All Chapters of Cancel the Cradle, Cue the Rage: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Look, Ms. Cooper. This is the nature collage the kids made today."Mabel Morris, the administration supervisor, had sent me a few photos. In them, a group of children was gathered around the teacher, arranging leaves and flower petals into little animal shapes.Their faces lit up with smiles. Looking at them, I couldn't help but smile, too.I built this company with one goal—to create a workplace where working moms could work without constantly worrying about their kids.To make that possible, I spared no expense in building an in-house daycare in a prime office building where the rent alone cost a fortune.The facilities used top-tier eco-friendly materials; the teachers were a professional early-education team; and a nutritionist customized the meals. The cost per child was over eight thousand dollars a month, but it was completely free for employees.Almost every mom in the company had sent her child there. It saved them the commute and the expensive daycare fees.For three

Chapter 2

The next day, the atmosphere at the company shifted completely. Everywhere—in the hallways, break room—the staff exchanged hushed whispers. When they saw me, they averted their eyes, trying to hide their smiles.Keira's desk had also become the center of attention. A crowd gathered around her, praising her courage while wearing hopeful, eager expressions."We've got your back, Keira!""Yeah. Why should all that money go to those foreign teachers? We don't get a single cent.""Go big. They can't fire all of us. The law won't allow it."I heard every word as I passed. It turned out that they saw me as a gullible boss they could push around however they wanted.That afternoon, Layla slipped into my office alone. Her eyes were red, and she was holding a cup of coffee. "Ms. Cooper, please don't be mad. Keira's just… getting carried away because people online keep hyping her up."She set the coffee on my desk, sounding concerned. "Actually, no one really thinks the daycare is bad. It'

Chapter 3

That afternoon, I locked myself in my office. Downstairs, several media vans were already parked, cameras at the ready. I let out a bitter laugh.From today onward, I, Natasha Cooper, would just be nothing more than a businesswoman.I picked up the internal line and called Mabel. "Notify all employees that our next meeting will be in the main conference room, 9:00 am sharp tomorrow. We'll announce the company's final decision regarding the recent controversy over daycare benefits."Mabel sounded hesitant. "Ms. Cooper, are we really… compromising?""No," I said, staring out the window at the flashing cameras. "It's time they pay for their greed."The next morning, the main conference room was packed. The air buzzed with excitement and anticipation, more like a celebration than a meeting.Keira sat in the front row, surrounded by a cluster of moms; she was clearly the center of attention. Her makeup was flawless, and she was proudly sharing her "battle strategies" with anyone who w

Chapter 4

I walked out of the meeting room, leaving behind a chorus of despair and panic. Some cried, "No, Ms. Cooper!" while others shouted, "This is all your fault, Keira!"A full-blown internal conflict had erupted, triggered by the fear of losing their paychecks. I returned to my office and locked the door. Outside, the cries, curses, and pounding on the door shook the floor like an earthquake."Ms. Cooper, I was wrong! Please don't shut down the daycare!""I have my parents to care for and children at home. I can't lose my job!""Keira, give me back my job! I'll fight you for it!"A full-scale scuffle had broken out outside. The same people who had once been united by shared interests were now tearing each other apart to avoid responsibility. It was exactly as I had anticipated.I walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the media vans parked below. They were still waiting to capture my downfall, eager to watch my company crumble.I picked up my phone. On the screen

Chapter 5

I didn't send the all-staff email immediately. Instead, I told Claire to convey a message to the enraged employees outside."Ms. Cooper said she's willing to give everyone one more chance," Claire announced. "Tomorrow, at 9:00 am, in the main conference room, she'll listen to everyone's final requests."The shouting and arguing outside the door slowly faded.Keira, the culprit who others had just been besieged, immediately grabbed the opening. She jumped back into the moms' group chat and began fanning the flames."Ladies, did you hear that? Natasha Cooper is scared of us! She wouldn't dare to actually lay anyone off. She's just bluffing! Tomorrow, we must stay united!"We'll demand not only the reopening of the daycare, but also increased allowances! We outnumber them, and she can't afford to fight us!"In the group chat, those who had been cursing her just moments ago now wavered."Really? Will she actually compromise?""What if she still refuses us tomorrow?"Layla was the

Chapter 6

The next morning, at 8:50 am, the main conference room was filled with employees dressed head to toe in black. Keira and Layla, leading more than 20 moms, sat in the front row.The rest of the staff sat several rows back, whispering to one another. They took the whole thing in like spectators at a show.Keira was still giving her black-clad army a final pep talk. "Remember, when Natasha walks in later, don't say a word. Just stare at her. Wait for her to talk. "If she doesn't agree to all our demands, we leave and go straight to the media! Today, it's either we win it all, or we go home!"Layla nodded beside her. "That's right! Let her know we're not to be messed with!"Time ticked by, minute by minute. At 8:59 am, almost everyone's phone buzzed at the same time. A new email had arrived.Keira impatiently opened the email, expecting yet another company notice meant to soothe employees. The moment she read its contents, however, the color drained from her face completely.The em

Chapter 7

I smiled. "Freedom of speech?"I turned to Keira and said, "Freedom of speech does not mean you can spread lies and defame people without consequences. The boundary of freedom is the law."When you type on your keyboard and use false claims to attack the company that gives you a job and pays your salary, you should know that you'll have to pay the price for your actions."I let my gaze fall on Layla's pale face. "And when you enjoy the company's support while stabbing it in the back, you've lost every right to be forgiven."She jolted in her seat, almost sliding off her chair.I turned my eyes back to Keira, my tone tinged with mockery. "As for abusing power? No, I'm simply using the law to defend my rights, just as you tried to use public opinion to defend your so-called rights. We're playing by the same rules.""No, we're not!" a young mom suddenly shouted, breaking down in sobs. She rushed from her seat, trying to run to the front, but was held back firmly by those beside her.

Chapter 8

I returned to my office, made myself a cup of coffee, and waited. It didn't even take ten minutes before someone came knocking.The first to come in was, surprisingly, Layla. She clutched a USB drive so tightly her knuckles turned white. As soon as she stepped inside, she dropped to her knees. "I'm sorry, Ms. Cooper. I'm so, so sorry. I must've been out of my mind!"She cried, burying her face in one hand, while holding out the USB drive with the other. "Everything's in here—every chat log where Keira planned how to blow this up step by step and force you to give in!"She even contacted an outside PR firm, said she wanted to destroy your reputation so she could open her own daycare and poach all the moms from our company. She was behind everything, and we were all being used."Please… for the sake of all the years I've worked hard under you… please let me off the hook just this once."I didn't take the USB. "Hand over the evidence to Claire. She'll verify it. You're dismissed."

Chapter 9

The next day, two notices were posted on the company bulletin board.The first announced Keira's termination. The second was the court's official acceptance of our lawsuit against her, a claim totaling 12.5 million dollars in damage.Despite being the "biggest contributor" to the investigation, Layla didn't fare any better. No one wanted to work with her anymore. People avoided her like the plague.She kept her job, sure, but she lost something far more important—the trust and respect of everyone around her.A week later, Alexander came to my office. He didn't bring up the scandal. Instead, he handed me a new cooperation agreement with double the original investment."Congratulations, Ms. Cooper," he said, eyes shining with a hint of approval. "You've proven you're not just a benevolent figure who hands out kindness, but also a leader who understands human nature and the rules."I signed the agreement, though I didn't feel particularly victorious. The whole ordeal had taught me s

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