“So she was a cheat?” Don asked.
I wanted to punch him, but I remained in my chair…barely.
“Jay, why don’t you explain exactly what happened last week while Zaila was on bereavement leave?” Tim said, nodding for the other man to step forward.
Jay shot Tim a poisonous look before he met my gaze. “I was the acting media lead, and I overrode HR so I could access Zaila Monroe’s login information. I posted to Jeff’s account, making it look like Zaila was favoring him. I adapted Zaila’s pre-written content and hashtags and set up a schedule like she usually does for posting. That was wrong of me, and I take full responsibility for the breach. Ms. Monroe has acted with integrity throughout her time here. She led the charge in correcting our team culture and protecting our brand. We should thank her, not question her.”
I leaned forward. “Lydia Flores, the former social media manager, was involved in this scheme?”
Jay swallowed. “Y-yes. It was her idea.”
“Because?” Tim prompted.
Jay sighed. “She was jealous of Ms. Monroe’s relationship with Mr. Evaldson. She was also seeking retribution for what she saw as Zaila getting her fired. And, well, Jeff is a distant relative, so she was angry about his treatment by the team as well.”
“You’re telling me that all this hassle—all these distractions—were because of petty jealousy?” Silas asked.
Jay gave a stiff nod.
Silas ran his hands down his face. “Christ. I just… That’s awful. And you let Zaila be the scapegoat.”
Jay gave another nod.
“That’s slimy,” Don muttered. “You’re done here. I refuse to allow the destruction of someone’s reputation because you were butthurt.”
We all blinked at Don, who was close to eighty, for a long moment. He shrugged. “My grandkids taught me the slang. Seemed appropriate.”
“Very,” Tim muttered.
“Well, I think this meeting has been sorted,” I said, rising from the table, buttoning my suit jacket. “Which is why I’m going to have my HR department work diligently through the staff to ensure such an issue doesn’t resurface.”
“You definitely need to get the staff’s act together, unless you want it impacting the team’s performance,” Silas warned. “We have enough trouble there already.”
I met each set of eyes around the table before I met Tim’s, then Jay’s. “You have my word that I’ll handle everyone’s issues with speed and efficiency. Jay, as Mr. Rosenfeld noted, your services are no longer required.”
Jay swallowed as a strangled sound issued from his throat.
“We haven’t decided if we’re censoring you yet,” Don informed me.
“Considering that has to be unanimous, and I’m voting no, it’s already decided,” Silas said.
I nodded his way in thanks. “Now, if you’ll excuse me,” I announced. “I have some details to iron out with the team.”
“The Jeff issue is long overdue,” Silas added.
“That’s my first order. Tim, tell Zaila I’ll be down to talk to her as soon as I can.”
“Security led her out of the building ten minutes ago,” Tim said.
“What?” I scrambled toward the door.
“Jay insisted she be removed,” he explained.
I ground my teeth, frustration pumping through my veins. Now that Jay Welks was no longer employed, I had to get rid of Jeff Cross and his cancer on the team, but all I really wanted was to find Zaila.
Soon. As soon as I managed this clusterfuck, I’d find my way to her arms.
Chapter 34
