Regan.
Present day. Two days later…
"I want to know the reason this has happened. How is it possible that our clients' business dealings became public!" I roar, furiously into the phone.
Someone's got to pay for this. Someone's got to be responsible for the calamity that has befallen us. I've got calls from stakeholders. Clients furious. Calling us and cancelling our contracts. Worse dad's in the hospital, because of his heart.
He's stable now, but the detriment to his health still remains.
I'm calling everyone; the IT staff, those who were in charge of the projector. Those in charge of keeping our clients' contact details confidential. Anyone I can get a hand on. It has to be an employee that leaked the names of our clients. They're supposed to be top secret.
Am at Heartstones' tower, for a press conference. I don't even have the mental fortitude to currently handle this.
First it was Juanita. Now the company. It's like ill fortune just decided to dump trash on us. Dad finally spoke yesterday and asked I give this press release, while Lucas and Frankie go handle stuff with the clients. Perhaps appease them. I don't even know the possibility of that.
"Mr Heartstone, it's time." My assistant jolts my attention.
I stare at her, my legs rooted to the ground. I'm nervous, because I don't even know what to say. It's usually Frankie and Lucas that handle the press.
I cover the distance to the conference room, where reporters are waiting for me, like snipers. The cameras flash as I take a sit on the head of the table. My eyes on everyone. I see a face; a woman dressed in sunshades and a scarf over her head.
Is that Rita?
"Mr Heartstone, what do you say about this recent scandal that the company has faced. Stakeholders are shifting base. Stocks are falling." A male reporter speaks.
He doesn't even introduce himself.
I recall what Smith, our PR head said; I should be calm.
But I can't be calm in face of a firing squad now, can I?
"It's unfortunate that our clients had to suffer this sort of embarrassment." I inhale a shaky breath, recalling Smith's suggestions.
'Sympathize with the clients' losses. Losses of Heartstones' Holdings Inc., is secondary.'
"But we are trying our best to search how these sorts of details could leak out to the general public. I assure you, we have specialists on this." I manage a fake smile.
"But this has caused a full scale investigation to be launched into your clients' businesses. How does this pose well for your clients?" Another reporter asks.
I'm shocked at this development. I had no idea this would result in a full scale investigation on them. Actually we hadn't thought they will take this far. We thought someone would respect the privacy of these aforementioned people.
I see Juanita walk into the room, Horacio following her. They sit beside me, Juanita wearing shades. She's wearing a coat, in this LA weather.
I frown.
"Mr Heartstone?" The reporter presses.
I hesitate.
"Next question." I reply.
They look at me and someone else asks.
"Is it true that your data base was hacked?" A female reporter asks.
"No. Our data base is very secure. We have top security software that protects the confidentiality of all our clients and staff…"
"Then how did this happen, Mr Heartstone? It only means that no one is safe with your company. Both the clients and the employees are at risk with you…"
"Are you trying to backlash me, or are you interviewing me?" I retort.
She throws me a stern look. I recognize her, April Lewis of LA World.
God I hate her!
"The truth, Mr Heartstone they say is very bitter." She pastes a smile that I swear doesn't reach her eyes.
More reporters throw their questions and I manage to answer as I can.
Finally, the session ends, with my face more disgruntled than before. Am grateful Juanita was able to lend me a support. My eyes fall on Horacio, his eyes watching Juanita like a hawk.
We walk out of the conference room and I see that Horacio is following Juanita closely. No breathing space.
"Hey, how's Tommy?" I ask her, as we're abreast. She hesitates, looking at Horacio by her side.
"Fine." Her tone is clipped.
I look at her neck, and I see a bruise there. It's like a choker. I halt, holding her elbow. She protests, but I hold her, pulling down her coat.
"What's wrong with you?" Horacio barks, coming to pull her away.
I push him off, gawking at the sight before me.
Juanita has a red bruise around her neck. I pull down her glasses, her eye is purple.
"Jesus!" I choke, my eyes wide.
The eye is really bruised. That entire portion of her eye. No wonder she wore those big glasses. She's whimpering, her body trembling. Her lips are quivering as tears roll down her eyes.
I just need one answer from her.
Closing the space between us, ignoring Horacio's glare, I ask, fuming.
"Did Horacio do this to you?"
She lifts her eyes to me, that welt on her eye, unbearable to look at. Pain eats at me, as I look at her.
My sister is suffering all because I was unable to defend her as a brother should. The agony of it.
Horacio warns her in Italian, but I ignore him. Of course I understand Italian, even though I never speak it. It's part of us. Ingrained in us for generations.
"Juanita Heartstone, answer me. Did Horacio Carmel do this to you?" I growl, coldly.
My expression barely revealing all the rage inside me.
She sees it in my eyes. The big brother that defended her, when we were little.
"Yes."
"That's all I needed to know." I lift my eyes at Horacio.
He startles at the ferocity in my eyes.
I think he just saw the devil in me.