Chapter 2

I had just sat back down when my phone buzzed again.

Sophie had posted another video.

In it, she faced the camera with red eyes and a trembling voice.

"Thank you all for your support. I'm just an ordinary worker. I don't want more people getting hurt by this toxic corporate culture."

I set my phone aside and reached for my coffee.

Cold.

A loud bang echoed from outside.

Someone had slammed a desk again.

Michelle lingered in the doorway.

I looked up.

"Pull Sophie's onboarding file too."

***

Sophie didn't show up the next day.

She called in sick.

The doctor's note claimed acute gastroenteritis from an outpatient visit.

But when I opened social media, she was livestreaming from her bedroom with a virtual crown floating over her head.

[Exposing Workplace Abuse]

"Guys, ever since I told the truth, the company's been targeting me. I'm honestly scared to even go to work today."

No makeup. Thin white T-shirt.

She looked fragile enough to earn sympathy on sight.

The livestream already had twenty-eight thousand viewers.

[Stay strong.]

[We're with you.]

Virtual gifts flooded the screen.

"You guys don't get it. I'm just an intern. I only make $2,800 a month. But I don't regret speaking up. Workers shouldn't be treated like this."

Right on cue, her voice cracked.

She brushed at the corner of her eye.

Perfect timing.

I sent her a private message.

[Sophie, you've only been here a month. You don't know what our company retreats have been like. Stop now. There's still time to fix this.]

She read it.

No reply.

Half an hour later, I heard my exact message in her livestream.

She held a screenshot of our chat up to the camera.

"Look at this. The capitalist himself is threatening me. What does 'stop now' even mean? What does 'time to fix this' mean? Isn't that intimidation?"

The comments exploded.

[This boss is disgusting.]

[Get a lawyer.]

[Save everything. This is evidence.]

The donation total jumped from $3,200 to $4,700.

That afternoon, Michelle and Henry came to my office.

Neither looked great.

Henry rolled up his sleeves.

"Mr. Tyley, we can't keep staying quiet. The rumors are getting out of control. People are saying you took bribes now."

Michelle nodded.

"Henry and I talked. Maybe we should post a statement on the company website. Show last year's City Top Ten Ethical Employer Award and the tax clearance certificate."

After a beat, I agreed.

The statement went up.

Less than two hours later, Sophie smiled at the camera during her livestream.

A small smile.

The kind that practically dripped with pity.

"Guys, he pulled out some City Top Ten Ethical Employer Award. You know awards like that can be bought for a few thousand bucks, right? Who knows what kind of deals happened behind the scenes."

The comments flipped instantly.

[Yep. Sounds guilty.]

[Someone should investigate that award.]

[If he's innocent, why is he trying so hard to defend himself?]

Michelle sat across from me, gripping a pen so tightly her hand shook.

"I've never seen anyone this shameless."

I closed the livestream.

Henry stepped closer and lowered his voice.

"Mr. Tyley, she's prepared. Those lines are way too polished. A fresh-out-of-college intern shouldn't know how to steer public opinion like this."

I'd already reached the same conclusion.

I just hadn't moved yet.

No point spooking her too soon.

"Let her keep going for another couple of days. This doesn't end here."

Michelle still looked worried.

But seeing I wasn't rattled, she didn't argue.

I opened Sophie's onboarding form from her first day.

Under emergency contact, she hadn't listed a parent or relative.

The name was Ryan Peck.

Relationship: friend.