Chapter 3 - Before the Lie Could Bury My Brother

Camille's POV

"Grab her!" Wayne's face goes white with panic.

A couple of managers rush over and pin Ashley's arms. She thrashes against them, sobbing like her heart's breaking.

The whole scene sets the crowd off instantly.

"This is too much! They're going to drive her to it!"

"So money means you can treat people however you want? Firing a VP on the spot, does this company even have rules anymore?"

"Somebody get this on video and post it! Let people see what these two are really like!"

The crowd starts to stir. A few people already have their phones out, aimed at me and Sullivan.

Sullivan is shaking all over. Getting stared down and talked about like this is his worst nightmare.

I don't even blink. I point straight at the people holding up their phones. "Go ahead, film it. Anyone who posts that video is going to hear from our legal department. Defamation. I'm Camille Merritt, I've got plenty of money and plenty of time to drag this out as long as you want."

The people with their phones out freeze on the spot. A few quietly slip them back into their pockets.

That's when the elevator at the end of the hallway opens, and a set of sharp, heavy footsteps comes closer.

The man who actually runs this company, my dear father, Garrett Merritt, walks in with a grim look on his face and a couple of security guards behind him.

I look at that familiar face and feel the anger rising in my chest.

My brother hasn't done a single thing wrong, and my father still wants to force us both to bend for the sake of "family interests" and "the bigger picture," pushing his own son closer and closer to the edge.

"Mr. Merritt."

Employees along the hallway bow their heads and greet him, not daring to make a sound.

Wayne looks like he just spotted a lifeline and rushes over. "You're finally here. She's calling the cops, and she's trying to fire me too. This is getting out of hand, how's this going to make the company look?"

Garrett ignores him completely. His eyes land on me first, cold, then move to Sullivan behind me, then to Ashley, still gasping through her sobs.

He finally speaks. "What's going on here?"

Ashley wrenches free of HR's grip and runs straight to Garrett. "Please, you have to help me! I just graduated, I finally got a spot at Merritt, and Sullivan just... he came after me in the break room! If I hadn't fought back, my whole life would be over! If you don't do something, I don't have any choice but to jump off this building!"

Garrett's brow furrows, something complicated flashing behind his eyes for a second before it's replaced by a look of pure devastation.

"You worthless piece of garbage!"

Garrett strides over and swings his hand across Sullivan's face without hesitation.

"I sent you overseas for school so you could come back and pull this kind of disgusting stunt? You've dragged the Merritt name through the mud!"

Sullivan squeezes his eyes shut and doesn't try to dodge it.

I reach out and grab Garrett's wrist.

"Camille, what do you think you're doing? Let go!" Garrett glares at me.

"Dad." I lock eyes with him, my voice ice cold. "Nothing's been confirmed yet. What gives you the right to hit him?"

"What's left to confirm? Look at her, you think a girl would fake something like this to ruin herself?" Garrett rips his hand away and jabs a finger at Sullivan. "Look at him, standing there like he can't even defend himself, who else could it have been? How did I raise a daughter like you?"

Sullivan looks at the father he's always looked up to, his voice shaking. "Dad... I really didn't do it. Why would you rather believe a stranger over me?"

"Shut your mouth! You still have the nerve to call me Dad?" Garrett cuts him off sharply. "Go apologize to Ashley right now. Then resign and get out of this company. I'll have finance cut her a check to make this go away. And if this touches the stock price tomorrow, I will break your legs."

This is my wonderful father.

To him, the truth has never mattered.

What matters is how fast he can smooth this over, how fast he can protect his company, protect his own interests.

"I'm not apologizing." Sullivan is scared, but this time he grits his teeth. "I didn't do it. I'd rather die than apologize."

"You've lost your mind!" Garrett's fury boils over.

I step forward and plant myself squarely in front of Sullivan. "Mr. Merritt. I'm not letting you trade my brother's innocence for your bigger picture and your stock price."

Garrett freezes.

He can't believe it. His oldest daughter, the one who's always done what he says, always put the company first, is standing up to him in front of everyone.

"Camille, have you lost it?" Garrett's voice drops low. "Do you have any idea what you're doing right now? The board's already caught wind of this. A few of the longtime shareholders are already leaning on me. If this isn't handled right today, you can kiss that CEO seat goodbye!"