Chapter 36: Disposing you
Eleanor’s POV
Dickson didn’t miss a beat. He immediately straightened his tie and smoothed his expression, transforming from a spitting bully into a concerned manager in a nanosecond. He strode toward the CEOs, oozing false sincerity.
"Gentlemen, my apologies for the disruption," he said, his voice oozing with feigned regret. "I was just in the process of dismissing an employee for consistent behavioral issues. Not only toward myself, but other colleagues. She was creating a scene, disrespecting authority, and causing a significant distraction from work. It’s not the kind of professionalism we expect at Vexxon."
I wasn’t surprised by the lies, only by the speed and audacity with which he crafted them.
"That’s not true!" Mira said, standing up from her desk, her voice firm.
My heart was hammering against my ribs so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. My job was probably over. But if I was going down, I was going down telling the truth. I walked toward them, my legs feeling like jelly, and gave a respectful nod.
"That isn’t true sirs," I began, my voice thankfully steadier than I felt. "Sir Dickson is falsely accusing me. I have been a hard-working employee here, but my work has never been truly appreciated." I took a shaky breath. "Sir Dickson and I have... personal history. I acknowledge that it shouldn’t affect our professional lives, and for that, I apologize. But before any decision is made, I believe you should know that his motivation isn’t purely professional."
Dickson cut in, his voice sharp. "They don’t need to know about your personal fantasies and failures. You’ve said enough. Security can see you out."
The entire floor was holding its breath. Then, without a word, Keith simply turned and walked towards his office. His brothers fell into step behind him. Dickson shot me a triumphant smirk and scurried after them like a obedient puppy, already launching into a new monologue about my supposed incompetence.
I followed, my fate seemingly sealed. I could hear Dickson’s voice ahead of me, sucking up and spewing venom in equal measure. "...and frankly, sir, the only reason her record is even semi-clean is because I’ve often let her off with a warning when she’s begged for another chance. My kindness has been mistaken for weakness."
We entered the vast, silent CEO’s office. The three brothers took their seats behind the imposing desk. Dickson remained standing, shifting nervously now that he was in their domain.
Keith finally raised a hand. Dickson’s mouth snapped shut instantly.
Keith’s intense gaze landed on me. "Do you have anything to say to defend yourself against these allegations of your behavior?"
I knew how this worked. CEOs backed their senior managers. They didn’t side with low-level designers, no matter the truth. But I had to try.
"What Sir Dickson has said isn’t true," I stated, meeting his gaze. "I have never been disciplined for my behavior or my work. The security cameras from the open office will show everything about my behavior. And I’m sure few of my coworkers would be willing to speak up for me."
"We can certainly pull the security footage," Keith said, his tone neutral.
Dickson paled. "That really won’t be necessary, sir! It would be a waste of your valuable time. I have everything well in hand."
Keith’s brother at his right spoke, his voice light but carrying an unexpected weight. "Well, we’ve heard quite a bit from your side, Dickson. It seems only fair we hear hers out fully before making any decisions. We do strive to be unbiased."
Dickson’s smile was strained. "Of course, sir! Absolutely. Perhaps... perhaps instead of all that, we could just give Eleanor a final written warning? Another chance? I’m nothing if not a believer in second chances."
He was scrambling. He didn’t want his lies exposed on camera. And the CEOs, with their unnervingly perceptive silence, seemed to have caught on.
See? Beatrice’s voice murmured in my head, laced with her signature dry sarcasm. Not all men are utterly pathetic, spineless worms who lie through their teeth. Just most of them. These ones might actually have a functioning brain cell between them.
Mr. Keith’s gaze was like a laser, dissecting the situation. "You said this was a personal matter causing the issue," he stated, his eyes fixed on me. "What, precisely, is the nature of it?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but his use of my name gave me pause. He knows my name?
Dickson, ever the weasel, jumped in before I could form a word. "I’m engaged to her sister, sir," he blurted out. "She’s... she’s had lingering feelings for me for some years. But I rejected her, and she’s been holding a grudge. It’s... unfortunate, but it’s led to this unprofessional behavior."
Keith didn’t even look at him. He just held up a hand, and Dickson’s mouth snapped shut again. Those icy eyes returned to me. "Is that true?"
My face burned with humiliation. I didn’t want to air my dirty laundry in front of the CEOs. They’d think I was some pathetic, lovesick fool. They’d think less of me. "It’s... something like that," I mumbled, hating the weakness in my voice.
The effect on the three brothers was immediate and identical. Their faces went grim, their expressions closing off. Oh no. They didn’t like that.
"This will be the last time personal entanglements disrupt my business," Keith said, his voice cold and final. "Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir. It won’t happen again," Dickson simpered.
"Understood," I echoed, my heart sinking. This was it. I was about to be escorted out.
"You may leave, Dickson," Keith said, dismissing him with a flick of his wrist.
Dickson shot me one last smug look and practically fled the office, no doubt relieved to have escaped without the security footage being reviewed.
I turned to follow, my shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Wait, Ms. Moore."
I froze at his voice. Slowly, I turned back to face them. It was just me and the three most powerful men in the company.
Keith picked up his phone, scrolling through it. "While this... personal matter... is an issue, it’s not the only one." He looked up from his screen, his gaze piercing. "I took the liberty of investigating your file more thoroughly after our last discussion about your credentials. Your achievements are... impressive. Surprisingly so for someone working as a junior manager."
The memory of him questioning if my achievements were fake stung, a fresh wound on my pride. But it wasn’t a surprise. Nothing was.
The brother on the right leaned forward. "Are you serious?" he asked Keith.
Keith turned his phone around, showing the other the screen. His eyes scanned the information, his expression shifting from curiosity to something I couldn’t decipher. He looked from the phone to me, his gaze becoming intense, scrutinizing.
The other brother that was just quiet throughout simply watched me, his own expression unreadable but focused. Why was he looking at me like that? It made my skin prickle with unease.
"It’s very impressive work," He said finally, his voice holding a note of genuine respect that felt utterly alien in this office.
"Thank you," I said, the words feeling automatic and strange. A CEO was complimenting me. It was surreal.
Then sir Keith dropped the other shoe. "Given this discrepancy between your capabilities and your current position," he said, his voice all business again, "we will be disposing you of your duties as a junior manager in Dickson’s department."
What??
So that was it. Even after seeing my achievements were real, they were still letting me go. Why had I expected anything else?