Chapter 5

The next morning, one of my coworkers called me in a panic.

“Director Bennett, you need to see what’s online. Is the woman in Ms. Morgan’s post supposed to be you?”

I opened social media and discovered that Celeste had published a long post.

She described me as a calculating gold digger who had hidden her past and deliberately targeted Julian.

According to her, I had used my relationship with him to secure a position at Mercer Holdings. Then I had refused early equity so I could present myself as the loyal woman who had helped Julian build his company from nothing.

Now that Mercer Holdings’ valuation had soared, I had finally revealed my true intentions and demanded fifty million dollars. When Julian refused, I had become furious and threatened him with a breakup to force him into giving in.

Celeste never used my name.

But she mentioned the Strategic Investments department, one of the company’s earliest employees, and the fireworks over New York Harbor.

That was more than enough for people to identify me.

Within minutes, commenters had uncovered my work photos, job title, and personal accounts. Accusations that I had dated my way into a senior position and used Julian to secure projects quickly spread through the company and among our business partners.

Someone went directly to Julian’s social media account and asked whether Celeste’s claims were true.

Half an hour later, he liked her post.

He offered no explanation.

He issued no denial.

That single like was answer enough.

When I arrived at the office later that day, coworkers who had once approached me eagerly with their reports avoided my eyes.

Whenever I walked past, their whispers abruptly stopped.

Julian’s endorsement had convinced everyone that Celeste’s accusations were true.

I did not argue with anyone. I simply saved copies of every defamatory post and harassing message.

The Castellano Family’s attorneys had more than enough power to hold them accountable.

But I had chosen this relationship, and I wanted to deal with it myself first.

When I reached my office, my access badge no longer worked.

The head of Human Resources hurried over.

“Director Bennett, Mr. Mercer has temporarily suspended your access. The Legal Department believes the online controversy has damaged the company’s reputation. Until the investigation is complete, you’re being relieved of all duties.”

I looked through the glass wall of the conference room.

Celeste was sitting in my chair.

In front of her lay the proposal for the overseas port project my team and I had spent more than six months developing.

Julian stood behind her as he addressed several senior executives.

“Celeste will take over the project for now. She understands the relevant legal issues, and she won’t allow personal feelings to interfere with the company’s interests.”

Not one person in the room objected.

I had flown to seven cities for that project and worked for months without a real break.

Celeste had never attended a single negotiation.

Yet one sentence from Julian was all it took for her to seize everything I had built.

Half an hour later, I placed my resignation letter and company badge on Julian’s desk.

His expression darkened.

“The company only suspended you. No one fired you. Once you explain the fifty million, I’ll restore your position.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“I’ve compiled the project files and emailed everything to the team.”

Celeste gave a cold laugh.

“How convenient. Who knows whether you kept private copies to sell to a competitor?”

Julian did not stop her.

“Ari, no one outside Mercer Holdings will put up with you the way I have. And no one else will hand you a Director of Strategic Investments position.”

I looked at him without trying to defend myself.

For five years, every major investment decision at Mercer Holdings had been supported by an evaluation report bearing my signature.

Julian had witnessed my ability firsthand.

Yet now he believed I held that position only because he loved me.

I returned to my office and packed my belongings into a cardboard box.

Mercer Holdings had grown from a startup operating out of a few rented rooms into a corporate powerhouse occupying one of Manhattan’s most expensive office towers.

But everything I had accumulated there fit inside a single box.

That evening, Michael Grant, my former assistant, called me.

“The rumors have reached our business partners. Several firms are demanding a new review of every project you signed off on.”

“The Legal Department refuses to issue a statement in your defense. Ms. Morgan is also claiming that all your previous projects need to be investigated for improper personal influence.”

He hesitated.

“Several partners involved in the port project are meeting at the Beaumont Hotel tonight ahead of the final signing. Our team has spent months on this deal. Could you come and explain the situation?”

I did not want my entire department to suffer because of my personal life.

So I agreed to go.

When I entered the private dining room, I discovered that Celeste was already there.

She raised her glass and gave me a mocking smile.

“Director Bennett—no, I suppose it’s just Ms. Bennett now.”

“You’ve only been gone from Mercer Holdings for a few hours, and you’re already looking for your next target?”

Laughter broke out around the table.

A middle-aged man looked me up and down.

“I certainly can’t afford fifty million dollars. But if you’re willing to have a few drinks with me, I might consider giving you a position at my investment firm.”

“It won’t be a director’s role at Mercer Holdings, but at least you’ll still have a place in the industry.”

The moment he finished speaking, a glass of red wine struck him full in the face.