Merrick

"What have you found?" I ask Dean.

"We can't talk over the phone. You need to get here." He says in a low tone.

I can sense the seriousness in his voice, and I instantly know something is not right. "I'll be there in 15 minutes," I assure him. Dean doesn't say anything in return, and it just adds up to my anxiousness.

After he ends the call, I put my phone back and look up at Zelina, who is now gazing at me curiously. I purse my lips, suddenly feeling helpless. I hate that I need to leave abruptly because we still needed to talk. Tonight our conversation was about her opening up to me, which actually relieved my nerves considering whatever she said felt genuine, but at the same time, I am also aware that there are certain things that are needed to be said from my side.

"Is everything alright?" She asks, grasping the change in my mood.

"I am sorry. I need to leave now." I give her an apologetic look and stand up to leave.

"Are you sure you are okay?" Zelina asks. The concern is evident in her tone as she follows me back into the bedroom.

I stop and look at her. "Dean got some important lead on what happened at the launch. He asked me to get to the office immediately."

She nods at me before saying. "I'll go with you."

When I hear her say that, I look at her in disbelief and I open my mouth to stop her but then I realize that she has every right to be present there because she's got an important tie with our company and she deserves to know it just as much as I do. I nod at her and we walk down the stairs in silence and make our way out of her house.

We get in my car, and I speed down the roads. With every passing minute, I can't help but wonder what Dean might have gotten hold of. When I park the car down the building, I feel more anxious about finding the truth. The office is empty but the lights on my floor are on, so I know where everyone is. I hurry down the lobby, almost too eager. We quickly get on the elevator and head to my floor. I know Zelina is right behind me, but she doesn't try to speak much and it actually makes me glad, knowing that she understands the situation. I don't waste any time as I get out of the elevator and head straight to the meeting room.

I push open the door and march inside. Dean and Cameron are standing in a corner and they look up instantly as we walk in. When Zelina gets in, I ask her to close the door before I scan the room and see Anthony standing by the window. Something seems off with him as he doesn't turn to look at me. I frown and before I can ask him anything; I notice Aiden in the room. He is sitting on one of the chairs at the table with his head down.

"What's going on?" I turn back to look at Dean and ask him.

He hesitates as he looks at Zelina behind me. I take in his confusion and give him a nod, approving him to say it. "It's Aiden, Merrick," Dean says after a moment.

"What?" I ask in disbelief.

No one says anything as I look at them in astonishment. Aiden still has his head down, and Dean and Cameron keep their mouths shut. I know Aiden always disliked me, but it's still a bit shocking to discover that he could betray us, despite knowing that his father has been loyal to this company for years. Before I can speak again, I hear someone whisper something behind me. I turn around and realize it's Anthony. He is still standing there facing the window, not looking at us. But from his sagged shoulders I can sense the regret that's pouring down his body.

He shakes his head and then mutters. "I can't believe this."

When he turns around, he clenches his jaw tightly. This time, I see the rage in his eyes. "I cannot fucking believe...How could you do this?" He walks towards Aiden in quick strides as we all stare at him.

"Tell me, how the fuck could you do this?" He pulls Aiden up by his collar and screams, looking into his eyes. I hear Zelina let out a small gasp as she stands behind me.

"Do you realize what you've committed is a crime? You fucking ruined my years of hard work. You stained my name, Aiden?" Anthony barks furiously. Aiden still doesn't lift his gaze to look at his father, and it makes Anthony angrier than before. Dean looks at them and begins to take a step forward, but I signal him to stop, knowing that we shouldn't interrupt.

Anthony tightens his grip on Aiden's collar and seethes. "I've busted my ass off for this company. All these years I've spent just to gain Colton's trust. I've....and you just blew it all in a second."

"You betrayed us. You betrayed me. Why?" He shakes his head in disappointment and looks at Aiden. "Merrick has been so considerate to offer you a place here. He didn't need to, but he still did. And what did you do?"

I stand at my place looking at Anthony as he lets out a ragged breath, narrowing his eyes at his son. "Why Aiden? I don't know how I'll be able to look him in the eyes now."

The room grows silent for a moment, and I can feel the tension thicken in the air as everyone waits for Aiden's response. "Merrick...Merrick...Merrick..." He speaks in a slow voice as he looks up to meet Anthony's gaze after a minute. "It has always been about him." I hear him say bitterly before he turns to shoot a dirty look at me. After he turns back to Anthony, I and Dean exchange a weird look.

"What?" Anthony looks at him in disbelief.

Aiden scoffs as he shoves his father's hands off his collar. "I fucking hate Merrick, and I fucking hate you. You always wanted me to match your expectations, but have you ever thought about what I really wanted to do?"

Anthony takes a step back as he stares at him. What the hell is going on? Aiden sighs deeply and then fixes his cold gaze on me. Our eyes meet again briefly before he turns back to Anthony. "I never wanted to be here in the first place. I wanted to be a musician. My dream was to have my own band, but you....just because your golden boy Merrick has an interest in running a god damn company, doesn't mean everyone has to do it too."

