"They're going to try." I pull into the underground garage beneath Dominion, bypassing the media entirely. "Margot knows what she's doing. She'll have protocols in place."
Margot's waiting in her office when we arrive. She looks like she hasn't slept. Isabella's there with Remy. He must have brought her in to help. Along with them are two others Margot introduces as Dominion's legal counsel and head of security.
"Thank you for coming." Margot gestures us to chairs. "We have a situation."
"Background footage," I say.
"Yes. The Times-Picayune edited carefully, but the footage shows Simone's scene partners. Faces are partially visible in some shots." She pulls up a tablet, shows us a screenshot from the published video. "We've been fielding calls from people worried about being identified."
Simone leans forward. "How bad is the exposure?"
"Minimal in the published footage. But we have to assume whoever leaked this has access to the full surveillance archives. Everything Armand collected." Margot's expression is grim. "If they decide to release more, or if someone with facial recognition software analyzes the footage frame by frame, scene partners could be identified."
"What are you doing about it?" I ask.
"Crisis protocols. We're contacting everyone who might have been captured on the surveillance footage. Offering legal support, media training, security consultation. Some are handling it calmly. Others are terrified about being outed."
Isabella speaks up. "We're also working with legal counsel to explore options for pursuing charges against whoever leaked the footage. Not just for Simone's privacy violation, but for exposing club members without consent."
"Good." Simone's voice is hard. "Make them pay for this."
"We will. But in the meantime, we need to manage the immediate crisis." Margot looks at me. "You upgraded our security systems last year. Can you review protocolsand recommend additional measures to prevent media from identifying members coming and going?"
"Already working on it." I pull up notes on my phone. "My team is coordinating counter-surveillance measures. Increased screening in the garage, alternate entry points, detection systems for anyone trying to photograph scene partners in the vicinity."
Remy nods from across the table. "Dominion security synced. Protocols go up tonight."
Margot's shoulders relax slightly.
"Thank you." She closes her eyes briefly. "This isn't just about protecting privacy anymore. It's about preventing witch hunts."
We spend the next couple hours working through crisis management protocols. Margot's team has done solid work, but the media pressure is unprecedented. Dominion has always operated on discretion and privacy. Now it's under a spotlight.
When we leave, the media presence outside has doubled. The reporters recognize the SUV pulling out of the garage. They surge forward, cameras rolling, microphones extended. My security team blocks the worst of it with the follow vehicle, but they're aggressive.
Simone stares straight ahead, not reacting. Professional mask firmly in place.
"How long until the board meeting?" I ask once we're clear.
"Several days." The words come out strained. "Another emergency session."
The timing is too perfect. "They're going to keep the pressure up until then."
"Can you handle a few more days?"
"I don't have a choice."
We head back to the estate. Simone spends the afternoon working with Henry on strategy for the board confrontation. Icoordinate with Remy on the leak investigation and the security upgrades for Dominion.
By evening, exhaustion is starting to show on Simone's face. She's been running on adrenaline and anger since the footage dropped. The media siege, the constant pressure from the board, all of it compounding.
I find her in the guest house living room, staring at her laptop screen. News coverage still playing. Social media commentary scrolling past. She's torturing herself with it.
"Enough," I say, shutting her laptop.
"I need to know what they're saying."
"You know what they're saying. The same thing they've been saying for hours." I pull her to her feet. "You need to stop reading it."
