Chapter 20 - The Counterattack
Losing power did not make Victoria harmless.
It made her desperate.
Three days after Vale terminated Whitmore Reputation Group, a business website published an article questioning Malik’s motives.
It noted his settlement discussions.
His wage claim.
His new attorney.
Anonymous sources described him as “financially distressed” and “eager to capitalize on viral attention.”
The article also criticized Naomi for accessing unrelated customer records.
Malik read it at his mother’s table.
Nia swore.
Denise said nothing for a long time.
Then:
“Somebody is scared.”
Andrea called within minutes.
“Do not respond online.”
“I know.”
“Reporter contacted me yesterday. I gave them documented facts. They used almost none.”
“Can we sue?”
“Maybe, depending on false statements and sourcing. But I want to know who fed it.”
Malik laughed bitterly.
“Take a guess.”
Across town, Victoria told Charles she had not authorized the article.
“Did anyone at your firm communicate with the reporter?”
“I don’t know.”
“That answer is unacceptable now.”
Victoria’s face hardened.
“My former strategy director has been talking to everyone.”
“Then find facts before blaming him.”
She glared.
“You sound like Naomi.”
Charles gathered his papers.
“That should concern you.”
Hours later the source became clearer.
Ethan.
The reporter had quoted an “executive familiar with Malik’s personnel history.”
Outside counsel identified information that only regional operations and HR possessed.
Vale sent Ethan a cease-and-desist regarding confidential employee data.
Andrea threatened action.
Ethan called Malik directly.
Malik almost did not answer.
Then he remembered Andrea’s rule.
Do not have substantive private conversations with adverse parties.
He declined and forwarded the voicemail.
Ethan’s message said:
“You think you won. Ask Naomi how many people she let corporate terminate before she decided you were special.”
Malik listened twice.
The cruelty worked because it touched truth.
He called Naomi.
“Ethan left me a message.”
“What did he say?”
Malik told her.
Silence.
Finally Naomi said, “He’s right about part of it.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
She waited.
“Are you angry with me?”
“Yes.”
“Fair.”
Malik rubbed his forehead.
“I don’t know what to do with the fact that you protected me and failed other people.”
“You don’t have to resolve it.”
“That’s convenient.”
“No. It’s uncomfortable.”
He heard her breathing.
“I can be grateful and angry?”
“Yes.”
“You can handle that?”
“I need to.”
Malik stared out the window.
Maybe this was what adult loyalty looked like.
Not pretending people were clean.
Deciding which truths could coexist.
The next morning Carlos agreed to participate formally.
His wife had read the new article.
“She told me if powerful people are still leaking stories about employees, staying silent isn’t protecting us anymore.”
Carlos gave outside counsel permission to review his video.
Jasmine also came forward.
Then Peter.
The pattern widened.
Ethan’s counterattack produced the opposite result.
Former employees who had been afraid of isolation now saw each other.
Vale’s board announced a restitution program for affected workers.
Independent administrators would review wage discrepancies and disciplinary cases.
No employee would be required to waive unrelated rights merely to receive corrected wages.
Andrea approved of that detail.
“It suggests somebody competent is finally advising them.”
Naomi received a call from the board chair, Evelyn Grant.
“I’d like to meet.”
Naomi hesitated.
“About returning?”
“About whether returning is possible.”
They met at Aurelia before opening.
The restaurant looked different empty.
Without guests, its luxury felt like set decoration.
Evelyn was sixty, Black, composed, and visibly tired.
“I owe you an apology,” she said.
Naomi was startled.
“You personally?”
“As chair, yes.”
“Did you know?”
“Not the details.”
“That isn’t the same as not knowing there was risk.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Correct.”
Naomi appreciated that.
Evelyn continued.
“We rewarded low complaint numbers without examining how they were achieved.”
“You rewarded labor targets without asking how minutes disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“You hired Victoria’s firm.”
“Yes.”
Naomi looked around.
“What happens when the headlines stop?”
“That depends partly on whether people who know the operation stay.”
Naomi understood the recruitment attempt.
“I’m not coming back to become your moral decoration.”
“I wouldn’t ask.”
“You might without realizing it.”
Evelyn nodded.
“What would you require?”
Naomi had prepared nothing.
So she answered from anger.
“Managers cannot alter employee statements after signature. Corrected versions must preserve originals.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Time edits require employee acknowledgment except documented technical errors.”
Another nod.
“Security footage cannot disappear because a guest has influence.”
“Yes.”
“External complaint channel.”
“Yes.”
“Former employees reviewed.”
“Already started.”
“And local managers need authority to remove abusive guests without losing bonuses.”
Evelyn paused.
“That will require board approval.”
“Then get it.”
For the first time, Evelyn smiled.
“You negotiate aggressively.”
“No. I manage.”
The echo of Victoria’s insult in Chapter 1 almost made Naomi smile too.
Before leaving, Evelyn asked one final question.
“Will you come back?”
Naomi looked at the table where Malik had spilled the red drink.
“I’ll consider it.”
Outside, Malik waited.
Naomi blinked.
“What are you doing here?”
“Andrea said you had a meeting.”
“She violated confidentiality?”
“No. I guessed and annoyed people until somebody confirmed.”
Naomi laughed.
They stood beneath Aurelia’s awning.
Malik looked through the glass doors.
“Do you want to go back inside?”
Naomi asked.
He watched a bus pass.
“I want the choice.”
That was the difference now.
Not victory.
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Choice.
And neither intended to surrender it cheaply.
