39 What Would You Do In This Situation?

Sterling

"Take the shit down right now or I'll take down your small piece of shit company. The choice is yours." My father's voice was dark and threatening as he talked to the tabloid who ran the story about my break up with Elise.

I waited patiently in his office to finish up the phone call. It was his idea to have me sit in and listen while he had it on speaker phone. He called it a hands-on experience for him to show me how he gets things done. Kind of like a training course I guess.

"Mr. Tipton, I am so sorry." The man's voice on the other end frantically apologized. "It was a new reporter, I'll make sure this is handled accordingly."

"As you should Mr. Scott." The darkness remained in my father's voice. "Just to remind you anything and everything with my family's name is to be brought to me before it's published. Are we clear?"

"Yes Mr. Tipton." Mr. Scott responded.

"I expect you to have the article taken down and a new one up apologizing for the false information that was published." It wasn't a suggestion, no it was an order.

"Of course Mr. Tipton." Mr. Scott kept his answers short as I assume he didn't want to risk pissing my father off any more than he already was.

"Have a great rest of your day." My father scoffed and proceeded to hang up the phone. His eyes then proceeded to meet mine. "When dealing with the media you have to be firm and make sure you don't budge on anything. You're the one in control of the outcome of the conversation."

"Understood." I nodded.

"Now what are you planning to do about this?" He asked as he leaned back in his chair.

"I feel like this was Elise's attention grab to get me to talk to her." I informed him. "I refuse to give that bitch what she wants. Instead I feel the best move is to try to get more information about her next move or what her parents are up to. I need to get something to give me the upperhand before I confront her at all."

"Wise decision." My father agreed. "I would recommend you do it sooner rather than later. Judging by what I know of Elise this was probably just her first step in whatever plan she made. She's only going to push things further to try to tarnish your image and fuck up your life."

"I know." I nodded. "What would you do in this situation?"

He gave a sardonic laugh as he stood up from his chair. "The first crazy bitch to try to meddle in my life is in a mental institution and the other died in prison."

He was referring to his sister Ava and Kaydence's grandmother Meredith. Ava had tried to split my parents up and kept me a secret. Meredith Bushemp tried to kill him and in the end she wasted the rest of her life away locked up. I had only learned about her recently when he came clean about everything he and my mother have done. As for Ava I knew she was unwell but I didn't know until that same conversation that he was the reason why.

"This isn't about what I would do though." He continued speaking. "This is about what you're going to do. The only input I'll give is that Elise clearly is one to go to extreme measures if needed, that means you'll likely have to be just as extreme in your punishment."

"I know." I take a glance at my watch. "I need to meet with Killian now. He might have some information that could be helpful in this situation."

My father gave a nod. "Sounds good. If I get any information myself I'll let you know."

I got up from my seat and headed back to my office. Isabelle was seated at her desk focused on the work she had been given for the day. She was so concentrated that she didn't even hear me approach her.

"How's it coming?" I asked her which caused her to slightly jump.

"You scared me." She glared at me with those beautiful grey eyes. "But it's coming along just fine."

"Good." I gave her a small smile. "Will you call for Killian please?"

"Yes." She nodded. She then nervously bit her lip. "Are we going to talk about this article that went up last night?"

"There's nothing to talk about. My father has it handled." I reassured her. "It's been taken care of."

"Okay." She quietly responded. "I'll get Killian over here right away."

I placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Thanks Sweetheart." I then headed into my office to wait for Killian to arrive.

It was no longer than five minutes when he stepped foot through the doors. He came up to my desk and took a seat. "I assume this is to see if I have any update for you?"

"Exactly." I responded. "Did Kiara get any details?"

Kiara was the one person in Killian's family that he still spoke to. Even then it was a fight for her to get him to talk to her at first. The rest of his family had remained cut off from him and relied on Kiara to let them know how he was doing.

"She got a few. Including details on how this article that was published plays into it all." He answered.

I straightened up in my chair to give him my full attention. "Well just don't sit there, what did she tell you?"

"As for the article, it was published to get your attention. I'm sure you already knew that though." Killian began to give me the information. "From what I've been told she has figured that you're sleeping with Isabelle but has yet to confirm if there's an actual relationship. She's waiting to see how you react to this article. If it's not the way she wants then she apparently plans to dox Isabelle and put out all the information she's able to collect on her."

That would be bad, extremely bad. Elise was part of a well known family and even has dabbled in the modeling world. She has a ton of followers and fans who wouldn't hesitate to go after Isabelle just for some drama. Drama seems to be something people this day in age thrive on.

"What else?" I wanted to have all of the information before I began to make any plans.

"If the article and doxing doesn't work then she intends to have her father begin reaching out to people Tipton Enterprises has contracts with." Killian let out a small mocking chuckle before continuing on. "She actually thinks that stealing business from you guys will make your father feel the impacts from the break up and that he'll do something and make you work things out."

"She really didn't pay attention to my family then did she?" I scoffed.

"Clearly not." He agreed.

This company meant everything to my family. It was one thing to mess with me, but messing with my father was a bold move. One that was only going to end badly for her.