Page 93 of Nefarious
She scanned further down the file.
See I know you care more about appearances than substance, which is why you may never read this file I’m actually planning to attach. Did you think I was going to hand you—
Maxwell said, “We did receive some documents from Rosamund Shirley and—” he looked down, presumably at his laptop monitor “—Anthony Knight?
Her eyes jumped down the page.
After we send this email, you’ll think you’ve won. And it’s true, you might win the battle. I know you’re capable of ruining me. Meanwhile, you took your eye off your rear flank where I’ve amassed my own forces. It may cost me everything, but I will win this war.
Checkmate, Val.
Cold water ran down her spine.Why?The faces in the room all turned toward her, curious, leering, secretly laughing.
Maxwell was still talking. “Val, did you coerce Mr. Knight to spend the night with you last Tuesday evening?”
“No. I’ve never had to coerce anyone?”
“He says differently. We do have photographic evidence showing the two of you entering your house. Do you deny you had sexual relations with an intern?”
She stood. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” They had no proof. She wouldn’t supply it. “I never laid a finger on him.”
Amy Waterson asked, “I’m troubled by the audio we’ve obtained. What do you have to say about this?”
Val’s voice filled the room. “Get her to say something to you that could constitute an act of sexual harassment.”
Val stood. Dane hadtapedher? “That son of a bitch.” She’d find him and murder him.
Amy continued, “Were you conspiring to sexually harass Noelle Constance in order to frame her?”
Val scanned the room. Everyone was against her. “I’m calling this meeting to an end.”
“Val, please sit down.”
She held a finger up and pointed it at every face. “I will sue all of you if you make any further accusations against me. They’re all lies. I will get a lawyer.” She turned to walk out of the room, but one heel on her shoes gave way, causing her to stumble. She caught herself, held her head up, and walked from the room.
She staggered up the stairwell to the second floor, gripping the handrail the whole way up. She had recordings, too. She’d turn this around and destroy Dane. As she approached her office, she became aware that the interns were standing and watching her. Anthony leaned against his cube wall, glowering.
Val picked up her pace, deciding between fight or flight. Her office door was a foot away, and she longed to hide away, nurse her wounds, and come back stronger than ever. But she looked once more over her shoulder to find Anthony, smug, victorious. And she lunged for him.
She seized his suit coat and hissed in his face. “You liar. You wantedeverythingI gave you. Nobody will believe differently. I’ll make sure you never work here or anywhere else I have any influence.” She heard snickering coming from all around. She stopped and looked at the interns who had all worshiped her from the first day. Selena held her phone up, recording her meltdown. It would be all over the Internet in minutes. She fled into her office where she leaned against the wall and slid to the floor, hyperventilating.
She had time to send one text message before security arrived.
Wherever you are, I’ll find you. You won’t get away with this so easily. You will always be mine.
Two large men accompanied Rosamund Shirley and Morty Becker into her office. Rosamund stripped her of her company phone and laptop before the burly men took her by either arm to escort her from the building.
She shook them off. “Don’t touch me. I’ll go without protest.”
They never left her side down the elevator and into the parking lot. As they helped her into her car, she glanced up at the windows, wondering how many people looked down at her.
Front pageFinancial Times:
Val Montgomery Faces Multiple Accusations of Sexual Misconduct
Eight new accusations of unwanted sexual advances follow on earlier revelations that Val Montgomery pressured a yet unnamed intern into a sexual relationship. The new allegations come from former interns and employees of the Fleetwood Capital and R&M, the company founded by Ms. Montgomery along with Dane Russ.
Noelle Constance released a statement reporting that Fleetwood Capital has immediately terminated Ms. Montgomery’s employment, adding, “We are deeply saddened by yet another scandal of this nature.”
