Chapter 8 - The Smear
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By noon the following day, Trevor’s media machine was operating at full capacity.
A prominent local business blog published an exclusive article titled: INTERNAL BETRAYAL: Whitfield Development Cuts Ties With Disgraced Consultant After Financial Irregularities.
The article framed Margot as an unstable employee who had been caught trying to alter environmental compliance documents. It included a statement from Trevor himself:
"It breaks my heart to see someone I trusted fall apart like this," Trevor was quoted as saying. "We only hope Margot gets the professional help she so desperately needs."
Margot sat in a private booth at a quiet diner downtown, reading the article on a burner phone Elias’s team had provided.
Across the table, Dana Whitfield—Trevor’s younger sister—sat shivering slightly, holding a mug of black coffee with both hands.
"He's lying, Margot," Dana whispered, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. "I was at dinner. I saw what he did to you. I saw him hit you."
"I know he's lying, Dana," Margot said gently. "Why did you agree to meet me?"
Dana reached into her purse and pulled out a small black flash drive, pushing it across the Formica table.
"Trevor thinks I don't pay attention because I work in the marketing department," Dana said, her voice shaking with quiet fury. "But I have access to his personal safe in the main office. This contains his private communication logs with Briana Voss from the last six months."
May you like
Margot looked down at the drive, then up at Dana. "If Trevor finds out you gave me this, he will cut you off completely."
"Let him," Dana said, setting her coffee mug down with a firm snap. "He slapped you in front of twelve people and expected us all to pretend it was normal. I'm tired of being afraid of my own brother."
