Days passed.
I tried to push it to the back of my mind, convincing myself that as long as I kept my distance, as long as I avoided him, he wouldn’t do anything worse.
But I was wrong.
The day after my conversation with Claire, my phone buzzed with a new message. My breath caught in my throat the moment I saw his name on the screen.
Finn.
I didn’t want to open it. I already knew it would be something I didn’t want to see. But my hands moved on their own, my thumb hovering for just a second before I tapped the message.
And then—
The video.
My blood ran cold. My stomach twisted so violently I thought I might throw up. It was short—only a few seconds—but it was enough. Enough to make my vision blur, my fingers tremble, my breath come in short, shallow gasps.
Below the video was a single message:
“Don't make me show this to anyone else. Be a good girl, and we won’t have any problems.”
I barely remembered what happened next. I think I dropped my phone. I think I sat there for what felt like hours, staring at nothing, my mind an empty void of panic and nausea.
I thought I had been afraid before.
That was nothing compared to this.
My first thought wasn’t about work. It wasn’t even about myself.
It was about my mom.
If she found out—if Finn sent this to her—what would I even do?
I pictured it so vividly, the way she’d look at me, the silence stretching between us like an open wound. The disappointment, the anger, the sheer shock—or worse, the pity. The way she might blame me, or worse, herself.
I couldn’t let that happen.
I couldn’t handle this alone anymore.
That was how, days later, I found myself standing in Claire’s office again, my hands clenched at my sides, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.
She looked up from her desk the moment I walked in, her sharp gaze scanning my face. She didn’t say anything at first—just studied me, taking in the dark circles under my eyes, the way my shoulders were drawn in tight.
"You’ve decided," she said. It wasn’t a question.
I swallowed, my throat dry as I nodded.
"Finn sent me the video," I said, barely recognizing my own voice. "And he warned me not to cross him."
Claire’s expression darkened instantly.
Beside her, Evelyn—who had been flipping through a file—froze, her grip tightening.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, Claire exhaled slowly, placing her hands flat on the desk. Her movements were controlled, precise, but there was a sharpness in her gaze that hadn’t been there before.
"Show me," she said.
My fingers trembled as I pulled out my phone. The message was still there, staring back at me like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.
I placed it on the desk. Claire picked it up, her expression unreadable as she played the video.
The moment it ended, she placed the phone down carefully, as if holding it any longer might make her snap.
Evelyn let out a slow breath. "That bastard," she muttered under her breath.
Claire leaned back in her chair, her gaze sharp as a knife. "You were right to come back," she said. "We’re going to end this, Mae."
My hands curled into fists. I wanted to believe her. I really did. But Finn had always been one step ahead of me. He had proof—evidence that could ruin me if he wanted to.
"What if he actually releases it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Claire’s jaw tightened. "He won’t," she said. "Not if we destroy his leverage first."
Evelyn crossed her arms, her expression turning calculating. "We’ll handle this carefully. No sudden moves, no room for him to retaliate." She looked at me, her gaze softer now. "But Mae, you need to trust us."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I had spent so long feeling like I had no way out.
Maybe—just maybe—this was my chance to finally take back control.
I nodded. "Okay," I said. "Tell me what I need to do."
Claire leaned forward, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk. The tension in the room was suffocating, thick with the weight of everything unspoken.
“We’re going to erase that video,” she said, her voice sharp, decisive. “Every single copy. And we’re going to make sure Finn understands exactly what happens when he crosses the wrong people.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
Evelyn nodded, already pulling out her phone. “I’ll have someone start looking into his devices, his cloud backups, his email—anywhere he might have stored it.”
I swallowed hard. “Can you really do that?”
Claire’s expression didn’t waver. “Yes.”
It wasn’t just confidence—it was certainty.
Evelyn pressed the phone to her ear and turned slightly away, speaking in low, clipped tones. Meanwhile, Claire kept her gaze on me, her piercing eyes assessing, calculating.
“There’s something you need to understand, Mae,” she said. “This isn’t just about getting rid of the video. This is about making sure Finn never tries something like this again.”
