Chapter 3

After I shared the link, the Slack channel went dead silent for a solid thirty minutes.

Finally, the first notification popped up. It was Georgina.

[Yeah, I made the post. So what? I'm just starting a healthy workplace discussion!]

A "healthy discussion"? She was literally spreading flat-out lies.

I didn't bother arguing with her on Slack. I just typed out a brief message.

[Meeting tomorrow at 9 AM. We're putting this to rest once and for all.]

I thought I had made myself clear yesterday.

I wasn't against company-provided housing. I just told them to discuss it, come to a unanimous decision, and let me know so I could make the arrangements.

Who knew they would turn it into a conspiracy theory?

Moreover, I noticed that although the other employees remained silent, they were clearly swaying.

Having worked with them for so long, I knew them inside out. They loved the company perks, and usually, they loved interacting with me.

Before this, no matter what I posted in Slack, everyone would react with emojis and sweet messages. Today? Crickets.

It looked like Georgina hadn't just been whispering behind my back—she had successfully brainwashed them.

The next morning, when I walked into the conference room, everyone was already seated.

The atmosphere was completely different from yesterday. It was heavy, tense, and cold.

I walked to the front of the room, rested my hands on the table, and before I could even open my mouth, a voice cut through the silence.

"So, Jessica, have you figured out how you're going to fix this?"

I followed the voice and saw Georgina looking at me, her chin tilted up with sheer arrogance.

For a second, I couldn't tell if she was just young and stupid, or if she was actively trying to sabotage my company.

I ignored her completely, turned my gaze to the rest of the team, and asked, "What do the rest of you think?"

Silence stretched for a few agonizing seconds. Finally, Sarah, one of our senior employees, spoke up.

"Jessica, honestly, I also think company housing would be much more convenient. Georgina might be young, but she has a point."

"We didn't think about it before, but since Georgina brought it up, I support the idea."

I nodded, keeping my face blank.

I remembered when Sarah first interviewed here. I had asked about her career gap, and she told me how hard it was for a mother to re-enter the corporate world.

So, I hired her.

For three years, she had been a dedicated, hardworking employee who always expressed how grateful she was for this job.

This was the very first time she had ever challenged me.

Then, another employee chimed in.

"Yeah! Last month, my landlord suddenly decided to sell the place, and I had to scramble to move. If the company provided housing, we wouldn’t have to deal with that kind of stress."

With Sarah taking the lead, the floodgates opened.

"I agree! It would take a huge load off our shoulders so we can focus on work."

Throughout the discussion, I could feel Georgina smirking at me from the corner of my eye.

When almost everyone had spoken, the two quiet girls sitting in the back, Grace and Margaret, stood up.

"Jessica, we don't have any complaints. We're happy with whatever the company decides."

These two had joined last year. They were extremely introverted and had struggled to find jobs elsewhere because of it.

Although they weren't big talkers in the office, their Slack DMs to me were always filled with genuine gratitude.

To say I didn't feel hurt by the others would be a lie. But these two girls managed to warm my heart, bringing a sense of calm back to me.

But before I could speak, Georgina let out a loud, dramatic sigh.

"Are you guys stupid? We're literally trying to fight for our rights here. Unbelievable!"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her.

She was a fresh graduate. During her interview a week ago, she seemed like a sweet, polite girl. I had no idea she was actually a toxic drama queen.

I curled my lips into a cold smile and said quietly, "Since you’ve all reached a consensus, we will implement this starting next month."

"The company will provide shared housing and a daily shuttle. Consequently, all housing and commuting cash stipends are canceled."

I gave them exactly what they asked for. Yet, the moment the words left my mouth, their faces turned pale.