Chapter 14 - .14 Hendricks
Jason yawned and dragged himself out of bed. The morning sun bled through the curtains, casting streaks of gold across the floor. He rubbed his face, walked to the sink, brushed his teeth, and took a hot shower to clear the grogginess from his mind.
Downstairs, the kitchen smelled faintly of toasted bread and brewed tea. The chef had already laid out his breakfast: three hard-boiled eggs sliced in half, two golden waffles stacked neatly, avocado slices fanned out beside them, and a cup of steaming green tea.
Jason nodded in appreciation. "Thanks, Chef."
He picked up his phone, which had been buzzing nonstop since earlier. Notifications stacked the screen like falling dominoes.
#ManagerPark
#CorporateCoverUp
#CEOApology
Jason tapped on one headline. A video began loading.
A morning news anchor smiled into the camera, her voice crisp and rehearsed. "Good morning. In a stunning turn of events, CEO Langston and Manager Park of LAVISH Design Group have publicly apologized after a whistleblower revealed doctored surveillance footage and internal smear campaigns against a former employee, Hendricks Sang. The footage in question was used to blacklist the designer, nearly ending his career. Both executives are now under internal investigation, and charges may soon follow."
The screen shifted to the pre-recorded apology. Langston stood behind a podium, looking like he hadn’t slept in days.
"We... deeply regret the role we played in spreading false information. We were misled," Langston began, voice tight. "In light of recent revelations, we are working with legal counsel and will pursue those responsible for manipulating evidence. We extend our sincerest apologies to Mr. Sang and the design community at large."