The Breaking Point(20)

Leonard's POV

There was a depressing vibe when I got to Leonard's office. Leonard sat at his desk among folders and papers. His customary assurance gave way to a deep-seated anxiety. I could see how this struggle had worn on him.

"Jenny," he murmured, his voice weary but firm. "We are almost there. Before we go public, I have to be sure everything is set up.

I went over to give his shoulder a comforting hand. "We have advanced this far. We are qualified to perform this. But you seem tired. Are you definitely ready for this?

Leonard raised his head to meet me, eyes full of both vulnerability and thanks. I have to be as well. This is about establishing that we can challenge the wrongness, not only about revealing the corruption. I owe it to everyone that this has caused injury.

Understanding the weight of his words, I nodded. Leonard personally had great stakes, and I could understand how much this meant to him. It was a struggle for his own atonement, not only for justice.

Leonard's attitude changed as we went over the paperwork, and I sensed fresh conflict. He appeared more nervous than he had before, and I couldn't help but worry about what lay ahead. His admirable commitment to revealing the truth came at a great cost.

"Are you suited for this?" I broke the quiet and inquired. "We have to be ready for anything.".

Leonard slumped. "I am as ready as I'll ever be. You should be aware of one though. More engaged than we could have imagined are Victor and Martin. From the first, they have been controlling the circumstances.

My heart still missed a beat. "What do you mean?"

Leonard produced a folder for me. "I came into these emails. They prove that Victor has been planning everything, even the assaults directed on us. We are up against his whole approach, not only his acts.

The seriousness of things set in. Victor's interventions went above our wildest expectations. This was a fight against well-organized conspiracies, not alone for justice.

The office door exploded open just at that. Their faces set in deadly determination, Victor and Martin rushed in. They have to have understood we were approaching the truth.

"Did you truly believe you could beat us?" Victor turned his back on me. "We are under control with everything."

Leonard got up, his face set. "This ends, Victor, today. Everything is being revealed by us.

Victor giggled grimly. "You came too late. We now have our place confirmed. Your current evidence will not be sufficient.

Martin, who had not spoken, suddenly moved forward grinning chillingly. "You should be aware of something, Jenny. It has been observed that you participate. You are not as clean as you believe.

I gazed at Leonard and my heart surged. "What are they debating??"

Leonard's face grew stiff. They are trying to discredit us. We have to keep our concentration.

The smile of Victor became wider. "The actual turn-around is still to come. You will find it.

That left us in shock as Victor and Martin departed the office. Leonard had a pallid face, but his will was unflinching.

Leonard advised us to use caution. They must have something scheduled if they are this confident.

I inhaled deeply to help me to calm my nerves. "We have to follow our strategy. We cannot let them scare us.

We spent the hours getting ready for the press conference dragging on. Leonard put in great effort, checking every aspect to guarantee a strong case. I watched him with a mix of respect and worry. Though his dedication to this cause was unflinching, I could sense the pain it was causing him.

At last the time showed up. Perched on the podium, we faced cameras and a room full of reporters. The moment carried weight that was obvious. Leonard advanced, his visage a mask of will.

"Thanks for all coming," he said. "Today we are here to expose the truth of the corruption that has dogged our business and caused great damage to many people."

Leonard's shoulders were clearly tensing, then gradually relaxing as he talked. He was discovering his voice and along with it a fresh feeling of direction. He grew more sure the more he spoke.

But a disturbance started at the rear of the room just as things appeared to be progressing. Turning to find Victor and Martin charging in, I could see their angry faces.

"This is a set-up!" Victor cried. "They're attempting to fool you all!

Reporters rushing to catch the incident turned the place into anarchy. Leonard had a face that combined resolution with frustration. Forward, he moved, resolved to see things through.

Leonard stated with great conviction, "We have the evidence." And we are not caving in.

Victor's eyes blazed with wrath. "You're going to regret this!"

Adrenaline shot through me as the confrontation grew more intense. The result was unknown and the stakes were bigger than they had ever been. Leonard and I had come too far to let this slide now.

I looked at Victor among the anarchy. His gaze held something disturbing, an underlying threat suggesting more than just a struggle for dominance.

The press conference concluded in a fury with the truth only half exposed but not totally embraced. Leonard and I departed the site, our efforts weighing heavily on us.

Leonard apologized as we headed to the car. "I considered us to be ready."

Taking his hand, I gave a comforting smile. "We did all we could have. This is not over. We will figure out how to ensure the truth surfaces.

Leonard nodded, his will refreshed. "I appreciate you keeping me. I could not have done this without you.

Leonard's eyes were filled with resolve as we drove away. He was more dedicated than ever to reveal the corruption in spite of the obstacles and the approaching dangers. Though it had brought us closer together, our trip had tried us in ways we never would have imagined.

The fight was far from done, and the route forward remained unknown. But Leonard and I were strengthening with every difficulty. Our will to see this through, whatever of the expense, was relentless.

Though we were ready to meet them squarely, the shadows of treachery still loomed. The struggle for justice was about defending what was right and discovering fortitude in the face of hardship, not only about exposing the truth.