I clenched my hands in my lap. “How?”
Claire’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “By taking away his power.”
She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. “Finn thinks he holds all the cards. That’s why he’s bold enough to threaten you—because he believes you have no way to fight back.”
She tilted her head slightly. “But the thing about people like Finn? They only act fearless when they think they’re untouchable.”
My stomach twisted. “And what if he is untouchable?”
Evelyn ended her call and turned back to us. “He’s not.”
Claire nodded. “Evelyn and I have resources he couldn’t even begin to imagine. We’ll find every trace of that video and wipe it clean.” She paused, her gaze darkening. “And if he even thinks about trying something again, we’ll have enough leverage to make him regret it.”
Leverage.
I shifted uncomfortably. “What kind of leverage?”
Claire’s expression didn’t change. “The kind that makes men like Finn think twice before acting.”
Evelyn smirked. “The kind that ruins careers.”
I inhaled sharply. “You mean blackmail.”
Claire didn’t blink. “I mean protection.”
Something in her voice made it clear—she wasn’t asking for my approval. She was telling me how things were going to be.
I glanced between them, my chest tightening. This wasn’t just some empty promise. Claire was serious. And maybe… maybe that was exactly what I needed.
I exhaled shakily. “Okay.”
Claire’s eyes softened—just a little. “Good.”
Evelyn’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, then met Claire’s gaze. “They’re in.”
Claire smirked. “That was fast.”
Evelyn shrugged. “He’s not exactly careful. His cloud storage was unsecured, and he had backups scattered everywhere.”
I stiffened. “So… you have the video?”
Evelyn nodded. “And all copies of it.”
Just like that.
Relief crashed over me, but it was quickly followed by a new fear. “And Finn? What’s stopping him from trying again?”
Claire’s smirk turned razor-sharp. “Oh, don’t worry. By the time we’re done, he won’t dare to.”
I shuddered.
For the first time in years, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I wasn’t powerless anymore.
Claire turned to Evelyn, her voice low but firm. “Make sure he’s dealt with legally. I don’t want him walking away from this unscathed.”
Evelyn nodded, already typing something into her phone. “We’ll have legal draft the necessary documents. He’ll be fired by the end of the day.” She glanced up at me. “And blacklisted from every major company in the country. He won’t find work again—not in this field, not with this reputation.”
My breath hitched. Blacklisted? The weight of what they were doing settled heavily on my chest. This wasn’t just damage control. This was destruction. Finn wouldn’t just lose his job—he’d lose everything.
I swallowed. “That’s… extreme.”
Claire’s gaze sharpened. “He sent you that video to warn you, Mae. If we don’t act now, what do you think he’ll do next?”
I flinched. I knew what he would do next. He’d escalate. He’d find new ways to exert control. And I couldn’t afford to wait for that.
Still, my hands trembled as I whispered, “What if he fights back?”
Evelyn smirked. “He won’t get the chance.”
Claire leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. “Mae, I know this feels like too much. But men like Finn? They don’t stop until they’re forced to.”
Her words struck deep.
For so long, I had been waiting—waiting for Finn to get bored, to leave me alone, to stop. But he never did. And he never would. Not unless someone made him.
And now, Claire and Evelyn were making sure he had no choice.
I exhaled shakily. “What happens now?”
Claire’s voice was calm, steady. “Now, we make it official.”
Evelyn stepped forward, phone in hand. “HR is already preparing the paperwork. Finn will be notified within the hour. Legal will ensure he can’t retaliate, and our security team will personally escort him out of the building.”
I pressed my lips together, my heart hammering. “And if he tries to come after me?”
Claire’s gaze turned icy. “He won’t.”
I shivered. There was something about the way she said it—so final, so absolute—that made me believe her.
And yet, the fear lingered.
Finn wouldn’t just accept this. He wasn’t the type to go quietly.
I clenched my hands. “I’m scared.”
Claire’s expression softened. “I know.”
Evelyn sighed, crossing her arms. “Look, I won’t pretend this isn’t terrifying. But Mae, you’re not alone in this anymore. We’ve got you.”
