Chapter Twenty–Four
Linda’s face had gone pale as the reality of their situation sank in.
She looked between Roden’s malicious expression and the sharp–faced woman’s triumphant smirk, clearly calculating that their careers were already over before they’d even begun
“We’re completely doomed,” she whispered, her earlier enthusiasm now replaced with visible despair.
Alicia, by contrast, remained composed.
She leaned back in her chair with an air of unconcern that seemed almost defiant given the circumstances.
Her expression suggested she’d dealt with men like Roden before and found them more tedious than threatening.
Pervis simply watched the exchange with calm detachment, his face betraying no emotion whatsoever.
The sharp–faced woman circled around them like a predator, her voice dripping with vindictive satisfaction.
“You three are completely finished at this company. Your careers here are over before they even started.” “Unless,” Roden interjected, wincing slightly as he shifted in his chair, “you’re willing to show proper respect and contrition for your earlier behavior.”
“What do you mean?” Linda asked nervously.
The sharp–faced woman sneered. “It’s simple. Unless you kowtow to Mr. Roden right now and apologize properly for your assault on him, you’ll never make it past your first day at Whitewater Corporation”
Roden’s eyes traveled slowly over Alicia and Linda, his gaze lingering inappropriately on their figures in a way that made even Jennifer from HR shift uncomfortably.
“Actually,” Roden said, his voice taking on a lecherous quality, “I think a simple apology might not be quite enough. Not for what happened.”
“What are you suggesting?” Alicia asked coldly.
“There’s a club in the East District downtown,” Roden continued, his smile growing wider and more
unpleasant.
“Very exclusive place. I’ll be there tonight around nine o’clock.”
He leaned forward despite the obvious pain it caused him.
“I expect you two ladies to join me there. We can discuss your… performance review over drinks. If you perform well enough, I might consider forgiving this little incident.”
1/4
The implication in his words was unmistakable, and Linda’s face went from pale to green
“You can’t be serious,” Alicia said, her voice like ice
“Oh, I’m completely serious,” Roden replied “That’s the price for keeping your jobs”
He turned his attention to Pervis, his expression shifting from lecherous to purely vindictive “As for you the requirements are different”
“Are they?” Pervis asked calmly.
“You assaulted me directly,” Roden stated. That demands a more public form of contrition”
The sharp–faced woman practically vibrated with anticipation. Tell him, Mr. Roden!”
“I want you to kneel,” Roden said clearly “Bight here, right now. Get down on your knees, press your forehead to the floor, and beg for my forgiveness
Linda looked like she might be sick Alicia’s expression had gone dangerously cold
Jennifer from HR was staring at her tablet, apparently trying to pretend she wasn’t hearing any of this
Pervis frowned, his calm demeanor finally showing a crack of genuine displeasure
“I hadn’t expected such rotten elements to exist in this company.”
“Rotten elements?” Roden laughed Tm a senior manager I have every right to-
“The company has explicit rules and regulations,” Pervis interrupted, his voice steady but carrying an edge of authority. This isn’t your private fiefdom to do with as you please.”
“Isn’t it?” Roden challenged.
“You’re a low–level supervisor at best,” Pervis continued
“Your authority extends only as far as the company policies allow, and I’m quite certain those policies don’t include sexual harassment or demanding employees grovel before you”
Roden’s face flushed with anger. “Low level? How dare you! I’ll have you know-
His phone rang cutting off his tirade. He glanced at the screen and his expression changed immediately from anger to apprehension.
“I need to take this,” he said, standing up carefully and moving toward the corner of the office. “Don’t any
of you move.”
He answered the call, turning his back to the room. “Yes, sir?”
The voice on the other end was loud enough that everyone could hear fragments of the conversation, though the words weren’t entirely clear
+25 NO
“Yes, I understand,” Roden said, his tone becoming increasingly nervous “Of course, sir. I’ve been very
careful about=”
The voice on the other end grew sharper, more insistent.
“No, sir, I haven’t been getting cocky,” Roden insisted, his voice taking on a wheedling quality. Tve been nothing but professional.”
More words from the phone, and Roden’s face began to lose color.
“An inspection? Today?” he stammered. “I wasn’t informed that-
The
e voice continued, apparently explaining something that made Roden go even paler
“A major figure from the Coleman family?” Roden repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. “Coming here personally?”
His eyes darted around the room nervously, as if the mysterious inspector might materialize from thin
“A young man, you said?” Roden’s hand was shaking now “No one knows exactly what he looks like?” The voice delivered what seemed to be a final warning, and Roden’s adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard
“Yes, sir. I’ll be on my absolute best behavior. Thank you for the warning, sir”
He ended the call and stood frozen for a moment, his back still to the room. When he finally turned around, cold sweat had broken out across his forehead.
His eyes swept across the three new hires, lingering particularly on Pervis
The well–dressed young man who had kicked him, who had spoken with such casual authority about company policies, who showed no fear whatsoever despite being threatened.
Could it be? Could this nobody actually be the Coleman family inspector everyone was suddenly panicking about?
Roden’s mind raced through the implications
If this man really was connected to the Coleman family, then everything Roden had just said and done would be reported directly to the highest levels of the company
His career wouldn’t just be over–it would be destroyed.
But if he was wrong, if this was just some arrogant new hire with delusions of importance, then backing down now would make him look weak in front of his subordinates
The sharp–faced woman noticed his expression. “Mr. Roden? Is everything alright?”
+25 BONUS
Roden stared at Pervis, trying to read something–anything–in the young man’s calm, composed features that would tell him which gamble to take.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
