I hear the wordinsiderand feel a cold pang of fear shoot through me. As naive as it may sound, that single word forces me to consider, for the first time, that it could be someone on my team. Could this be sabotage from someone on my own payroll?
Jaxon nods, acknowledging the concern. “Right. We need to make a statement, and it needs to be soon. Does it make it better or worse if Kelsey makes a statement?”
“Better,” Susan from the PR team suggests, but at the same time, one of the lawyers replies, “Worse.”
“Great,” Jaxon replies with a sigh. “So glad we’re on the same page. What do you think, Kelsey?”
The room is tense.
“I’d prefer not to. I think it would make it look like I’m protesting my innocence too hard.”
“Have you even said you’re innocent?” the same PR woman asks. “For that matter, are you even innocent?”
Before I can speak, Carter does. His voice is firm, cutting through the room like a blade. “With all due respect, Susan, yes. The evidence is there that her team’s equipment was tampered with.” He stands, his posture straight, his eyes locked on Jaxon. The room falls silent, everyone taken aback by his sudden assertiveness.
“Kelsey shouldn’t have to defend herself,” Carter continues, his voice growing stronger. “You and your team should be doing it for her. You pay what I can only assume is millions of dollars a year to have a team to help deal with stories like these, and yet you’ve all waited until the narrative got out of control to do anything. You’re able to help, and you’ve done nothing.”
I turn to look at Carter, surprised by the fire in his voice. He’s not one to speak in big groups. But I can see the determination in his eyes, and I know exactly what this is. It’s Carter finding his voice. Not just for me, but for himself, too.
The room remains silent, and I can feel everyone’s eyes on Carter, waiting for him to continue. But he doesn’t. Instead, he turns slightly, his eyes meeting mine for just a moment, offering me the smallest nod of reassurance.
He’s stepping up for me. For us. For everything I’ve worked for. He’s making sure I’m not alone in this.
“Anything else you’d like to get off your chest, Carter?” Jaxon asks. His face is neutral, eyebrows slightly raised with the question, but I can catch a glimmer of amusement behind his eyes. He knows just as well as I do how unusual this type of outburst is for Carter.
“I’d be happy to make a statement on behalf of Mitchell Security,” Carter says, his voice unwavering.
I blink, not quite believing what I’m hearing. Carter’s not the kind of guy to make a PR statement, especially not without clearing it with Trent first. And I can guarantee Trent’s not on board with this.
Jaxon takes a deep breath, looking between Carter and me. The tension in the room could snap at any second. Finally, he nods, a slight change in his posture. “All right,” he says, his voice quieter now. “Kelsey, I need answers. I can’t have someone on stage like that.”
“I understand,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “I’m doing everything I can to fix this. We’ll get it sorted.”
Jaxon’s assistant Annie stands up from the couch, typing something into her phone. “Susan and her team will handle writing your official statement, Carter. She’ll be by your room shortly to have you approve it and to collect any soundbites they might need.”
As the meeting winds down, everyone begins to file out, their voices muted. Annie gives me a quick, sympathetic look as we’re exiting, but everyone else seems to think this is on me.
We ride a crowded elevator down to our floor, and as we enter our room, the weight of everything hangs heavily on my shoulders
I drop the bag I’ve been lugging around with me on the floor and take a deep breath.
Carter’s arms wrap around me from behind, his chin nuzzling into my trapezius muscle.
“Thank you,” I say, turning in his arms. His eyes meet mine, and I can see the softness in them, the quiet pride he feels, but I can’t help the flutter of worry that still lingers in my chest. This isn’t over. The scrutiny isn’t over. The investigation isn’t over. It’s all just one more thing I need to do and do right.
“I meant what I said,” Carter replies, his voice low. “You’re not in this alone, Kels. I know I’ve often resorted to silence as a shield, but this time, I’m not just part of the defense team. I’m in your corner, sword in hand, ready to fight your battles by your side.”
“Thank you. It means so much to me to have you in my corner. And I’m sorry.”
“For what?” he asks, his voice low.
“When you were talking earlier, about how people could help but do nothing? It felt personal to you. Like you were thinking of all the people who could help with your mom but who don’t. I’m sorry I’m one of them.”
He sighs, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I didn’t mean you, Kels. I meant my sperm donor, the guy who has lived a life of luxury working a nice job while my mom is on her feet every day working in a diner because he knocked her up and then chose someone else. And then when she needs treatments and medication that she can’t afford, he doesn’t even offer to help out.”
I pull him closer to me. “I’m sorry, Carter. I can’t imagine how hard it is.”
“I just once want him to offer to help her because he knows he should, not because he wants yet another thing from me.”
