Chapter 199 Flip the Script
Skyview laughed, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Willow, we've been classmates for years, and I never pegged you for the violent type. What possessed you to hit him?"
He knew Willow well enough to know she wouldn't resort to violence without provocation, especially not in such a delicate area. Mr. Brooks had clearly earned that kick.
"What possessed me?" Willow scoffed. "He called me into his office, dangled a promotion and a raise in front of me – who wouldn't be tempted? – and when I said yes, he told me I needed to make certain 'sacrifices.'
"He leered at me, Skyview, tried to touch me!
"I told him to back off, to show some respect, but he wouldn't listen. He tried to force himself on me!
"I fought back, and he had the audacity to ask if I wanted to keep my job. Cooperate, he said, or he'd fire me and blacklist me, ruin my career.
"So I kicked him where it hurts and told him I didn't want the damn job anymore!
"And that's the story. Tell me, did I do anything wrong?" Willow finished, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and shame.
Workplace harassment was a harsh reality for women, far more so than for men. Predatory clients, lecherous bosses, it was a tale as old as time.
Willow, despite giving up her family's privilege to forge her own path, refused to play by those unspoken rules.
So she'd fought back, consequences be damned.
She knew the risks. An ordinary employee would be dismissed, blacklisted, and their career in tatters.
But Willow was prepared to walk away, to start over in another city, another industry, if that was what it took.
Some lines one simply didn't cross. Especially as a woman, certain boundaries were sacred, and violating them had consequences.
"Good for you," Skyview said, his voice laced with anger. He turned his icy gaze on the whimpering Mr. Brooks. "You disgusting pig. How dare you lay a hand on a woman I care about? You're asking for trouble." He turned back to Willow, his voice softening. "Don't worry, Willow, I've got your back. He won't get away with this."
"Who are you to threaten me?" Mr. Brooks spat, struggling to his feet with Ms. Reyes' help. "Her boyfriend? She came onto me, I'm the victim here!"
The audacity of the man stunned both Skyview and Willow. He was blatantly trying to flip the script, to paint himself as the innocent party.
"Indeed!" Even more surprisingly, Ms. Reyes spoke up in support of Mr. Brooks. "Mr. Brooks is a good man who despises having relations with women like you, Willow. You seduced Mr. Brooks, and when he refused, you attacked him out of shame and anger! You're going to jail!"
Willow was too angry to speak.
"Oh, please!" Lily interjected, her voice dripping with disdain. "Do you think we're stupid? Look at her, then look at you! Willow wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole. Everyone knows you prey on your female staff. And now you're resorting to slander? I've never seen such shamelessness!"
"You might intimidate the others, Lily, but I'm not afraid of you," Mr. Brooks retorted, emboldened by Ms. Reyes' support. "Don't think you're so high and mighty just because you're Hekka's lapdog. I have John Davis on my side!"
"John Davis again," Skyview said, a cold smile playing on his lips. "I was just looking for an excuse to pay the Davis family a visit. You've done me a favor, Mr. Brooks."
Yosef, however, merely sneered, dismissing Skyview with a contemptuous glance. To him, Willow was just another disposable employee, and her boyfriend was likely nothing more than a disgruntled colleague. He wasn't worth the effort.
Ignoring Skyview, he fixed his venomous gaze on Willow. "You'll regret this, you little bitch. You're going to jail."
He'd always enjoyed exploiting his position, Ms. Reyes herself a past victim. But this time, not only had he failed, he'd been humiliated. He wanted revenge, and he wanted it bad.
As a department head, crushing a low-level employee like Willow would be child's play.
"You're delusional," Willow spat back, her fear giving way to anger. "You think you can put me in jail, Yosef? Take a good look in the mirror!"
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