Ansel turns the screen toward us. “Remy’s assessment identified three critical vulnerabilities in Geneva’s infrastructure. Vulnerabilities that, if exploited, would have exposed them to significant liability.”
He turns the laptop so we can all see the screen. “Her recommendations were sound, actionable, and presented with clear explanations of both the risks and the solutions.”
Damon rolls his shoulders back. “Sure, but the way she presented it?—”
“Was professional and appropriate,” Ansel cuts him off. “What I’m more interested in is this.” He pulls up another document. “The follow-up proposal you sent to Geneva. The one where you promised solutions to problems that don’t exist and quoted them prices that were thirty percent below our standard rates.”
Enzo leans forward. “You undercut our pricing?”
“I was trying to save the account.” Damon’s defenses are up now. “Remy’s report scared them, so I offered incentives to keep them on board.”
Ansel scrolls through the document. “You promised implementation timelines we couldn’t meet, guaranteed security standards we don’t offer, and structured payment terms that would have cost us money. And when Geneva’s technical team reviewed your proposal, they realized it was nonsense.”
He looks up, and anger flashes across his face, which is a stark contrast to his typical stoicism. “That’s why they left. Notbecause of Remy’s assessment. Because you tried to bullshit your way through a contract you didn’t understand.”
Damon’s face flushes. “That’s not what happened.”
“It’s exactly what happened.” Remy’s response is quiet but steady. She pulls up her own laptop. “I caught the errors in your proposal two hours after you sent it. I flagged them for you via email and offered to help revise before Geneva responded.”
She turns her screen so everyone can see the email chain. “You told me to stay in my lane and let you handle client relationships.”
“I didn’t realize you were keeping receipts.” Damon’s words come out bitter.
“I keep records of everything.” Remy doesn’t flinch. “I always document security concerns and protocol violations. Your proposal had both.”
I watch Damon’s hands curl into fists on the table. “So, you went behind my back?”
“She came to me,” Ansel interjects. “Three days ago. When it became clear Geneva was going to walk, she provided the full documentation showing where the breakdown occurred. She tried to fix your mistakes quietly to save your ass. She gave you a chance. You’re just lucky that Remy and I were able to get them to renew yesterday.”
The silence that follows is heavy enough to suffocate. Enzo breaks it. “How many other accounts have you mishandled?”
Damon is seething. “I haven’t mishandled any accounts.”
“How many?” Ansel’s question is stern, direct.
Damon looks between the three of us, realizing he’s cornered. “Look, I’ve been under a lot of pressure. Having Remy here, seeing her every day after everything that happened between us… It’s been difficult. I made some mistakes. But I can fix this.”
“By blaming her for your incompetence?” I can’t keep the anger out of my response. “By trying to tank her reputation to make yourself look good?”
Damon’s eyes narrow. “Stop taking sides. She’s not as fucking perfect as you’re all making her out to be.”
“Damon, your job performance has really gone downhill.” Ansel closes his laptop, ignoring Damon’s comment about Remy. “Doing your job with integrity matters. And that is something you seem to have forgotten how to do.”
I watch Damon’s expression change from defensive to calculating. He’s trying to figure out how to spin this, how to make himself the victim.
Remy stands. “If we’re done here, I have work to do.”
“Sit down.” Ansel’s command is gentle but firm. “We’re not done.”
She hesitates, then sinks back into her chair.
Ansel looks at Damon. “You’re taking a leave of absence. Two weeks. Mandatory.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m completely serious. You need time to figure out whether you want to be part of this company or whether your personal issues are going to continue compromising our operations.”
Damon laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Personal issues? You mean Remy? The woman who?—”