Something inside me cracked.
For the first time in years, I wasn’t fighting this battle alone.
I inhaled deeply, nodding. “Okay.”
Claire’s lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile. “Good.”
A knock at the door interrupted us.
One of the HR representatives stepped in, files in hand. “It’s done.”
Claire took the documents and skimmed through them. She nodded once, then slid them across the desk to me. “Finn is officially terminated. And legally bound to silence.”
I stared at the papers, my pulse racing. It was over.
Just as Evelyn confirmed Finn’s termination, Claire’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen before standing up.
“Leo wants an update.”
My stomach twisted. Mr. Leo. Claire’s husband. The CEO.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. Something like this—legal action, firing an employee, blacklisting someone—wasn’t just an internal HR issue. It was a company-wide decision. And given how high-profile Summit River Corp was, they couldn’t afford to handle this lightly.
Claire gestured for me to follow. “Come with me.”
I hesitated. “Wait—you’re telling him now?”
Claire shot me a look. “Mae, this isn’t just about you anymore. Finn made himself a liability to the company the moment he pulled this stunt. Leo needs to know.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. I knew she was right, but the thought of facing Mr. Leo—of explaining all of this—made my nerves spike.
Evelyn nudged me forward. “Relax. If anything, Leo’s the last person you should be worried about. He hates people like Finn.”
That wasn’t exactly comforting, but I followed them anyway.
.
.
.
[Mr. Leo Office]
 
Mr. Leo’s office was sleek, modern, and intimidatingly silent. He was already waiting when we arrived, standing near his desk with an unreadable expression.
Claire walked in first, slipping into business mode effortlessly. “It’s handled,” she said simply.
Leo’s gaze flickered to me, then back to Claire. “Tell me everything.”
Claire explained it all—how Finn had been harassing me, how he had sent the video as a warning, and how we had already erased all traces of it. Evelyn added details about Finn’s termination and the legal measures in place to ensure he couldn’t retaliate.
Leo listened without interruption, his jaw tightening slightly as Claire finished. Then, he turned to me.
“Mae,” he said, his tone surprisingly calm. “Is there anything you want to add?”
I hesitated. “No,” I murmured. “Mrs. Claire and Ms. Evelyn already covered everything.”
His gaze lingered for a moment before he nodded. “Good. Then I’ll take care of the rest.”
I blinked. “The rest?”
Leo leaned against his desk, arms crossed. “Firing him isn’t enough. If he’s as reckless as you say, then legal consequences need to follow.” His tone darkened. “He won’t just be blacklisted—he’ll be under scrutiny. If there’s anything else we can use against him, we will.”
Claire smirked. “That’s why I married you.”
Leo shot her a knowing look before returning his focus to me. “Mae, I understand that this has been overwhelming for you. But you don’t need to be afraid anymore.”
I wanted to believe that.
I needed to believe that.
But I also knew Finn. And I knew he wasn’t the type to accept defeat quietly.
As if sensing my unease, Leo added, “We’ll be keeping a close eye on him. If he so much as breathes in your direction, we’ll know.”
Evelyn leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. “Finn’s done, Mae. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
I exhaled shakily, nodding. “Okay.”
Leo turned to Claire. “Make sure security is aware. I don’t want any loose ends.”
Claire nodded. “Already handled.”
Leo’s gaze softened slightly as he looked back at me. “You’re safe now.”
.
.
.
            Finn had been rushed to HR the moment they called him in. That had been over an hour ago.
I sat stiffly in Mr. Leo’s office, across from Claire and her husband, my hands curled into fists in my lap.
They were discussing work—business as usual—but I could barely focus.
At first, I had asked to excuse myself. The past week had been a blur of fear and exhaustion. I hadn’t been able to work properly, my tasks piling up while I struggled to function after what had happened at the party. I needed to catch up. I needed normalcy.
But Claire had shut me down with a simple, firm, “You’re staying.”
So I stayed.
Then, the door swung open.
