Chapter 4 - The Smear Campaign
By 8:00 AM the next morning, the fallout began. David had posted bail—paid for by Rebecca—and the Vance family went on the offensive.
I turned on the local morning news to find a statement released by Vance & Sterling’s PR firm. They claimed that David Vance was the victim of an unprovoked extortion plot by his estranged wife and her unstable mother. They released a statement alleging that Maya suffered from severe substance abuse issues and that the restaurant incident was a "tragic misunderstanding" where David was simply trying to restrain a hysterical woman.
Moments later, Maya’s phone rang. It was her boss at her architecture firm.
"Maya," her boss said cautiously over the speakerphone. "I'm seeing news reports online. There are video clips circulating on social media from last night, but David’s mother just called our executive board threatening a libel lawsuit if we don't put you on administrative leave immediately."
Maya’s face went pale again. "Mr. Harrison, please... David lies. He was arrested! I have the police report!"
"I understand, Maya, but the board is terrified of the publicity," Mr. Harrison sighed. "Until this legal mess is sorted out, we have to suspend your current projects."
Maya hung up the phone and buried her head in her hands. "They're destroying my career, Mom. Rebecca has connections everywhere. She’s going to ruin me before we even get to court."
"Let her try," I said, a dark smile touching my lips. "She thinks she controls the narrative because she bribed a few gossip columnists. But she forgot one tiny detail."
"What detail?"
"I didn't give the media the video footage from inside the restaurant," I said, opening my laptop. "The patrons who recorded David dragging you last night? Three of them were high-ranking producers for major national news outlets who happened to be dining at The Copper Lantern. And I just gave them full permission to air the uncensored footage."
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Within two hours, the viral video hit every major national news network. The footage clearly showed David grabbing Maya by the back of her head, yanking her violently out of her chair, and sneering while Rebecca sat smiling and clapping.
The public outrage was instantaneous and overwhelming.