He shakes his head, and I suddenly feel bad for him, realizing what Anthony has been doing to him. I warned him before, knowing that he was pressuring his son to do something that he didn't like. "I was sick of hearing his praises from your mouth. Sure, he is a good businessman, but you never saw my true capability. That's because you never gave me the opportunity to open up." Aiden says, narrowing his eyes at his father.

Anthony clenches his jaw. "How dare you..." He begins with an angry growl but before he can go any further, I walk over to him and place my hand over his shoulder.

He stops and turns to look at me, and I give him a slight nod. "Anthony, please...I need to talk to him." I say.

His eyes are filled with shame as he stares at me, and it appears like he wants to argue, but he doesn't do it as he looks down. I hand him a water bottle as he sags down on a chair. Then I divert my gaze back to Aiden, who still seems to have an irritated expression on his face.

I can feel Zelina's presence in the room, but I try not to get distracted by it. I focus on Dean and Cameron as they walk towards us. "Tell me everything." I ask.

Dean clears his throat before he exchanges a look with Cameron and then turns towards me. "We were trying to check the surveillance cameras of the building. There wasn't any activity near the data room. But we noticed that we didn't have a camera in front of Cameron's room. The only one that's to the left of the hallway down Cameron's floor captured Aiden leaving, and it looked like he was coming from his room. It was a few days before the launch."

"It seemed suspicious, and then I remembered that day...I was on an important call and I needed to go to the manufacturing department urgently. I know I should be guilty too, because I might have forgotten to lock the door in a hurry." Cameron says, looking a little apologetic as he looks at me. "Aiden got a perfect time, and he sneaked into my office."

I nod at him, trying to process what he just told me, and then I turn to face Aiden again. "Why did you do this?" I ask him, standing right in front of him now. "I understand what Anthony did to you was wrong, but you could have told me. I wouldn't have forced you to work here if you didn't want to."

He scoffs, looking right into my eyes. "It's not about leaving the company...it's about my father not valuing my choices."

"That doesn't justify your deeds. So answer my question and tell me why you backstabbed us?"

"Didn't you hear? I was tired of your propaganda." Aiden clenches his jaw and crosses his arms as I look at him in disbelief.

"I was angry and frustrated when I went to that bar...two weeks before the launch. That's when this guy approached me. He said he knew what my problem was and that he could offer me something that would relieve me of my misery." I frown as Aiden hesitates before he speaks again. "He gave me a check...At first, I was surprised, but I took it because I knew if I wanted to resign and follow my passion, I needed money and there was no way that my dad was going to finance my expenses for it." He says, and I urge him to keep going, though I feel a wave of rage run down my body.

"Two days later, I got a call from a woman. She told me what exactly I needed to do." Aiden says slowly. "Merrick, listen, I didn't do any of this on my own. Of course, I agreed to their deal, but the plan wasn't mine. It wouldn't even have crossed my mind if that man wouldn't have come to me that day."

I don't speak, and when he sees how angry I am, he lets out a tired sigh. "I was simply taking order."

I look at him and ask. "Whose?"

He lowers his gaze, and I clench my jaw in frustration. "I said whose orders were you taking?"

He gulps slowly before his gaze turns towards someone behind me. I turn to look at Zelina and at the same time Aiden says. "Jamie Miller."

I turn back at him, not believing what I just heard, and ask. "What?"

"Yes, it was her." He confesses and I feel utterly shocked looking at how honest he seems with it.

"Merrick, no..." I hear Zelina say behind me, and I curl my fists in anger. Everyone's gaze is now directed at her. I can see a hint of disbelief in Anthony's face as he lifts his head to look at her.

I shake my head and walk straight towards her. "You knew this, didn't you?" I ask, looking right into her eyes when I stand in front of her.

For the first time, I see Zelina being intimidated, and I hate to see her like this. "I have no idea what he is talking about." She gulps and says, looking up at me.

I let out a humorless chuckle. "Of course, she is your mother. How could you not?" I run a hand through my hair in frustration and look back at her. "So, this is what you have been planning from the beginning? This is unbelievable." I hate how hurt I sound right now, but I can't help the way I am feeling. "I trusted you, Zelina. Why would you do this?" I ask her and it comes out more like a whisper.

"Merrick, just listen to me." She pleads, and I try not to fall for the sadness in her beautiful eyes.

"Wait...do I really want to know? Fucking no..." I say to her bitterly. I am aware that we are in a room with people around us and I don't want our conversation to make them believe that we have something more than a business relationship. And from the way I've been talking, it wouldn't take long for them to realize how much Zelina's betrayal wounded me personally. "Leave, Zelina...There isn't anything for us to talk about now."

"Merrick, please." She says, but I turn my gaze away from her.

"I said leave my office. Right now." I can see her struggling from the corner of my eyes, but I don't let it shake my decision. She looks behind me, pleading for anyone to come to her rescue, but I know where their loyalty lies. Glancing at me for one last time, she turns around and walks out of the room.

After she leaves, I stare at the door feeling agitated, broken, and disappointed all at the same time.