Page 130 of Last First Date

“I stand before you tonight not just as a guest but as someone who believes in transparency and integrity.”

Benjamin’s smug expression faltered as he watched from the side of the stage. I looked directly at him, let him see my hatred and disgust of him. I saw the fear flash in his eyes. He was a predator, but not now.

I was.

I turned my attention back to the crowd. “As some of you may know, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of working closely with Benjamin,” I continued, choosing my words carefully. “From the first time we met, he made me uncomfortable with his inappropriate behavior and continuous attempts to objectify me.”

A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd, and I felt a sense of empowerment in exposing the uncomfortable truths. I took a deep breath and continued, my voice unwavering.

“It’s time to address the reality of the situation,” I declared, holding up my phone to the audience. “I recently received a series of text messages from Benjamin that reflect his true character. Let me share a glimpse with you.”

I proceeded to read the crude and demeaning messages, each word resonating with shock and disbelief. The gasps and murmurs intensified as the reality of Benjamin’s behavior unfolded before them.

I glanced over at Benjamin, whose face had turned an alarming shade of beet red. He moved toward the stage, clearly intent on stopping me. Knox stepped in, blocking his path with a determined glare. The grin on Knox’s face was a mixture of defiance and satisfaction.

I continued, addressing the crowd with a newfound sense of empowerment. “This is the real Benjamin, the one who treats people with disrespect, objectifies them, and believes his actions are flattering. It’s time to expose the entitlement and arrogance that lie beneath the surface.”

As I spoke, Knox maintained his position, thwarting Benjamin’s attempts to interrupt. The anger in Knox’s eyes was palpable, a reflection of the shared disdain for Benjamin’s behavior. I felt a surge of gratitude toward Knox for standing by me in this moment of confrontation. While I was putting on a brave face, I was shaking inside. I was absolutely terrified. I felt like I had laid myself bare to the world over the last few weeks. It wasn’t something I was used to. I was a private person who never told anyone about anything, not even my mother.

I took a second to control my nerves before I finished my speech. “I urge you not to support a business run by an entitled jerk who lacks respect for others. It’s time to hold people accountable for their actions.”

With that, I confidently stepped away from the microphone, leaving a deflated Benjamin in my wake. The room buzzed with a mixture of shock and contemplation. The truth had been revealed, and the crowd grappled with the implications of supporting a man whose character had been exposed.

During my mingling, I had met many people that had known Ben for years. I doubted they were all that surprised by my revelations. They knew, but no one ever spoke up. Now that I had revealed his nastiness, it had to be acknowledged.

As the night continued, I felt a surge of satisfaction in knowing that I had taken control of the narrative. Benjamin’s attempts to manipulate the situation had backfired, and I had reclaimed my voice in the process. He had held all the cards. I didn’t care if I was fired. It was worth it. I had made up my mind I was going to expose Benjamin after the conversation the other night. I was not going to put up with that shit ever again. It wasn’t worth it. No job was.

Amidst the conversations and laughter, I caught glimpses of Knox watching me from a distance. His eyes held a mixture of surprise and admiration. I thought I would sneak away, but the crowd had other plans.

With their applause echoing around the room, they surrounded me, their faces brimming with respect and support. They had heard my truth, and it had resonated with them. I felt a sense of validation I hadn’t anticipated. It was overwhelming.

“I’m so glad someone finally had the balls to say it,” a woman said as she approached me. “He is a snake. I dated him for about two weeks. He fooled me at first but then I found out he was also seeing two other women.

“At the same time?” I asked, shocked but not entirely surprised considering what I knew of Benjamin.

She nodded grimly. “He seemed like such a nice guy at first. But then, well, you know.” She gave me an understanding look and I returned it with a nod.

“Thank you for sharing that,” I said sincerely. “That’s why we need to speak up. To expose people like him.”

She gave me a small, appreciative smile before moving away. Another person stepped up to share their story, a man this time who had once been business partners with Benjamin.

“He’s a cheat,” he declared, his face grim and resolute. “We had a partnership, but it didn’t take long for me to realize he was skimming profits off the top. When I confronted him, he spread rumors about me, nearly ruined my reputation.”

I listened carefully to each tale, feeling a sense of vindication. The more I heard, the more certain I was that stepping forward had been the right decision. Benjamin’s misdeeds were not isolated incidents. They were part of a pattern, a character flaw deeply rooted in his personality.

56

KNOX

The room buzzed with shock as Waverly stepped away from the microphone. I completely understood the feeling. I was in the same boat.

I took one last look at Benjamin and walked away. Benjamin was left standing on the stage all by himself. The crowd grappled with the revelations. I was completely floored by her bravery. And pissed as hell that the extent of the harassment was a lot more than I even knew.

I felt guilty for not protecting her from him. I had assigned her to his event without truly thinking about the consequences. I was the one that put her in his path.

As I watched Waverly navigate through the dispersing crowd, a sense of awe and disbelief filled me. The way she had confronted Benjamin, exposing his inappropriate behavior, was a bold move that left a huge mark on the room. Part of me reveled in the satisfaction of seeing my rival publicly embarrassed, but another part felt like a jackass for finding joy in someone else’s downfall.

The crowd had been left speechless at first, but not for long. They were all praising her for her bravery. Waverly had transformed from the quiet, slightly obnoxious assistant I met that first day to a strong, beautiful woman cutting her own way through life. She didn’t need me or anyone else to tell her what to do. She didn’t need my support. She could do it all on her own.