Chapter 4
Just Look Up
I thought things would quiet down for a while. Instead, the very next day, chaos erupted outside the company.
An elderly couple dressed in plain clothes kneeled in the small plaza beside the building's side entrance, holding a white banner with bold black lettering as they cried and wailed for everyone to hear.
Written across the banner were several eye-catching words. 'Heartless CEO Tobias Zeller Bullies Innocent Employee Out of His Job Out of Jealousy! False Accusations! Unforgivable!'
Connor's parents stood before the crowd and the media, tears streaming down their faces.
"Everyone, please judge for yourselves! Our boy has always been honest and hardworking. He was a model student growing up. That boss only targeted him because he's handsome!
"He's been making life difficult for my son at work every chance he gets. Now that a project went wrong, he's blaming everything on Connor and demanding eight million dollars in compensation!
"Even if we sold everything we owned, we couldn't pay that kind of money. He even threatened to send my son to prison if we don't pay. What kind of company is this? This is practically organized crime! He just can't stand seeing young people succeed!"
Connor hid behind his parents with disheveled hair and red, swollen eyes, looking every bit like a victim of workplace bullying.
Amanda stood nearby, her expression righteous and indignant. "As the company's VP, I honestly can't stay silent any longer. Mr. Zeller has allowed personal feelings to interfere with work and has deliberately targeted an outstanding employee. It's absolutely disgraceful! Even though I'm his wife, I have to stand on the side of justice. I won't protect wrongdoing just because we're family!"
Her statement exploded across the livestream. Within moments, hundreds of thousands of viewers flooded into the broadcast.
'Oh my God, this CEO is evil! Is he really that jealous? What, is he bald and can't stand handsome guys?'
'Capitalists are disgusting. Even his own wife won't defend him. That tells you everything.'
'I feel so bad for that guy. Is being good-looking a crime now? A company like this deserves to go under!'
The online abuse came crashing down like a tidal wave.
My phone was immediately flooded with calls. My inbox filled with curses, death threats, and edited funeral photos. Some people even showed up outside the company to throw paint and rotten eggs.
My assistant burst into my office, sweating profusely. "Mr. Zeller! This is bad! There are hundreds of people downstairs, and a bunch of influencers are livestreaming. They're all attacking you! The PR department can't contain it anymore. The stock price has already started dropping! You have to do something!"
A cold smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
I glanced at my phone. It was two in the afternoon. The brightest time of the day.
And also Amanda's usual "lunch break."
After waiting for more than an hour, the time had finally come.
"Let's go." I stood up and adjusted my suit. "Bring security. Let's go downstairs and meet these champions of justice."
When I arrived outside, the situation was even worse than I had expected.
The moment Connor's parents saw me, they cried even harder and lunged toward me, trying to scratch my face. "You heartless bastard! How dare you show yourself! Give my son justice!"
Camera flashes exploded nonstop. Microphones were shoved into my face from every direction.
"Mr. Zeller, why are you targeting Mr. Lawson?"
"You claim Mr. Lawson had an inappropriate relationship with your wife. Do you have any proof?"
"We've heard that you tried to ruin Mr. Lawson and his entire family. Is that true?"
Faced with the surging crowd, I remained calm.
"Everyone wants the truth, right?" I took a microphone from one of the influencers, my voice steady and clear. "To be honest, I'm curious too. Do these parents, who keep insisting their son is innocent and honest, actually know where their beloved son is right now… and what he's doing?"
Connor's father immediately shouted back, "My son has been devastated by your lies! He's too scared to even leave the house!"
"Is that so?" I raised a brow and looked around at the crowd. "If you all want evidence, I'll give it to you!"
I lifted my hand and pointed toward the rear side of the company building. "But instead of listening to me defend myself, why don't you all come with me? All you need to do is look up, and you'll know exactly who's lying and who's shameless."
The crowd immediately stirred.
"Fine! Let's see what trick you're trying to pull!"
"Everybody follow him! Don't let him get away!"
The massive crowd surged forward, carrying cameras, microphones, and livestream equipment as they followed me around to the side of the building, where a wide open lawn lay.
I stopped, turned to face the crowd, and pointed toward the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor. "Everyone, look up. That's Amanda Sutton's office. As for what's happening inside… I'll leave that for all of you to judge."
Instinctively, everyone raised their heads only to fall completely silent the next second, for in front of that enormous floor-to-ceiling window…