Chapter 5

The moment I stepped into the office lobby, the young receptionist looked at me, her eyes brimming with tears. She stood up as if to say something, but choked on her words and sat back down.

I gave her a gentle nod and kept walking toward the elevator.

When the elevator doors slid open on our floor, I was greeted by three-foot-high, dripping red letters spray-painted across the white hallway wall: CORPORATE VAMPIRE.

The paint was still wet, running down the wall like blood.

I stood there, staring at those words for ten long seconds.

I heard footsteps behind me. It was Jane and Zach Carter, our Legal Counsel.

Zach spoke first. "Elena, I've already contacted the police. This is vandalism and clear defamation---"

"Don't worry about the police yet," I cut in. "Just take photos for evidence and leave it. If we make a huge scene now, the internet will just say we're trying to intimidate people and cover our tracks."

Jane bit her lip. "But Elena... three interns already submitted their resignations this morning. And two of our full-time staff just quit, too."

"Which interns?"

"Lily Evans, Tyler Brooks, and Chloe Martinez."

I paused. I remembered all three of them.

Lily was from last year's batch. She had performed beautifully and had transitioned to a full-time role just three months ago.

Tyler was one of our newest hires.

And Chloe... she was also from last year's batch, and she was already leading her own sub-projects.

I really hadn't expected Chloe to quit.

I sighed. "Hold their resignation letters for now. Follow standard company protocol---thirty days' notice for transition. Don't make it hard on them, but don't give them special treatment either. Just go by the book."

I walked into my private office, closed the door, and opened my laptop.

The internet was in an absolute frenzy.

It wasn't just the audio clip anymore.

People were digging up fake "dirt" about me.

There were posts claiming I withheld overtime pay, used the internship program to scam the government for tax write-offs, and even rumors that I was sleeping with one of the female interns.

Every claim came with "evidence."

But when I looked closely, it was all fabricated.

The post about withheld overtime pay showed a pay stub that didn't even have our official company logo, and the formatting was completely wrong.

But in the court of public opinion, facts didn't matter.

When a hate mob gets going, truth is always the first casualty.

I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes for a moment, and made a decision.

I picked up the desk phone and dialed HR.

"Jane, prep the main conference room. 10:00 AM. I want an all-hands meeting. Everyone, including the interns."

"Elena, some people online are talking about protesting outside our building. Should we---"

"No need. Just run business as usual."

I hung up, opened my bottom desk drawer, and pulled out a thick, heavy manila envelope.

It was stuffed to the brim.

I didn't open it. I just placed it on the desk.

I had been compiling this file for three months.

I had planned to reveal it at our annual company gala as a massive surprise for everyone.

But it looked like the surprise was coming early.