Chapter 6 - The Media Counter-Strike
Three days later, the smear campaign began.
A local tabloid news channel aired an "exclusive interview" with Eleanor and Cole Mercer. The segment featured my mother weeping into a handkerchief, sitting beside Cole, whose face was strategically lit to emphasize his pathetic state.
"My son, Evan, abandoned his family the moment he made his first million," Mom sobbed into the camera. "We came to his apartment to ask for help with his father's medical bills, and he hired armed mercenaries to assault his brother and throw us into the street!"
Tessa joined in via a phone interview, claiming that I had stolen proprietary construction techniques from my father's business to start my own firm.
The story picked up traction on social media. #ColdHeartedBillionaire began trending locally. Activists gathered outside my building holding signs demanding I support my elderly parents.
Clara walked into my office, looking panicked. "Mr. Mercer, three major investors for our new $200 million Waterfront Harbor project are threatening to pull out due to the reputational damage. They say they can't be associated with a founder who lets his parents live in poverty."
I sat at my desk, swirling a glass of scotch. "Have they called for a board meeting yet?"
"Yes, for tomorrow morning."
"Good," I said, pulling a thumb drive from my suit pocket. "Clara, contact Marcus Sterling from our private intelligence division. I want the complete financial audit of Mercer Construction LLC from the last five years. I want Cole’s personal bank records, his gambling logs at the tribal casinos, and the video footage from the front desk concierge at the penthouse."
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"You had video footage?" Clara asked.
"The penthouse elevator has 4K audio and video recording from three angles," I smiled darkly. "My family thought they were giving a TV interview. I'm going to give the world a documentary."
