After rushing Edward to the hospital, I was thoroughly scolded by the staff, but at least he was finally in safe hands. His fever
combined with the alcohol had left him in a precarious state, requiring constant care for the time being.
The problem was, as he’d said, he had no family left.
Naturally, the responsibility fell to me.
But work at the company was hectic, and barely an hour passed before I was bombarded with calls. Fortunately, Emma arrived
shortly after and offered to stay with him, allowing me to head back to the office.
It was already 10 p.m. by the time I returned, and the office was nearly deserted except for a few employees working late.
As I approached, I saw one of our department interns rushing out of the office, her face flushed and eyes brimming with tears.
She ran straight into me.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” she stammered, panic–stricken, while I noticed her disheveled clothes.
“What happened?”
A sense of unease surged within me. My instincts told me something was wrong, and I grabbed her arm, my tone growing serious.
She opened her mouth to speak, but tears streamed down her face before any words could come out. “Miss White, I…”
Through her sobs, I pieced together the story. Liam had tried to take advantage of her.
Suppressing the fire of anger rising in my chest, I asked firmly, “He didn’t succeed, did he?”
She shook her head weakly. “No, he didn’t.”
According to company policy, this was grounds to have Liam fired immediately, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough.
For an intern, the executive office likely wouldn’t take such drastic action unless the situation escalated further.
I took a deep breath, offered her a few words of reassurance, and with heavy steps, headed toward Liam’s office.
What I saw when I stepped inside made me freeze.
Coal was locked in a small cage, curled up miserably in the corner. Liam stood nearby, smiling as he prepared to pour scalding coffee over the helpless kitten.
“Mr. Murray!”
Seeing this, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I stepped forward and demanded, “What exactly are you doing?”
Liam flinched at my voice. When he saw me, he let out a smug chuckle, set the cup down, and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.
1/4
Chapter 7
“Well, look who’s here.”
I stared at him, expressionless. “Care to explain what you were just doing?”
“Oh, don’t be so angry,” he said. “Come, take a seat.”
I didn’t move.
His smug grin wavered. “Yuna, do you really think cozying up to Mr. Scott makes you untouchable?”
+15 BONUS
He sneered, his voice dripping with venom. “Let me tell you something. Dealing with you would be as easy as dealing with this cat. Do you really think anyone would dare challenge me if I killed this thing right now?”
I hadn’t expected him to go so far, and a bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Mr. Murray, I think I finally understand why, despite being with this company for so long, you’re still just a manager while others have moved up to vice directors.”
Without waiting for his reaction, I stepped forward, grabbed the cage holding Coal, and turned to leave.
Behind me, his composure snapped, and he yelled, “Yuna White! Do you really think Mr. Scott can take me down? I’ve been with
this company for twenty years!”
The most ridiculous part was that he still thought I was relying on someone else. Little did he know, I’d been quietly collecting
evidence of his shady dealings for a long time.
After backing up all the evidence, I packaged everything and submitted it to the executive office.
His involvement in falsified changes with contractors on hidden projects alone was enough to sink him, not to mention the bribes he’d accepted and his tolerance for collusion in rigged bids.
If the company didn’t take action, I’d take it to the authorities myself.
Outside his office, I checked on Coal. Thankfully, Liam hadn’t had a chance to hurt him, though the poor kitten was visibly
shaken.
