Chapter 3

Tracy pulled me into the stairwell before she finally let go. She breathed hard as she pulled her phone from her pocket.

"You need to see this."

On her screen was a conversation from an internal company chat group called "Office Gossip."

I knew about the group.

Three months earlier, the IT department had brought it to my attention.

"Someone created an anonymous gossip group. Do you want us to do something about it?"

At the time, I had said only one thing. "As long as it does not interfere with work, leave them alone."

I never imagined that the group would end up putting on such a show.

The latest message had been posted twenty minutes earlier.

[Holy crap! Xena just called Mr. Hawkins Daddy onstage, and Mr. Hawkins actually went up there and rubbed her foot!]

[I knew those two were up to something.]

[That cup on Xena's desk is exactly the same as Mr. Hawkins's. They are matching couple's cups.]

Tracy scrolled through the messages.

"Scroll up."

I scrolled back.

Three days earlier.

[I secretly took a picture of Xena wearing Mr. Hawkins's shirt!]

The picture looked a little blurry, but it was clear enough to show Xena wearing Seth's white dress shirt with nothing underneath it.

The comments underneath were even worse.

[Wow, that figure is incredible!]

[I could practically hear her from here. She was so loud. I guess she thought nobody would notice because everyone was working late.]

[Poor Ms. Yates. She stayed home working so hard to give him a child, while he was cheating on her behind her back.]

Seven days earlier.

[I screenshotted Xena's social media post. You guys have to see this.]

In the screenshot, two hands were intertwined. The man wore a Patek Philippe watch. It was the watch I had given Seth for his fortieth birthday.

The woman's fingers looked slender, her nails painted a soft nude pink. A pink hair tie was wrapped around her wrist.

The caption read:

[Celebrating our ninety‑ninth day with Daddy.]

There were even more disgusting messages in the chat. I did not want to read any further.

Tracy kept scrolling until she reached the newest messages.

Five minutes earlier.

[Look! Xena followed Ms. Yates into the restroom!]

[What the hell is that bitch trying to do?]

[What else? She is showing off. I heard Mr. Hawkins promised to marry her.]

[Marry her? Does Mr. Hawkins not already have a wife?]

[New here? Everyone knows Mr. Hawkins only climbed this high because of his wife's connections and resources. Now that he thinks he has made it, he wants to dump her and fly solo.]

[What did Xena say to Ms. Yates in the restroom? Did anyone hear?]

[Could not make out everything, but I am sure it was nothing good. That girl calls him Daddy all day at the office. It is disgusting.]

[Once Daddy and Ms. Yates get divorced, I will be Mrs. Hawkins! Xena said it herself outside the restroom ten minutes ago. I even recorded it.]

Tracy tapped the audio file. Xena's voice came through the phone, dripping with smug satisfaction.

"That old woman looked like a miserable crow in that black dress today. Daddy says she has been getting more and more boring lately. Once they get divorced, the company will be mine..."

The recording cut off there.

Tracy looked at me with anger and worry written across her face.

"Ms. Yates, this..."

I closed my eyes.

Three seconds.

One deep breath.

When I opened them again, every emotion had been pushed down.

"Give me the phone."

Tracy handed it over. I transferred all the screenshots and the recording to my Messenger, then made three phone calls.