“Why did you tell Mr.
Harrison that Emily would say anything when she felt rejected?”
Jason glanced at me.
“I know her.”
“That was not my question.”
Jason’s shoulders stiffened.
Counsel placed one final page on top of the folder.
It was a printed record of an email sent that afternoon from Jason’s firm to a Harrison Global procurement manager.
The message requested an urgent private conversation about an unnamed junior employee who might attempt to make malicious allegations.
The report had not yet been disclosed to Jason.
At least, it should not have been.
“You knew an allegation existed before the company contacted you,” counsel said.
“We would like to understand how.”
Jason’s confidence disappeared.
For the first time that night, he had no answer ready.
Two security officers approached, not with spectacle, but with the quiet certainty of people who had already been instructed where to stand.
Jason looked at Grant.
“You’re throwing away a seven-figure partnership over her?”
Grant’s voice stayed level.
“No.
Your conduct put the partnership at risk.
Her report made the risk visible.”
Jason looked at me last.
The contempt was still there, but it no longer controlled the room.
“You always needed someone to rescue you,” he said.
I glanced at Grant, then at the folder.
“No,” I replied.
“I needed you to stop standing on my confidence and calling it support.”
Security escorted him from the ballroom.
No one applauded.
That would have made it feel theatrical.
Instead, conversations resumed in low, uneasy waves as witnesses replayed everything they had heard.
The violinist began another song.
A server collected an untouched glass from the table beside us.
The world continued, but I felt as though the floor had shifted beneath it.
Grant remained several feet away now, honoring the boundary he had just created.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“For what?”
“For dragging you into this.”
“You took my hand.
Jason dragged himself into the rest.”
I looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Did you know he was connected to the report when I approached you?”
“I recognized him from the vendor briefing.
I didn’t know he was your ex until you told me.”
“So when you agreed to pretend—”
“You looked cornered,” he said.
“The report was irrelevant to that decision.”
His answer loosened something in my chest.
He had not played along to test me or manipulate Jason into exposing himself.
He had simply noticed a person asking for help and allowed her to choose how long she needed it.
Counsel collected the documents.
“Monday morning,” he said to me.
“Nine o’clock.
Audit conference room.”
My stomach dropped.
