Silas walked down the hallway toward his father's office, each step feeling heavier than the last. His shirt clung to his back with sweat despite the air conditioning.
When he reached the polished double doors, he paused, straightened his tie, and knocked.
"Come in."
The voice was sharp enough to cut glass.
Silas pushed the door open and stepped inside. The office was vast—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, dark wood paneling, leather furniture that cost more than most people's cars.
But what stopped him cold were the three men seated in the conversation area.
His father, Jason Carson, sat in the center, his silver hair perfectly combed, his suit immaculate. At sixty-five, he still had the presence of a man who could silence a boardroom with a look.
To his right sat a man with sharp, calculating eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses—Elijah Richardson. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze was predatory.
On Jason's left was Derek Crawford, broader-shouldered than the others, with a weathered face that spoke of decades building an empire from the ground up.
Silas's stomach dropped. These weren't just any business associates. These were the three titans of their respective industries—Carson, Richardson, and Crawford. Together, they controlled more wealth and influence than small nations.
And they were all staring at him.
"Father," Silas said, his voice steadier than he felt. "I wasn't expecting—"
"Sit down," Jason said, gesturing to the empty chair across from them.
Silas sat, feeling like a schoolboy called to the principal's office.
Jason leaned forward, his fingers steepled.
"Elijah, Derek, and I just returned from our trip. We specifically told everyone not to disturb us. We needed that time." His voice was measured, controlled.
"We get back, and what do I find? My company is trending—not for our innovation, not for our success—but because we're being accused of framing some woman."
Silas opened his mouth, but his father raised a hand.
"I'm not finished." Jason's eyes narrowed. "And on top of that, I'm hearing reports that our new product launch—the one you insisted on rushing—has exposed client data. Private messages. Files. Do you have any idea what kind of lawsuits we're looking at?"
"Father, I can explain—"
"Explain?" Jason's voice rose, the first crack in his composure. "You don't explain a disaster after it's happened, Silas. You prevent it from happening in the first place!"
The room fell silent. Elijah and Derek exchanged glances but said nothing.
Jason stood, towering over his son even from across the room.
"You wanted more responsibility. You wanted to prove you could handle being Vice President. And this is what you do with it? You frame some woman—for what? Revenge? Pride? And then you launch a product that isn't ready and expose our clients to a massive security breach?"
"The product was Anderson's design," Silas lied quickly, grasping for any defense. He had to say It was his tech team leaders design he couldn't say he stole it"We acquired it, we thought—"
"You thought?" Jason's voice was ice. "You didn't think, Silas. You acted like a petulant child. And now Carson Corporation is bleeding millions because of your incompetence."
Silas clenched his fists in his lap, feeling the weight of his father's words, the judgment of the two men watching him.
Jason took a breath, composing himself. He sat back down, his expression hardening into something colder, more businesslike.
"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to fix this. All of it. The PR nightmare with this Fidelia woman, the data breach, the lawsuits—everything."
"Yes, sir," Silas said quietly.
"And if you can't," Jason continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "I will remove you from your position and find someone who can."
The threat hung in the air like a guillotine blade.
Elijah Richardson cleared his throat, breaking the tension.
"Jason," he said, his voice smooth and measured, "perhaps we should discuss this matter more... strategically."
Derek Crawford nodded, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Elijah's right. This situation—it's more complicated than just a PR disaster."
Jason glanced at his old friends, then back at Silas. "Explain it to them. Tell them what you did."
Silas swallowed hard. "Fidelia Crawford Derek's stepdaughter. I framed her for harassing a victim only to get to her and Andrian" Silas admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Made it look real. It worked for a while. But now... a couple I used to now has confessed. They posted a video saying they were blackmailed. It's gone viral."
Derek let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "You framed my stepdaughter? and she turned it around?" He laughed—a short, sharp sound. "That weak girl? The one who couldn't even stand up for herself at family dinners? That Fidelia?"
"She's not weak anymore," Silas muttered.
"Clearly not," Derek said, still with that mocking edge. "I have to say, Silas, I'm almost impressed she managed to outmaneuver you. Though that's not saying much, given how you've handled this."
He leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "She wasn't like this before. Something changed. Someone got to her—gave her a backbone."
Jason's jaw tightened. "Derek, this isn't just about Fidelia."
"No, it's not," Elijah interjected, his voice calm but pointed. "It's about Andrian."
Silas's head snapped up. "What does Andrian Richardson have to do with this?"
