As Jimmy finished, he turned toward the confused partners and spoke loudly, "Everyone, there's something I have kept from you for a while—Nate Ellis here? He's a real bastard! He arranged so that I would fall for a typical legal pitfall, all so that he could keep the evidence and use it as leverage against me. I only found out recently myself!"

Nate was left sweating bullets and put a hand on Jimmy's arm, pleading under his breath, "Look, man—if you think I don't pay you enough, just say it! I'll sweeten the pot even more! But if you insist on exposing me and toppling me, you won't get to enjoy the goodies!"

Jimmy snorted in disdain. "So what if I did? I will expose you right here and now, and you'd still have to give me all the goodies over the next ten years!"

Pointing at everyone seated, "That applies to every single partner of Ares LLP in this room. I'm sure each of you knows very well that you're keeping some dirty laundry, and I will now tell you that Nate has evidence of that