The front door swung open.
Three men in dark suits stepped inside.
The lead security officer scanned the room before speaking.
“Good evening, Ms. Cassidy Morgan.”
The room went silent.
Brendan frowned.
“Who the hell is Cassidy Morgan?”
The officer looked confused.
Then he turned toward me.
“You, ma’am.”
I slowly stood up.
Water still dripped from my dress onto the marble floor.
Diane laughed nervously.
“What kind of joke is this?”
The officer didn’t even look at her.
He handed me a folder.
“Legal and executive teams have completed Protocol 7.”
My phone buzzed.
Then buzzed again.
And again.
Across the table, Brendan’s phone began vibrating too.
Jessica’s phone followed.
Then Diane’s.
All three looked down.
Their faces changed instantly.
—
“What is this?” Brendan whispered.
The email was from Human Resources.
Subject:
Immediate Employment Suspension
His access to company systems had been terminated.
Corporate cards frozen.
Executive privileges revoked.
Pending investigation.
Diane’s face turned white.
Her message was even worse.
Her consulting contract had been canceled effective immediately.
Jessica received notice that her recently approved executive internship had been withdrawn.
—
“This isn’t possible,” Brendan said.
He looked at me.
Then at the security officers.
Then back at me.
“What is happening?”
I finally spoke.