"He also called off his engagement to Bridget."
Derek's expression darkened instantly. "Andrian ended that engagement for what? For my stepdaughter?"
"So it would seem," Elijah said evenly.
"And you're just going to let him do that?" Derek demanded, his voice rising. "That engagement was agreed upon years ago. It was good for both our families, both our companies."
Elijah met his gaze steadily. "I'll speak with him, it seems he is bent on making decisions he shouldn't."
"Clearly poor ones," Derek shot back.
Jason held up a hand. "Gentlemen, let's not—"
"No, Jason, let's," Derek interrupted. "Because there's another piece to this puzzle, isn't there, Silas?"
Silas felt his heart beat increase as Derek turned to him, that mocking smile returning. "Fidelia was your fiancée too, wasn't she? Before all this? And she called it off."
The room went silent.
Jason's head turned slowly toward his son. "What?"
"She ended the engagement for no reason even before I framed her," Silas said quietly. "And then after everything came out."
Derek laughed—a genuine, belly laugh that echoed through the office.
"So let me get this straight. You framed my weak, pathetic stepdaughter,, ruined her reputation, and she still managed to break free from you, get Andrian to not only also break his engagement to Bridget for her, and now she's turned the entire public against you?"
He wiped his eyes. "Silas, that's almost impressive. How badly do you have to fumble to lose to someone like Fidelia?"
Silas's hands clenched into fists. "She's not the same person—"
"Oh, I can see that," Derek said, his laughter fading but his amusement remaining. "The question is, how did she change? And who helped her?"
He leaned forward. "But here's the thing—I don't care. She's my stepdaughter, and this engagement was arranged. It's going to go back to the way it was planned. I'll make sure of it."
"Derek—" Elijah began.
"And you," Derek continued, pointing at Elijah, "your son is going to honor his commitment to Bridget. Once I get home, I'll handle Fidelia. She'll fall back in line."
Elijah's expression remained neutral, but there was steel in his voice. "Andrian won't be manipulated, Derek. Not by you, not by anyone but he cant disobey me"
"Then you'd better handle your son," Derek said flatly.
"I will have a conversation with him," Elijah said carefully. "Once I get home, I'll sort this situation out. But I will force his hand if i have to."
"You might not have a choice," Derek muttered.
Jason stood, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Enough. We're not here to argue about engagements. We're here because my son created a crisis that's affecting all of us."
He turned to Silas, his expression hard. "You fix the PR disaster. You fix the data breach. You make this right."
"And if I can't?" Silas asked, the question slipping out before he could stop it.
Jason's smile was cold. "Then you'll find out exactly what it means to disappoint me."
Derek stood, straightening his jacket. "Well, gentlemen, I think that's our cue. Jason, it was good to catch up, even under these circumstances."
He glanced at Silas one more time. "Good luck fixing your mess, boy. You're going to need it."
Elijah rose as well. "Indeed. Silas," he added, looking at the younger man directly, "a word of advice. When you're in a hole, stop digging. Trying to cover this up further will only make it worse."
"I'll handle Adrian," Elijah said to the room at large. "Once I'm home, we'll have a conversation about his choices."
"See that you do," Derek said. "And I'll handle Fidelia. This engagement will happen as planned."
The two men left, their footsteps echoing in the hallway.
Jason remained standing, his back to his son, staring out the window at the city below.
"Father—" Silas began.
"Get out," Jason said quietly. "Fix this. And don't come back until you have."
Silas stood on shaking legs and walked to the door.
As he reached for the handle, his father's voice stopped him.
"Silas."
He turned.
Jason was still facing the window, but his voice carried clearly across the room.
"You're my son. But if you cost me this company, not even that will save you."
Silas left without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.
In the hallway, he leaned against the wall, his breath coming in short gasps. His hands were still shaking.
His father's final words echoed in his mind—a promise and a threat wrapped into one.
And Derek's mocking laughter still rang in his ears—the humiliation of being outmaneuvered by someone he'd considered weak.
He arrived at his office and saw someone familiar he knew.
"Damien Richardson...what brings you here"
"Silas my old friend, I see you got a lot on going here and it's not looking pretty" Damien said relaxing on the chair as he spoke.
"Look if you are here to mock me please try it another day...I have reached my limit for today" Silas said fisting his hand and standing in front of Damien.
"Take a sit, I can solve your problem and I will because you are also going to help me solve mine" Damien face became serious.