I'd begged Clement once. Just asked him to put in a word with management, get me an interview.
Not a guaranteed position. Just an interview.
I knew his influence. He wouldn't have even needed to go through the higher-ups to make it happen.
But he told me he couldn't. It would look like favoritism.
He said not to put him in that position.
So for me, it was "favoritism."
For Mildred, it was a personal endorsement straight through the door.
My knuckles went white around the cup. I stared at him.
"And if I don't accept?"
The executive gave a thin smile. "I'd advise you, Mrs. Fox, not to go to war with this company."
I hadn't been out of the building long.
The internet exploded with stories about me.
DERANGED WIFE EXPLOITS DAUGHTER'S DEATH TO EXTORT HUSBAND
TECH RISING STAR CLEMENT DELGADO'S TROUBLED HOME LIFE
WIFE SUSPECTS HUSBAND OF AFFAIR WITH FEMALE COLLEAGUE — DID SHE USE HER DAUGHTER'S DEATH AS A WEAPON OF REVENGE?
Just like that, the tide of public sympathy turned. Every person who had pitied me was now aiming their guns at me instead.
The comment sections overflowed with praise for Clement and Mildred.