"Let every executive standing behind you take a good look at what you're doing. Targeting an innocent girl over a personal grudge. You're not fit to lead. People like you are born selfish. You don't deserve to be at Henson Sterling!"
"Debbie, I'm ordering you. Reinstate Cindy's position immediately. Give her a promotion and a raise. Match her salary to yours, down to the last cent!"
He finished his speech with the righteous conviction of a man who believed the crowd would rally behind him.
No one did. Instead, every pair of eyes in the room turned to him with the same bewildered stare.
"You… don't you all think I have a point…?"
"Mr. Sanchez, have you lost your mind?" A mid-level manager couldn't hold back any longer. "Maybe check the security footage first? Your little girlfriend Cindy Pruitt started the whole thing. She spread disgusting rumors about Ms. Henson and even tried to fire her!"
"Impossible!" Brendan didn't even pause to think. "Cindy is kind-hearted. She would never do something like that."
Naturally, someone was only too happy to fan the flames. "Here, Mr. Sanchez. The footage is right here. See for yourself."
"Fine. Everything they said is true." Seeing that the tide had turned against her, Cindy stepped forward and chose to blow her own cover.
"But Brendan, I just have feelings for you."
Cindy's eyes were rimmed red as she glared at me. "I fell in love with you, Brendan. That's why I got jealous. I was jealous that she had your love, jealous of how good you are to her. It's all my fault!"
She whipped her head toward me, her face dripping with contempt. "Debbie, you win. Go ahead and slander me all you want. The truth will come out."
With that, she burst into tears and ran out.
Brendan stood frozen for a long moment, then swept the room with a cold stare. His voice carried an unmistakable threat. "Cindy has already been fired. Anyone who keeps pushing this is making an enemy of me, and don't blame me when I show no mercy."
Then he rushed out after her, as if terrified she might slip away.
The entire room went silent. Nobody could make sense of what had just happened.
"Wait, I thought Cindy was Mr. Sanchez's girlfriend? Now he's in love with Ms. Henson?"
I cleared my throat and gave my assistant a look, brows pinched, signaling her to explain.