All Chapters of Zero Perks As Requested: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I went to the break room for some water.As soon as I turned the corner, I heard Ariel's voice from inside. "Kevin, don't you think our boss is fake as hell? All that talk about caring about us, but the second money comes up, the mask comes off."The other voice belonged to Kevin Slater from Admin, who immediately jumped in to agree. "Tell me about it! Ariel, you've got sharp eyes. You saw right through him. We need more people like you who actually speak the truth."I'm behind you all the way! We can't just let this get swept under the rug. People outside need to see what this whole 'dream company' is really like on the inside!"I carried my cup back to my office without a trace of emotion on my face.Kevin had an easy job. His favorite pastimes were petting the office cats and slacking off. He took full advantage of the company's flexible hours, then complained about everything behind our backs.…Near the end of the day, my gaze happened to fall on Ariel's desk.Ariel held u

Ariel had all but become the center of attention. She had even set up several devices on-site to livestream across multiple platforms at once.The title of her livestream was impossible to miss: [A Worker's Fight, Won! From Now On, We Only Talk Money!]She stood at the center of a small crowd, riding high as she explained how she had "woken up the silent majority."Kevin hovered around her like a personal manager. One moment, he straightened her collar; the next, he flashed a victory sign at the camera.The room fell quiet for a moment when I walked in.But the silence did not last. Almost immediately, everyone turned that same look on me: gleeful anticipation at the prospect of watching me humiliate myself.I stepped up to the podium and cleared my throat. "Good morning, everyone."My voice carried clearly through the microphone and filled the hall. "Regarding the recent controversy online and the concerns many of you have raised about this company's values, I want to offer, on

"It is 9:15 a.m., and you haven't finished a single one. If this happens again, you can start packing your things."With that, Russell walked toward my office without looking back.The design department fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.Everyone looked at Ariel with a complicated mix of pity and something else beneath it. The woman who had once led their fight now found herself crushed hardest under the new rules.Ariel clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms. She knew this was only the beginning.…In the days that followed, the office became a pressure cooker. The easy laughter that had once filled the department gave way to silence and anxiety.Kevin no longer dared to stream shows or slack off during work hours. A mountain of administrative reports and data reconciliation work kept him buried at his desk.He was unfamiliar with the new internal admin system, so he worked late into the night two days in a row and barely finished his assignments on time.

Russel said, "For this bid, we'll be holding an internal competition. Everyone can submit a proposal. We'll choose the strongest one to represent the company at the pitch. The winner will receive a personal commission equal to 5% of the project's total profit."That single line was enough to jolt the lifeless design department awake. After all, 5% of the profit from a project this size would be an astronomical sum.Ambition flared to life in every pair of eyes around the room.Even Ariel unconsciously tightened her grip on her stylus. This was her only chance to prove herself. If she could land this project, she might be able to reclaim every ounce of dignity she had lost.But Russell's next words doused that hope with ice water. "However, to ensure efficiency, every designer who enters the competition must first complete all of their regular assigned work. Anyone who fails to meet their KPI will not be eligible to participate."The rule might as well have been written specificall

The shadow of last-place elimination hung over everyone in the building like the sword of Damocles. To avoid being the one cut, everyone worked as if their lives depended on it.The office lights stayed on all night, every night. No one dared complain anymore. No one dared mention benefits or humane management, not even once.The only thought left in anyone's mind was survival.The bid project ended up in Heather's hands.I called her into my office.She stood before me with her head lowered, like a child who knew she had done something wrong."Mr. Spencer, I'm sorry." She apologized for the reply she had posted under the viral post. "At the time... I just thought what she said made sense. I didn't mean any harm by it..."I looked at the young woman I had once believed in so deeply."Heather, do you know why I was willing to lend you that money personally, in my own name?" I asked.She shook her head."Because I saw sincerity in you. And potential. I believed you were someone