Tit For Tat Chapter 19
Cole Capital later released the results of its internal investigation.
The statement confirmed that the engagement website had used a client event system provided by the company, that Sloane had extracted the guest list and materials using her consultant permissions, and that Adrian had approved the send from the primary account.
Both were held responsible.
Sloane’s consulting contract was terminated.
Adrian stepped down from the Harbor Dock project decision committee and was subjected to an internal governance review.
Harbor United Bank did not immediately restore the loan review.
The screenshots were still online. The project was still nineteen days behind schedule.
The losses didn’t vanish just because of a statement.
But at least no one could reduce it to “Evelyn can’t take a joke” anymore.
A week later, Sloane’s father brought her to Hart Real Estate.
This time, she wasn’t wearing a soft, light-colored sweater, and she wasn’t crying.
She looked haggard as she sat in the conference room, a settlement agreement drafted by the lawyers in front of her.
She turned over the original audio and video files to the forensics team, deleted her public posts, agreed to bear a portion of the investigation costs, and promised never to use my image again.
Her voice was flat.
“Ms. Hart, I’m sorry.”
“I never should have downloaded your private photos, made that page, recorded your reaction, or edited the video to falsely imply you called off the engagement because of Noah.”
“I will post a full correction from my original account.”
I looked at her.
“I accept your apology.”
A flicker of hope lit her eyes.
“But I don’t forgive you,” I continued.
Her face went rigid.
Her father, however, seemed almost relieved.
He knew that my decision not to pursue a privacy infringement lawsuit had already saved them a great deal of time and reputational damage.
After signing the documents, Sloane stood up.
When she reached the door, she suddenly turned back.