Chapter 2

Warren held his press conference right on schedule the next day and played the recording from his phone for the whole room. It was still the same two lines that had blown up online. "Camera locked on row seven. Keep rolling. Don't cut."

Simon, as head of the stadium camera crew that night, was also invited. The moderator asked him, "Were you relaying camera directions that night? Did you tell Zoe Cassidy to shoot row seven?"

"No. I only told her to have the kiss cam ready. She filmed Mr. Doyle on her own. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen."

A few sentences, and my career was over for good.

I wasn't going to sit and wait for the end. I went out in a disguise and waited in the staff parking lot outside the stadium until Simon finally showed.

"Simon. Have you forgotten what your first order was that day?" I blocked his path.

"I don't remember. It was chaos out there. How am I supposed to remember everything?" He tried to get past me to his car door. I blocked him again.

I tapped the camera on my chest. "Want me to help you remember?"

His face changed. "You've been recording this whole time?! Give it to me!"

"I thought you'd forgotten." He reached for it, but I dodged him. "Thanks for handing me new evidence, Simon. This isn't over."

I turned and walked off, and behind me a car door slammed.

The moment I got home, I got a call from Warren's assistant, Victor Lane. "If you're willing to hand over all your footage, Ms. Cassidy, admit you filmed without authorization, and apologize publicly, Mr. Doyle will drop the claim and reinstate your father's vending contract."

I laughed. "And if I say no?"

Victor didn't miss a beat, his voice carrying an open threat. "Then next time, I'm afraid it won't just be a food cart."

The line went dead. Dad, hearing the commotion, came over and sat beside me. "Is the evidence you have enough to protect you?"

I nodded.

Dad smiled and patted my shoulder twice. "Then fight them to the end."