"Narcissism should be illegal," we said to our lawyers. They understood the impulse.
We had a business partner who is a narcissistic sociopath. Not clinical. Descriptive. Someone else's words, but accurate. The kind of person who gets caught lying and responds by lying about the lying. Then plays victim about being accused of lying.
Our lawyers laid it out to them. Fraud against me. Fraud against my father, an investor. Withholding pay. Telling others I'd committed crimes. Using my brain injury to manipulate me into decisions.
During this initial discovery, we compiled a very large folder of receipts: Texts, emails, recordings, statements from others about their actions, what they had said and more. Our lawyers sent them a 3 page letter outlining all the truth and supporting evidence to remind them that their lies were all documented and that we were ready to go the distance against them if they continued.
Their response was to cry and curl up and play dead.
Then get back up and keep doing exactly what they'd been doing. Because that's the thing about narcissists. Confrontation isn't a lesson. It's a scene change. The show continues.
Their move was always the same. Storm in with accusations. "We have evidence he did this. I demand he return his equity." Our lawyers would say "Great. Show us." They'd retreat. Pout. Go quiet. Resurface months later with a new story and the same empty hands.
Repeat four or five times.
And this simply continued to get added to the folder of receipts, making our case so easy we were advised to just keep collecting.
Confronting a narcissist with the truth hoping they'll recognize their lies, doesn't work because truth isn't the game they're playing. Hold the truth with you and smile, because lies always catchup.
They're still back around.
Talking to themselves.
Playing all the parts.
We just smile because we exposed them.
Unmasked.