Chapter 10 - One Punch and No Special Treatment
Julian crossed the room before Grant understood what was happening.
“Don’t touch my sister again.”
His fist struck Grant once.
Grant stumbled into the wall.
Julian stepped forward, but the police officer entering behind him ordered him to stop.
Julian immediately lowered his hands.
“I’m done.”
He did not threaten the officer.
He did not use his position.
He acknowledged the punch and stepped aside.
Grant held his face.
“Mr. Cross?”
Julian pointed toward Emma.
“My sister.”
Grant looked at her.
The shock on his face almost resembled betrayal.
“You said your brother was named Julian.”
“He is.”
“You never said Cross.”
“You never asked.”
“You knew he was my boss.”
Emma stood slowly.
“I knew you worked for a company he led. I did not know you were falsifying safety reports until I saw the messages.”
Grant looked toward Julian.
“This is a setup.”
Mercer Dynamics’ general counsel, Alicia Hart, entered carrying the internal-review folder.
“The review began before Mr. Cross learned you were married to his sister.”
That was not entirely true.
The ethics complaint had existed.
But no complete investigation had begun until Emma’s evidence arrived.
Alicia placed Leah’s original reports on the table.
Grant pointed toward Emma.
“She stole confidential data.”
“Ms. Moreno preserved evidence after you deleted a safety complaint,” Alicia replied.
The police officer handed Grant the emergency protective order.
He was required to leave the house immediately and have no contact with Emma.
“This is my house.”
Emma shook her head.
The property had been purchased with money from Michael Bennett’s estate and remained in Emma’s name.
Grant had contributed only to utilities.
He had spent years calling it his because Emma stopped correcting him.
The officer asked Grant to collect his keys.
Grant looked toward Julian.
“You’re destroying a senior employee because your sister cried to you.”
Julian’s voice became controlled.
“No. Independent counsel is suspending you because evidence shows you endangered customers, retaliated against staff, and abused your spouse.”
Grant turned back toward Emma.
“You’ll regret this when everyone knows you hid who you were.”
Emma wiped tears from her face.
“The only thing I regret hiding is what you did.”
The officer escorted Grant outside.
Julian remained several feet from Emma.
He did not touch her until she opened her arms.
May you like
Then her older brother held her while she finally stopped pretending she was safe.
👉 Grant had lost his home and company access in one evening, but the forged documents found in his office would reveal that he planned to take far more than a promotion.
