Chapter 3

Victoria's POV

Biting the hand that feeds. Playing out in real time, right here in my company.

The door flies open. Ethan runs in, sweating. "Ms. Grant, what do we do? Our clients are calling nonstop! People are attacking our official accounts. If this keeps up, the company's reputation is done!"

He gives me this hopeful look. "What if we just put out a statement, apologize, cancel the whole overtime thing?"

Apologize?

To these ungrateful backstabbers?

I stare out at the city lights. I feel myself go cold.

Since I started this company, I've been playing the caring boss, the mentor, the protector.

I tried to shield them, gave them the best packages in the industry, bent over backwards for their problems.

I was wrong.

The workplace doesn't care about your feelings. It definitely doesn't cave to manipulation.

True kindness comes with consequences.

From now on, I'm just a businesswoman. That's it.

"Ethan." I shut my laptop, stand up. My voice comes out dead calm. The kind that makes people nervous.

I grab my phone, dial building management.

"Send out the notice." I look straight at Ethan. "Company-wide."

Next morning at nine, the last day before Thanksgiving break.

The office feels off, tense.

Madison sits at her desk, whispering to the person next to her. Smug as hell.

"See? That's what happens when you piss off the internet. She can act tough all she wants, but look at her now. Total silence. She's scared shitless."

"Bet you anything she caves today. Probably gonna split that budget between everyone just to make this go away."

Jessica sits a few desks over, avoiding eye contact with everyone. But when she hears "split that budget," her eyes light up with greed.

Everyone's Slack pings at once. Company-wide notification.

I push open the conference room door, walk in.

"Everyone. Drop what you're doing. Conference room. Now."

I don't raise my voice. Don't need to.

Two minutes later, the room fills up.

Madison takes the front row, chin up like she already won.

I walk to the front. No slides. No papers.

I plant my hands on the table, look at each of them.

"I saw that Twitter thread last night."

The room goes dead quiet.

"All the criticism online, the complaints about how I run things. I've been thinking about it."

I slow down, let my voice soften with fake regret.

"Madison's right. Health matters. As your boss, I can't just chase deadlines and ignore what this does to all of you."

Madison's eyes light up. She turns, exchanges looks with the younger employees. Victory.

Jessica visibly relaxes, smiles.

"I'll admit it. The overtime incentive created holiday anxiety. It was workplace manipulation, plain and simple."

I glance at Madison, give a small nod. "So I apologize."

The room erupts.

No one expected Victoria Grant to back down.

Madison clears her throat, speaks up. "Ms. Grant, I'm so glad you came around. So since we're canceling the overtime thing, maybe we could split that budget as a holiday bonus..."

"So," I cut her off cold, ignore the greed on her face, "to really commit to employee wellness and give everyone what they're asking for..."

"I've decided. Starting six p.m. today, this building locks down."

I straighten up. My voice goes ice-cold.

"For the nine days of Thanksgiving break, I'm killing the power. Shutting down the servers. Disabling all building access."

"No employee enters this building for any reason."

"Anyone who tries to work from home or sneak back in gets fired the day we reopen. No exceptions."

The room goes silent.

Madison's smile freezes.

Her mouth hangs open. She's gaping like a fish out of water.

Jessica shoots to her feet. "Ms. Grant?!" Her voice shakes. "What? You're cutting the power? We can't work?"