Chapter 2

I stared at the photo, but it didn't make me feel anything at all. I wasn't even the least bit amused.

Erica? Depressed?

Was Denise talking about the same person who had just posted pretty photos on her Instagram stories last week with the caption, "Looking forward to starting my new job soon! All the best to all working people!"

Now, she was suddenly suffering from depression?

I bet Denise had a hand in directing Erica on how to pose for that photo.

I picked up my phone again, not wanting to continue fighting with my brainless relatives. I tapped on Denise's profile photo and sent her a direct message.

"What do you want, Denise Snyder? I know you're upset that Erica didn't get the job, but you can't blame me for it. I don't have anything to do with this matter at all. Stop talking nonsense in the group chat."

A few minutes later, I finally saw that she was replying to my message. Then, she sent me a super lengthy voice message.

"Stop playing innocent, Siobhan Cortez! You know very well you did it! Louis Steele in HR is a friend from my hometown, and he told me that a 'Ms. Cortez' from Business Development told the Head of HR to replace Erica with someone else!

"And how many Ms. Cortezes do you think work at your company? He was clearly talking about you!

"You always appear glamorous on the outside, but you're actually vicious and rotten to the core! If you never said anything to the Head of HR, why didn't Erica get the job after acing the first interview?"

I was so mad after listening to her that I burst out laughing.

Who did Denise think I was? Did she actually believe that I had the authority to tell the Head of HR what to do? Sure, I was a manager at the company, but I was just one of the many junior managers. I certainly didn't have the authority to influence a department head's decision!

Besides, when had I even spoken to the Head of HR? I didn't even have their office number!

Denise was really going all out just to extort me like this.

I typed back furiously, "You're saying that I influenced the Head of HR? Where's your proof? Do you have a screenshot of the call log? A text? An email?

"Since you have a contact in HR, then ask him to produce the evidence! If not, that means you've been lying all this time!"

Denise 's reply came very quickly. It was obvious that she was prepared for this.

"Evidence? Who would be stupid enough to leave any evidence of this if they really did it?

"And why else would Louis bring your name up if you didn't do it? I don't care if you have any evidence to prove your innocence or not. It's your fault Erica didn't get hired!

"And I'm not done with you yet. If you don't want to see me completely tear you down in front of the rest of the family, then you better get Erica into the company by hook or by crook.

"I don't care which department you get her into. It's fine if you switch her to another one. But it must be your company!"

Finally, I understood what she was trying to do. She wasn't seeking justice. She was blatantly blackmailing me.

She was trying to take advantage of me and my position at work to give her failure of a daughter a job at my company.

She sure had it all figured out.

I didn't reply to her anymore. Instead, I silenced my phone and tossed it into my work bag. If she wanted to kick up a fuss about it, then she could knock herself out. I hadn't done anything wrong. I wasn't afraid of her.

However, things weren't as simple as I thought.

I had only just reached my desk at the office and hadn't even taken a sip of water when my assistant, Zack Holster, rushed up to me.

"Ms. Cortez! We have a huge problem!"

He looked ashen, and there was also sweat beading on his forehead.

"What happened? Is the sky falling?" I asked nonchalantly, powering up my computer.

"Someone posted online, accusing our company of shady recruitment processes. They also named and shamed you in their post, saying that you used your position to replace a potential hire with someone else who had connections with you!

"The post has gone viral, and the PR Department is in an uproar. The CEO is furious, and he wants you in his office now!"

My mind went completely blank.

Denise sure was ruthless.