Chapter 3

I messaged Anthony back.

【Reconsider what?】

He didn't reply.

Wednesday afternoon, Jessica took a half day off.

She came back with a slip of paper pinched between her fingers, her face drained white.

She walked up to Victor's office door and knocked twice.

The door closed.

Fifteen minutes later, Victor came out, his face like iron.

He headed straight for my desk.

"Pamela Fox, come with me."

Merlin was already in the meeting room.

Jessica sat in the corner, tears dripping down one after another.

Victor shut the door and locked it.

"Pamela, this is worse than we thought."

He slapped the slip of paper from Jessica's hand down on the table.

A test report.

I glanced at the diagnosis line.

Infection, positive.

"Jessica got her results back from the hospital. There's a problem."

Victor's throat bobbed as he said it.

Merlin picked up where he left off.

"You didn't lend her anything on the bus, that's true. But she says the night before the trip, in the hotel room, you already gave her a pair of underwear."

"She was wearing that pair during the day. On the bus she got them wet playing in the water and wanted to change, that's why she asked to borrow from you again."

Jessica lifted her head.

"Pamela, I don't want to accuse you unfairly."

Her voice was hoarse.

"But the packaging on that pair really had been opened. I was in a rush and didn't notice at the time."

"Other than those, I haven't used anything of anyone else's lately."

I looked at her.

"I never gave you anything."

Jessica cried harder.

"Why won't you admit it? That night you clearly took them out of your suitcase and handed them to me..."

Merlin rapped on the table.

"Pamela, this isn't something you settle with your mouth. The company will arrange for you to get tested at a hospital."

"I refuse."

Victor slammed the table.

"Refuse what? Do you have any idea how much liability the company takes on if this gets out?"

"That's your problem."

I looked at him.

"It has nothing to do with me."

Victor pointed at me, his finger trembling.

"Pamela, if you won't cooperate, the company has the right to terminate you."

"On what grounds?"

"Serious violation of company policy, endangering the health and safety of a coworker."

I stood up.

"My lawyer will be very interested."

I walked out of the meeting room.

In the hallway, a few coworkers pretended to be passing by.

Their eyes had already changed.

That afternoon, the company intranet forum blew up.

An anonymous post, titled: 【Shocking! A female employee suspected of maliciously spreading a disease】

The post was written in detail.

Borrowed underwear, damaged packaging, test results.

No name, but every detail pointed at me.

The comments:

【Why keep someone like this around? Fire her.】

【So disgusting. I wouldn't dare touch anything she's touched.】

【Poor Jessica, so pretty, her life is ruined.】

【Suggest calling the police.】

Five o'clock, end of the day.

I walked to the elevator, and the three coworkers beside me took a step back the moment they saw me, all at once.

One of them held the door.

"You... you take the next one."

I looked at them.

"It's not like a contagious disease spreads through an elevator."

Nobody moved.

I stepped in and pressed the lobby.

Before the doors closed, I heard one of them say:

"Why hasn't she quit already?"

Eight in the evening.

Anthony finally replied.

It was a screenshot.

That post from the company intranet.

Below it, one line:

【My mom says we should put the wedding on hold.】

I stared at the screen and didn't reply.

The phone buzzed again.

It was a post Jessica had put up on social media.

A photo of a hospital wristband.

The caption: 【Some wounds never heal.】

Below it, a row of broken-heart emojis.

Victor's wife had liked it.