Daddy, Grandpa’s associate hit the desk with a baseball bat and took the red binder!
The elevator doors opened directly into the lobby, and the first thing I saw was Kenneth Albright, standing next to a stern-faced woman in a navy suit. They were waiting. My stomach dropped.
“Julian Ross?” the woman asked, her voice clipped and professional. She held up an ID badge. “I’m Helen Davies, Head of Human Resources.”
Kenneth offered a false, sympathetic smile. “Julian, rough morning, old friend?”
I ignored Kenneth, my gaze fixed on Helen. “What’s going on, Helen?”
“Mr. Ross,” Helen said, her expression unyielding. “We’ve received some concerning reports regarding your recent conduct and mental well-being.”
My mind raced. This was Arthur. This was his move.
“Reports from whom?” I demanded, my voice tight.
Helen held up a slim, official-looking memo. “Specifically, an internal memo from Mr. Albright, citing several instances of paranoid behavior, erratic compliance flags, and unsubstantiated allegations against senior leadership over the past month.”
Kenneth stepped forward, a show of concern plastered on his face. “Julian, we’re all worried about you. You’ve been working non-stop since the divorce, barely sleeping.” He shook his head slowly. “Seeing things in the books that aren’t there.”
“This is ridiculous,” I countered, my hands clenching at my sides. “I’m not paranoid. I found a fraudulent transfer, and my father is trying to cover it up.”
Helen raised a hand, cutting me off. “Mr. Ross, based on multiple internal reports, corroborated by your recent… agitated state, the firm has decided to place you on immediate paid administrative leave.”
“Leave?” I almost laughed. It was a cold, bitter sound. “You can’t do that. I’m in the middle of a critical audit.”
“Effective immediately,” she continued, unmoved. “Pending a mandatory psychiatric evaluation.”
My jaw tightened. This wasn’t just gaslighting anymore; this was an active attempt to sideline me, to discredit me entirely. They were trying to paint me as unstable so no one would believe a word I said.
“This is a smear campaign,” I stated, my voice low. “Arthur is behind this.”
Kenneth sighed theatrically. “See, Helen? This is exactly what we mean. Unfounded accusations. Emotional distress. It’s concerning.”
Helen nodded. “Your digital keycards have already been deactivated, Mr. Ross. Your office access has been revoked.”
She held out a small, sealed envelope. “Here is your official notice, and the details for your psychiatric appointment.”
A cold dread seeped into my bones. My access. Revoked. That meant I was completely locked out of all firm systems, all the files, all the evidence I needed to prove Arthur’s, or Kenneth’s, fraud.
“You can’t just shut me out!” I protested, my voice rising. “I have critical compliance data on my systems. Client privacy issues.”
“All firm data is secure, Mr. Ross,” Helen said, her tone dismissive. “We’ll manage. Your priority now is to take care of yourself.”
Kenneth stepped closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Look, Julian, just go home. Get some rest. See the doctor. You’re seeing ghosts where there are just numbers.”
He leaned in, his voice barely a whisper. “Arthur just wants to protect you. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
I felt a surge of fury. Protect me? He was destroying me. He was isolating me, painting me as crazy, all to bury his secret.
“This isn’t over,” I said, looking from Kenneth to Helen. “You think you can just sweep this under the rug? I know what I saw.”
Helen merely looked at her watch. “Security will escort you out, Mr. Ross. We advise you cooperate to avoid any further… unpleasantness.”
A large, burly security guard, who had been standing discreetly by the front desk, took a step towards me. My access to my own company, my own father’s company, was gone. My reputation, hanging by a thread. I was trapped.
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