Chapter 4

I immediately instructed Emily to notify the PR team and release a clarification post.

However, the moment the post went live, it was instantly overrun by Ryan’s brainless fans.

"No performance evaluations? Flexible working hours? Who are you trying to fool? This is obviously a blood-sucking company."

"Exactly. Do they think we’re all idiots? Capitalists will always be capitalists."

Shortly after that, Emily came in to tell me that the post had been reported.

Worse still, a crowd of so-called "justice-seeking" netizens and reporters had already surrounded the area downstairs.

I brought several employees with me, intending to go down and explain things in person.

The moment we stepped outside, we were immediately enveloped by the crowd.

Curses came flying from all directions.

"Black-hearted boss! Making money off your employees’ blood and sweat! Don’t you feel guilty at all?"

"Exactly. The company makes tens of millions in profit every year, yet you even withhold a few hundred thousand in bonuses from employees. You’re not even human."

"Compensation! Compensate the employees right now!"

Reporters carrying cameras and microphones rushed toward me. A microphone was shoved straight into my face.

"Mr. Hale, is it true that your former employee exposed you online for arbitrarily deducting wages and deliberately squeezing employees out just to avoid paying bonuses?"

"Mr. Hale, netizens say that in order to avoid paying wages, you intentionally demoted employees and subjected them to personal humiliation. Is that true?"

"Mr. Hale—"

"That is absolutely not true!" I shouted, and the crowd instantly fell silent.

"Before this year, our company paid bonuses every single year. We distributed 85% of our annual profits as employee bonuses. That has been our policy since the company was founded.

"And our company has never made tens of millions in profit. This year’s profit was one million. I planned to distribute $850,000."

Before I could finish, the crowd began to stir restlessly.

"So what if you planned to do that? You still didn’t pay it. Stop pretending to be kind."

"Exactly. Anyone can talk big."

"Randomly deducting wages? A company like this would pay bonuses? Only a fool would believe that."

"I didn’t," I said firmly. "If you don’t believe me, you can ask my employees."

As the words left my mouth, I turned to look behind me.

Only then did I realize that Ryan had arrived at some point. The other employees were already standing together with him.

The reporters immediately went over to interview them.

"Is what your boss said true?"

Without hesitation, they shook their heads, playing the victim.

"I’ve already had nearly half my salary deducted this month for all kinds of reasons."

"Same here."

Ryan stepped forward, wearing the face of a righteous crusader. "The reason we stood up is simply to fight for a better working environment for people like us," he said. "Not one where employees are arbitrarily docked pay, afraid to speak up, and trapped by endless, trivial rules."

"That’s right! That’s how it should be!"

A wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.

It was as if I were some unforgivable villain, and they were the righteous ones.

I laughed. "I admit it. I did not distribute the $850,000."

"There, see? I told you so!"

"And he’s still pretending."

"But—" I paused, sweeping my gaze across the crowd. "There was a reason for that. If you don’t believe me, then listen to this."

I pulled out the surveillance footage I had retrieved two days earlier and pressed play.

Voices filled the air.

In an instant, the people who had been wearing looks of disdain froze in place.