“Progress?” I echo, stunned by my father's flippant admission. “We could lose everything! The employees, their families—they depend on us!”
“I know this isn't easy for you, but trust me when I say it was necessary.”
“Was it?” I can't understand how the man who taught him right from wrong, who instilled in him a strong moral compass, can betray those values.
“Son, sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing aren't the same.”
“Aren't they, father? Being honest and ethical is the hardest thing to do in these situations.”
The clock on the wall ticks away, filling the tense silence between us. My eyes flitted to it to escape the accusatory gaze of my father. Feeling cornered and suffocated, I force myself to focus on the bigger picture. “Alright, let's say we can move past this. I have a plan that could save Legacy.” I reach into the briefcase, pulling out an organized folder filled with papers detailing the proposal.
“Go on,” George says, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest as if bracing for impact.
“First, you need to come clean about what happened. Admit your mistakes and take responsibility,” I explain, feeling my cheeks flush at the thought of exposing our family's shortcomings. “Next, we need to reach out to the original designers you stole from and work out a deal to compensate them.”
“Are you out of your mind?” George interjects. “That would ruin me!”
“Better than Legacy being ruined by lawsuits and a tarnished reputation!” I shoot back, anger flaring. “We need to regain the trust of our employees—their livelihoods depend on us! This will come out in the media eventually, and either way your reputation will go down the toilet. Right now, my focus is on the company, not you.”
“Oh, I see you. You are trying to be the hero. Swooping in to save the day from your big evil father?” George scoffs, waving a hand in the air.
“Of course not!” Hurt simmers in my chest, igniting a spark of frustration. “I’m just trying to do what's right – what you taught me to do! But now I don't understand how you could do something like this!”
“You're too naïve. This is business, not a fairy tale. You need take risks and make tough choices.”
“Stealing isn't a risk, it's a crime! And it's not just about the business—this affects our family too!”
“Listen, I've built this company from the ground up,” George argues, his eyes narrowing. “I know what it takes to keep it running. Don't lecture me about what's best for the business or the family.”
“Maybe you knew once, but now, I can't help but think that maybe you've lost sight of what matters.”
“Son, it was never about getting a leg up on the competition. It was about survival. If we hadn't used those designs, Legacy INC would have been left in the dust.”
“Survival?” I scoff, my heart pounding. “At what cost, Dad? Our integrity?”
“Integrity doesn't pay the bills, Dixon,” George shoots back. “You know how cutthroat this industry is. They backed us into a corner. I couldn't just stand by and watch our legacy crumble.”
I pace the room, my polished shoes sinking into the plush carpet with every step. My mind spins with conflicting thoughts, each one battling for dominance over the others. “Listen, there's still time to make things right. We can come clean, repay the designers you wronged. I know it's not ideal, but it's something.” For a moment, we stand in silence, our gazes locked in a battle of wills.
“Maybe we can't go back to the way things were, but I'll do everything in my power to make this right.”
Life has never been about playing it safe—and sometimes, taking a risk is the only way to grow.
10
Chloe
It is best to keep this information between Dixon and I for now. The legal department will need to know eventually, but if he wants to get his father’s side of the story first, then why not. Information like this can completely destroy Legacy Inc., but Dixon seems determined to try to salvage what he can. It’s important we stay in front of this, but do we agree on the path?
Information like this can be potentially damaging and have serious implications on the company. I just received my promotion and the last thing I want is to ruin her career.
Sitting at my desk, I wonder how things are going on Dixon’s end. He left lunch to confront his father, and all the years I have known Mr. Myers, something like this never came to mind. He seems like an honest and caring man. Why would he do something like this?
We will need to make a plan and get the legal department involved, but need to be careful how we handle it. A sound and well thought out plan is best.
The first step is to find out as much information as possible about the stolen designs. How did George get the designs in the first place?
While Dixon is busy with his father, I go back to the email and pull up the signature at the very bottom, providing Clara’s number.
