Page 82 of The Last Morgan
"You’re done here, Rufus."
He laughed — an ugly, barking sound.
"Done? Please. You're nothing but a child playing dress-up in daddy's empire. You don't even know how this world works."
"Enlighten me." Lucy said softly, leaning back against her desk.
Rufus smirked, mistaking her calm for weakness.
"This company thrives because of people like me. We know how to handle employees. We know how to... motivate them."
Lucy tilted her head.
"Motivate?"
"Yes, motivate!" Rufus snapped, emboldened by her silence. "When you dangle a promotion or a raise in front of a pretty little thing, they’ll do anything. They know the game. They started it."
Byron shifted, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
Lucy lifted one hand slightly — a silent command for him to stand down.
"So you’re saying the women you harassed... wanted it?"
Rufus leaned back in his chair, arrogance oozing from him.
"Half the time they begged for it. You think those little smiles and giggles were innocent? You think leaning over my desk asking me for something with their tits hanging out was an accident? Please. They knew exactly what they were doing. I just... played along."
Lucy remained perfectly still.
Behind Rufus, unnoticed, two police officers slipped into the room and stood silently by the door.
Rufus ranted on, oblivious.
"I built this company, Lucy. Not your father. Or your uncle to be precise. Men like me made it strong." He spat the words. "And now you come in here with your righteous attitude, thinking you can tear it all down because some interns got their knickers in a twist."
He laughed again — louder, more manic.
"Women are too emotional to run a company anyway. You’ll see. It’ll fall apart without men like me keeping it together."
Lucy’s face didn’t change.
"You seem very proud of your behavior." she said coolly.
Rufus sneered.
"Proud? I’m realistic. This is how the world works. Always has, always will. A smile here, a compliment there, a little touch now and then — it’s all part of the dance. If they didn’t like it, they would’ve left. They stayed because they needed me. They needed what I could give them."
Lucy gave a slow nod.
"So, just to be clear, you used your position to solicit favors from female employees in exchange for career advancement?"
For the first time, Rufus hesitated, realizing the noose tightening around his neck.
"I didn’t— I mean—"
Lucy moved forward, placing a small black recorder on the desk.
"This entire conversation has been recorded."
