson beamed. "Who?" He couldn't imagine anyone from his class being important enough for Jason Lee to visit.

"Katie," Jason repeated. "I heard she's in your class."

Mr. Henderson's smile froze. Our eyes met. I could see the disbelief and embarrassment in his.

"What do you want with her?" he stammered. "Did she do something wrong?"

"No," Jason said, pulling a test paper from his backpack. "I just wanted to ask her about her solution to the last problem on the physics competition."

Mr. Henderson's jaw dropped. "She didn't take the test!"

Jason frowned. "This is a copy from my uncle, who's on the committee. Only Katie solved the last problem. I'm sure of it. Is she not in your class?"

Mr. Henderson spluttered, "She she is."

"Where is she, then?"

Mr. Henderson looked at me. I patted Jason on the shoulder. "Hey, looking for me?"

Jason looked me up and down, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "You're Katie?"

"Yep."

"What are you doing out here?"

I smiled. "Detention. Hard to tell?"