Business Class

Chapter 2: The Mighty and Powerful

If anyone were to ask Jonathan Tucker why he was doing what he was, especially for a complete stranger, he would not have the answer for them. He had spent his entire night making print outs, calls and getting references all to compile an irrefutable lawsuit against Mr. Cane.

He had been on a video call with Mr.Roundhouse and his lawyers for the last three hours discussing how they were going to go about the case, and how they were going successful execute it, and thus far there had been no way to do so without Artemis' "disability" being revealed. Jonathan thought that her disability was nobody's business because everyone had disabilities too, however Mr.Roundhouse was not swayed by that narrative, he wasn't swayed at all.

"Is it so bad Mr.Roundhouse" he asked, scratching his blond hair in frustration. He had wanted them to just be truthful with this entire situation, to avoid any call outs or misleading information being spread in tabloids. Mr.Roundhouse was a multi-millionaire who owned fifteen apartment complexes, four hotels, and half their town, he was a very powerful man nobody wanted to cross, and thus his daughter was always kept safe, especially her reputation, but he couldn't protect her from everyone.

"Is what so bad son?" Mr.Roundhouse asked as he poured himself another glass of wine. He seemed way too relax for someone in his position, Jonathan had thought, however Mr.Roundhouse had a plan, he always had a plan.

"The public knowing about Artemis sir, she can drive, speak, and talk like everyone else, she is literally a lawyer, I'm not understanding the big fuss about her having Autism" he groaned. 

Mr.Roundhouse's raised eyebrows, eyeing the man before him in a funny way, almost as if he was analyzing him from behind the screen; he picked up his glass of wine and downed it in one go, making sure to wipe his mouth with the back of his hands before leaning back in his chair with a look of content.

"If I wanted to son I could easily take this all away, however my daughter who I haven't seen in three years came rushing to my study today to tell me that someone had stood up for her, someone had found out about her autism and didn't care, someone besides her one friend, was now her friend and he wanted to help her file a lawsuit about Mr.Cane for defamation of her name, and she wanted to file the case, she was okay with everyone knowing she was autistic, now son imagine my surprise," Mr.Roundhouse laughed, stirring his finger around his glass of wine playfully.

" I understand sir but-".

"No son you don't understand, see it's not like it'll be bad for me you know, people wouldn't have anything much to stay about me than they already have, however Artemis will have a hard time as soon as this gets leaked,".

"She's suffered so much without people knowing you know, and even when her teachers or principal knew nobody treated her well-I'm surprised nobody told me about Mr.Cane sooner for some sort of pay-out or used it against me, but in reality son, she's had many Mr.Canes' in her life, however this time she'll get criticism, they'll have one side praising her for being so brave and strong, and another side judging her and telling her that she should just stay home or worse kill herself, what then, will you take responsibility then?" Mr.Roundhouse questioned angrily, this time his voice was not as soft as before, as it sounded like a rumbling thunder and his eyes pierced Jonathan through the camera, this time he looked more like himself.

"No sir, I wouldn't, however you can't protect her forever, sooner or later the truth will come out sir, plus she can take care of herself Mr.Roundhouse, you have trained her well enough to handle the world,". Jonathan knew deep inside he didn't believe a word he'd said, however it had to be done, Mr.Cane couldn't just get away with things. He couldn't just badmouth Artemis so freely and just get away with it; he couldn't just make her cry and get away, not Artemis.