"Exactly! What kind of boss forces employees to sleep with clients?"

"Mr. Hughes, just agree to this tiny little perk, and we'll go to your precious networking event!"

I laughed. "A 'tiny little perk'?"

"Maria, I just gave you a raise. You're making thirty thousand a month now!"

"Nelson, you're at thirty-five thousand. Tell me—with your skill set, what other company would pay you anywhere near that?"

"Mr. Hughes, that's hardly fair." Arlene's voice dripped with false concern. "They earned those salaries through their own hard work."

The others nodded like bobbleheads.

"Come on, boss, just say yes!"

"Mr. Hughes, if you double our pay, I'll finally have enough to upgrade to a bigger place this year."

"Yeah, my wife's got her heart set on a BMW. Help us out here, Mr. Hughes!"

My jaw tightened. "Your salaries are already well above industry standard. Double them, and you'd be making four or five times what anyone else in this field earns."

"The company's profits don't come close to covering that!"

"So that's a no?" Arlene's voice turned sharp.

"I can't afford what you're asking."

"Fine then." Her eyes glittered. "We'll see how this plays out. You're going to regret this."

That night, I couldn't sleep. Kept turning it over in my mind.

The key to all of this was Arlene Lambert. She was just an intern—what was her angle?

I decided to find out.

The next morning, I had HR Manager Caldwell bring her to my office.

"Arlene." I kept my tone casual, even offered a smile. "You're about a month away from becoming a full employee. Have you given any thought to your future here? Career trajectory, compensation, benefits—I'm open to discussing it."

"You think you can buy me off?" She laughed, not bothering to hide her contempt. "I can't stand bosses like you. Your employees ask for a small raise, and instead of agreeing, you try to pimp them out."

"Change your ways, or I will expose you."

She didn't even sit down. Just said her piece and headed for the door.

"Arlene." I kept my voice steady. "If it's a higher salary you want, I can make that happen."

She paused in the doorway, a strange smile curling her lips. "I'm not for sale."

Then she was gone.

I had no idea what she was really after.

Near the end of the workday, Arlene reappeared—with Gertrude and the others flanking her like a small army.

"Well, Mr. Hughes? Made up your mind yet?"

I shook my head. "The networking event is happening as planned. Your salaries are already generous, and there won't be another raise anytime soon."

I paused. "However, I'm willing to increase everyone's year-end bonus from one hundred thousand to one hundred fifty thousand."

I wasn't some inflexible relic. This was a genuine olive branch.

This contract with Mr. Walker mattered—to both of us. I needed it to go smoothly.

The industry had hit a rough patch this year. Most companies weren't giving bonuses at all; plenty were laying people off. A six-figure bonus like this? Unheard of.

"Mr. Hughes." Arlene's voice was ice. "You're not in a position to negotiate."

She stared me down. "Either you meet our terms, or we don't cooperate."

"Yeah, an extra fifty thousand? How am I supposed to afford a bigger house with that?"

"Exactly! I still can't get my BMW 5 Series!"

A chill ran through me.

These people... I didn't recognize them anymore.

The next morning, I was driving to work when my phone rang. Harper Caldwell's name flashed on the screen.

"Mr. Hughes—" Her voice was tight with panic. "This is bad. Someone posted online claiming you're forcing employees to... to be escorts. It's gone viral. You're getting destroyed out there."

The steering wheel jerked in my hands. I nearly plowed into the median.

I pulled over, heart pounding, and clicked the link she'd sent.

The post's headline screamed at me in bold letters:

CORRUPT BOSS DEMANDS EMPLOYEES SLEEP WITH CLIENTS TO SECURE CONTRACTS!

They twisted everything. Made me out to be a miser who squeezed every last drop from his employees—endless overtime, pathetic wages. And if that wasn't enough, they claimed I couldn't keep my hands off the young, pretty women in the office.

The post included several anonymous videos from "female employees" telling their stories.

"I work at this company. The boss is always calling me into his office, groping me everywhere."

