Chapter 333

I slept a few hours that night, but I sprang out of bed at dawn and ran out for a copy of the Denhurst Gazette.

I forced myself not to look for the story until I returned to the apartment. My hands were shaking when I sat at the counter and spread the newspaper in front of me.

It was on the front page above the fold!

Then I looked at the photo below it, and my head spun. It was a photo of me coming down the main staircase at Alex’s mansion.

The caption read: Daisy Wilson, coming down the grand staircase at her father’s mansion. I looked good, but the headline made me cringe.

I made coffee and sat down to read the article. The editor had made no changes to my copy. Every word of the article was there, precisely as I had written it.

Except for my photo and the caption, I was pleased. I poured myself a cup of coffee and waited for Victor to wake up. I couldn’t wait to show it to him.

He beamed with pride when he saw the newspaper. “You are amazing. I’m glad you insisted on doing the story.”

He toasted me with his coffee, and we made love before he left for the office.

My phone was busier than the previous day. Everyone I knew called to congratulate me. Yet, some of the Betas asked me why I chose to write about college admissions.

They didn’t understand the seriousness and inequality of the situation even after reading the article.

I don’t think they wanted to understand.

But the newspaper received mail, emails, and phone calls about the article. Most were thanking them for printing the article, while a few others were angry.

The Association was also inundated by people wanting change. Besides hundreds of emails Victor and all the council members received, a petition with thousands of signatures was on Victor’s desk by afternoon. And a large protest filled the parking lot.

Before he came home for the evening, Victor had to make a statement to the press about the situation. I watched it on television.

“I will be looking into the situation of discrimination in the college admissions system,” he told the large group of journalists. “I promise changes will be made to remedy the situation and make it more fair for everyone.”

He arrived at the apartment a little late but with a grin on his face. He picked me up and twirled me around while he kissed me passionately.

“You started something big, sweetheart,” he said proudly. He told me about everything that happened at the complex that day.

“Are you making any changes yet?” I asked.

Victor sat on the couch and patted the seat next to him.“In a private meeting, the council advised me to work with you to find a solution to satisfy the masses without angering the old Alpha families.”

“Then they want us to announce the changes to the public,” he added. “They think the people will trust the changes more if you explain it to them.”

My mouth dropped open. “I would love to help you draft new laws to make things more fair. But my press conference skills are a little rusty.”

“I’m sure it will come back to you,” Victor said. “And I’ll be by your side.”

“When do you want to start drafting the new laws?” I asked.

“We can start by throwing ideas around over dinner,” he suggested. “Something smells delicious.”

“I made a meatloaf, baked baby red potatoes, and candied carrots,” I replied. “I don’t feel like going out tonight.”

“We’d probably be mobbed by a crowd,” he agreed. “You've really started something, sweetheart. But I think it’s long overdue.”

We went to the kitchen, and Victor set the dining room table while I brought the food to the table.

Then we brainstormed while enjoying our meal.

“All schools should have their enrollment objectives on each application so the enrollees know what they are looking for in their students,” I suggested.

Victor looked puzzled. “How does that help?”

“The minimum high school GPA and aptitude test scores should be known before a potential student applies,” I explained. “The university must adhere to these objectives for all: Beta, Omega, or Alpha.”

“I like it,” Victor said. “Next?”

“Each application should be marked with the reasons why an applicant is rejected, and there should be a commission to check them for fairness.”

Victor nodded while he chewed a bite of meatloaf. “That would create more good-paying jobs too.”

“The commission should consist of an equal portion of non-Alphas,” I added. “That will deter more cheating.”

“What about requiring a certain percentage of students in each University to be non-Alphas,” Victor suggested.

“They must be qualified applicants,” I insisted. “You can’t force universities to admit students who can’t handle the courses. But legacy admissions are wrong if they are less qualified than other applicants.”

“I totally agree, sweetheart,” Victor said. “There was a guy in my University class who couldn’t read, but his family attended classes there for generations. And they donated a lot of money each year.”

By the time we finished dinner, Victor and I had the basics of the new laws drafted and ready to share with the people.

We announced them at a press conference the next afternoon in front of The Association’s main entrance.

I tried to look professional and dressed in a skirt, blouse, and jacket. My nerves made me tremble slightly as I stood on a temporary stage next to Victor.

The crowd listened to every word I said when Victor turned the microphone over to me to read the list of new laws.

All were met with applause, but I heard angry rumblings in the crowd too. When I announced the new anti-legacy laws, there were even a few boos.

But we finished the press conference by taking a few questions, and then we went to Victor’s office until the crowd thinned enough for us to leave.

We discovered reporters were still waiting outside as we tried to run to Victor’s car.

“Miss Wilson, do you think your new laws are fair to Alphas?” a female reporter shouted.

“Yes,” I shouted back. “Everyone will have a fair chance to be admitted to all universities.”

“Aren’t you afraid of upsetting people?” a man asked as he followed us to Victor’s car.

“No, the best applicants at each school will be admitted,” I said. “Why should that upset anyone?”

We reached the Lamborghini and hurried to climb inside. Victor immediately started the engine, and we sped out of the parking lot.

We arrived at the apartment, thankful to be home. But as soon as we tried to relax in the living room, we began getting angry calls and emails.

These calls and emails were from Alphas accusing us of going too far or siding with Betas and Omegas against our own kind.

I silenced my phone and switched on the television to try to ignore them. We underestimated how shocking the new laws would be to many Alphas.

They would cool down and realize the laws were necessary. When someone was used to having things stacked in their favor, it would be a shock at first.

But the television show we were watching was interrupted by breaking news. Protesters who didn’t want the laws to take effect next month had overtaken parts of downtown Denhurst.

An equal number of counter-protesters who wanted the laws were surrounding them, and fights were breaking out.

The police had been called in, but the crowd was too much for them.

“Trouble is brewing, Daisy,” Victor said. “Things are going to get bad. I can feel it.”

“I think you’re right,” I agreed a second before a rock flew through Victor’s living room window.

Victor jumped to his feet. “What is going on?” I joined him as he looked outside through the broken glass.

The street was half full of people. Some held signs and all were chanting, “You can’t take away our right to a good education.” Or, “Alpha rights stem from Alpha might.”

Fights had broken out, and property was being damaged.

“Do people think this does any good,” I asked. “Peaceful protest is a good thing, but they are the ones going too far.”

“I should go out there and talk to them,” Victor decided.

I grabbed his arm. “No way. Many of them are violent. Look at what they did to your window and a neighbor’s car.

I pointed out the window at a car with broken windows and headlights.

“Please don’t go out there,” I begged.

“Daisy, I have responsibilities,” he said. “I’m going to try to talk them into going home. Maybe they just need to be heard.”

“Then I’m going with you,” I insisted.