Chapter 16 - The Threat Behind the SmileMaisie Quinn arrived at work on Monday expecting to be fired.
Instead, Derek greeted her with a smile.
“Morning, Maisie.”
She stopped near the entrance.
“Morning.”
He looked relaxed.
Almost friendly.
That frightened her more than his usual temper.
“Got a minute?”
She followed him into the conference room.
The door closed behind them.
Derek sat at the head of the table.
Maisie remained standing.
“Sit down.”
She obeyed.
He folded his hands.
“Vivian's lawyers are making a big deal out of that customer incident.”
Maisie looked down.
“I know.”
“They'll probably interview you.”
“Yes.”
Derek smiled.
“Good. Then we should make sure we're all remembering the same thing.”
Maisie's stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?”
“The guy was suspicious. He showed up looking like he didn't belong, created a scene, and used a questionable card.”
Maisie stared at him.
“He didn't create a scene.”
Derek's smile disappeared.
“What?”
“He didn't shout. He didn't threaten anybody.”
Derek leaned back.
“Careful.”
Maisie swallowed.
“I was there.”
“So was I.”
“You broke the card.”
His jaw tightened.
“Because it was fake.”
“You didn't check.”
Silence.
Derek stood.
Maisie flinched.
He noticed.
For a moment, something ugly passed across his face.
Then he smiled again.
“Maisie, I like you. You've got potential.”
She stared at the table.
“But this business is competitive. People need managers willing to recommend them.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
He stepped closer.
“Because I can help your career. Or I can make it very difficult for you to find another dealership willing to take a chance.”
Maisie felt tears rising.
She thought of Phoebe's tuition.
Their rent.
The overdue repair bill for their car.
Derek looked satisfied.
“I'm not asking you to lie,” he said. “I'm asking you not to exaggerate.”
Maisie raised her eyes.
“Then I won't.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“I'll say what happened.”
Derek stared.
Maisie stood.
Her legs felt weak.
“Excuse me.”
She walked out before he could answer.
In the restroom, she locked herself inside a stall and began shaking.
She wanted to cry.
Wanted to quit.
Wanted to pretend the entire situation had never happened.
Instead, she took out her phone and wrote down what Derek said while the conversation was fresh.
Then she contacted the outside investigator listed in the witness-interview email.
She requested a meeting.
Across the showroom, Lauren watched her emerge from the restroom.
Maisie's eyes were red.
Lauren approached.
“Are you okay?”
Maisie shook her head.
“Derek wants me to change what I remember.”
Lauren's expression hardened.
“Did he threaten you?”
Maisie hesitated.
“Not directly.”
“What did he say?”
Maisie explained.
Lauren listened without interrupting.
Then she took a breath.
“You need to tell the investigator.”
“I already asked for a meeting.”
Lauren nodded.
“Good.”
Maisie stared at her.
“Do you think they'll protect my job?”
Lauren's expression softened.
“I can't promise that. But we can ask about anti-retaliation procedures, and you should document anything else that happens.”
Maisie nodded.
She appreciated that Lauren didn't promise an outcome she couldn't control.
That evening, Maisie told Phoebe everything.
Her sister listened quietly.
When Maisie finished, Phoebe hugged her.
“I'm proud of you.”
Maisie began crying.
“I might lose my job.”
“I know.”
“We can't afford that.”
Phoebe held her tighter.
“We'll figure it out.”
Maisie shook her head.
“I laughed at that man because I didn't want Derek to think I was different from everyone else.”
Phoebe stepped back.
“And now?”
Maisie wiped her eyes.
“Now I'd rather be different.”
At Sterling House Motors, Derek returned to his office.
He had spent years believing that people could be managed through incentives and fear.
A good commission.
A promotion.
A threat about job security.
Most employees eventually learned what to say.
Maisie was supposed to be easy.
Young.
Financially vulnerable.
Eager to please.
Instead, she had challenged him.
Derek opened his laptop.
An email from the outside investigators waited in his inbox.
It requested records concerning his communications with witnesses.
He stared at it.
Then another message arrived.
This one came from Gideon.
Do not discuss the incident with staff again.
Derek read it.
He typed a reply.
We need to make sure they don't twist things.
Gideon's response came almost immediately.
You are making things worse. Stop.
Derek slammed the laptop shut.
For the first time, he wondered whether the people above him were already planning how to separate themselves from his actions.
He picked up his phone.
Called Miranda.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Derek stared at the screen.
He'd always believed control was the same thing as loyalty.
May you like
Now both were slipping away.
And he had no idea which person would stop obeying him next.
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