"Same here. The second I walked in, he was all over me, trying to pull off my clothes. I told him I had a husband and shoved him away before running out."

"Mr. Hughes is a total creep. One time during lunch, he actually peeped on me in the bathroom!"

The post was detailed, convincing. Millions of views. Tens of thousands of comments. It shot straight to the top of trending.

The internet exploded.

"How do scumbag bosses like this still exist?"

"This company is pretty well-known in the industry. Never thought the owner was THIS kind of guy. Thank god I chose a different company back then!"

"I'm reporting him until he goes bankrupt. Then I want to see this creep behind bars!"

Just like that, I became public enemy number one—a rat everyone wanted to stomp.

When I arrived at the office, yellow tape was already stretched across the doors.

Amy Pruitt stood outside with three other employees, looking lost. "Mr. Hughes, regulators just came through. They've sealed the company—said we're under a month-long rectification order."

Arlene sauntered over with the rest of her group, barely concealing her glee.

"Mr. Hughes, looks like you've got some restructuring to deal with. Hope you know what's good for you."

Gertrude shifted nervously beside her. "What happens now? I don't want to be out of a job."

Arlene's confidence didn't waver. "Relax. He'll come around any minute now."

She stepped closer to me, dropping her voice. "Mr. Hughes, agree to our terms, and we'll make this rectification go away. We'll restore your reputation. And as a bonus? We'll even arrange for you to attend the networking gala."

All I had to do was say yes, and everything would disappear.

But was that what I wanted?

This time they'd roasted me alive and tried to snatch the fruits of my labor. What about next time?

If I caved now, I'd be nothing but a mark—and I'd lose control of my own company.

"I won't agree."

The moment the words left my mouth, Craig and the others' expressions shifted.

Only Arlene looked pleased.

What the hell is she playing at?

"So that's a no?" Her smile sharpened. "Then don't blame us for what comes next."

Minutes later, a police cruiser pulled up. Officers stepped out and approached me.

"Are you Curtis Hughes?"

I nodded.

Handcuffs clicked open. "Mr. Hughes, you're under suspicion of quid pro quo harassment and indecent conduct toward female employees. We're going to need you to come down to the station."

The cold metal closed around my wrists.

Amy rushed forward with the three loyal employees, blocking the officers' path. "Officer, you've got the wrong person. Mr. Hughes isn't like that. He treats his employees well—barely any overtime, excellent pay. He's mentored us into professionals who can stand on our own."

Another employee spoke up. "One time I collapsed at work. Mr. Hughes carried me to his car, drove me to the hospital himself, and paid my medical bills out of pocket."

Officer Brendan Bush raised a hand. "A formal complaint has been filed. We have to investigate. Please don't obstruct us." His tone softened slightly. "You have my word—we won't wrongly accuse an innocent man, and we won't let a guilty one walk free."

Looking at Amy and the others—their worry, their loyalty—warmth spread through my chest.

I managed a smile. "I'll be fine."

They loaded me into the car.

Jonathan's face had gone pale. "Arlene, isn't this going too far?"

Craig nodded frantically. "Yeah, seriously. I don't want to end up unemployed."

But Arlene just shook her head, watching the cruiser pull away.

"Men like him are stubborn. You have to show them some real consequences before they learn to bow."

Amy and the three others who'd stayed walked over. "Don't worry, we'll get you a lawyer!"

Once we were in the car, I glanced back at Arlene and her little crew.

So they want to play games?

Fine. Let's play for keeps.

I'd made up my mind—I'd dissolve the company entirely. If they wanted war, I'd burn the whole thing down and take them with me.

Amy and the three others who'd stayed walked over. "Don't worry, we'll get you a lawyer!"

Once we were in the car, I glanced back at Arlene and her little crew.

So they want to play games?

Fine. Let's play for keeps.

I'd made up my mind—I'd dissolve the company entirely. If they wanted war, I'd burn the whole thing down and take them with me.