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CHAPTER 11
Miller
I’m sittingin the corner of Denise’s diner with my laptop, going over the proposal from one of the development departments. My phone sits face up on the table, and I see a text come in.
Monty: Who is this woman that you’re dating?
I look around, expecting to see my CFO standing close by.
Me: Denise. Why?
Monty: There’s something on page six about the recluse, that’s you, slumming it with the help.
Me: Slumming it? What the hell? Recluse?
Monty: Don’t hate on me man, I’m just the messenger.
I open a web browser on my laptop and search for the page six gossip area about the who’s who of Empire Bay.
Front and center is a photo of Denise and me in front of the museum. We’re holding hands and looking at each other with smiles on our faces with the headline… The Mysterious Miller Davenport steps out with the Help.
I go on and read the article and am shocked at the words on the screen.
“Recluse.”
“Far less superior.”
“Subordinate.”
I click out of that browser, grab my phone, press connect on my lawyer’s number, and wait for him to answer.
“Jefferson Mace’s office, how can I assist you?”
“Miller Davenport for Jefferson, please.”
“Hello Mr. Davenport, is he expecting your call?”
“Does that matter? Connect me.” I reply firmly.
“Yes, sir.” She replies quietly.
“Davenport! How are you, son?” my loud-mouth lawyer projects into the phone.
“I would like to sue someone named Marcia Carlos.”
“Who is Marcia Carlos and why?”
“She wrote something about me on Page Six and I don’t like any of it.”
“Miller, you know we can’t just sue someone because we don’t like what they say about us. This isn’t high school, and I’m not the principal’s office.”
My hand tightens into a fist. “What about defamation of character?”
“Can you prove actual malice, that this Marcia Carlos knew she was writing false things about you? We would need to prove that she’s purposely writing false statements that she knows to be false to sue for defamation. So, would we have a case?”
“I don’t fucking know. Isn’t that something that you find out?”
“What are we talking about here? You said it was written on Page Six. Is that today’s or yesterday’s?”