Evelyn stepped in first, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. But it was Finn behind her that made my blood run cold.
His face was tight with barely restrained anger, his jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth might crack. His eyes locked onto me immediately, and my stomach twisted into knots.
I gripped the arms of my chair.
Mr. Leo barely acknowledged him. “It’s done?”
Evelyn nodded, her tone clipped. “Terminated. Access revoked. Security is waiting outside.”
A heavy silence filled the room.
Finn blinked once. Then again. “Terminated?” His voice was eerily quiet, like he was still processing. Then, suddenly, it cracked. “You’re actually firing me over this?”
Claire didn’t even glance up from her paperwork. “Yes.”
The word landed like a slap.
Finn’s whole body stiffened. His breathing turned shallow. Then, in a flash, his control snapped.
“You’re ruining my life over this?!” he exploded, slamming a fist against the doorframe so hard I jumped. “I barely started working here, and you’re just throwing me out?!”
I flinched at the sudden outburst, my breath catching in my throat.
Leo didn’t so much as blink. “Yes.”
Finn’s nostrils flared. “This is ridiculous!” His voice rose, raw with desperation. “You’re blacklisting me over some stupid misunderstanding?”
Evelyn let out a sharp laugh. “No, we’re blacklisting you because you’re a threat.”
Finn inhaled sharply, his hands shaking at his sides. His gaze flicked between Leo, Evelyn, and Claire—then landed on me.
And the moment our eyes met, his expression twisted.
“This is your fault,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom.
A chill ran down my spine.
Claire was on her feet instantly. Her hand shot out, gripping my arm protectively as she stepped in front of me.
“Careful,” Leo warned, his voice like ice.
Finn let out a bitter, humorless laugh, shaking his head. His hands balled into fists, his entire body vibrating with rage. “You think you can just do this to me? You think you’re untouchable?” His voice cracked as his fury bubbled over.
I shrank back, my pulse pounding in my ears.
Then—
Finn lunged.
“Hey!” Evelyn barked.
Claire tightened her grip on me and shoved me further behind her, her body a solid wall of protection.
Before Finn could take another step, the door burst open—two security guards rushed in, grabbing him by both arms.
“Get off me!” Finn roared, thrashing against their hold. His voice was wild now, frantic. “This isn’t over! You hear me?! This isn’t over!”
My entire body went rigid.
The guards yanked him backward, dragging him toward the door. But he fought every step, his movements erratic, his face contorted with pure hatred.
“You’ll regret this, Mae!” he screamed. “I swear to God, you’ll regret this!”
Something inside me shattered.
A strangled noise escaped my throat, my vision blurring as my whole body started trembling.
Claire squeezed my arm tighter, grounding me. “You won’t touch her,” she said, her voice as sharp as a blade.
Finn thrashed one last time before the guards finally hauled him out of the room, his screams echoing down the hallway.
Then—silence.
The air in the office felt suffocatingly thick.
My chest heaved, my breaths coming in shallow gasps. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Claire turned to me, her face softening. “Mae?”
I barely heard her. My ears were still ringing.
Evelyn let out a low whistle, rubbing her temple. “Well. That was dramatic.”
Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair. “And exhausting.”
Claire knelt beside me, reaching for my hands. I didn’t even realize how tightly I was gripping my arms until she pried my fingers free.
“You’re okay,” she murmured, her voice gentle now.
I wasn’t sure if that was true.
Because even though Finn was gone—
I had a sinking feeling this wasn’t the last time I’d hear from him.
Tears streamed down my face, my body trembling as I tried to catch my breath. I had been crying for what felt like forever in Mr. Leo’s office, the weight of everything finally crashing down on me. My hands clenched into fists against my lap, my vision blurred as I struggled to form words between my gasping sobs.
Claire was beside me, one arm wrapped around my shoulders, her hand rubbing soothing circles against my back. Her touch was firm but gentle, grounding me as I spiralled further into my emotions. "Mae, breathe," she murmured, her voice softer than I had ever heard it. "You’re safe now. I promise."
Safe.
The word barely registered as I wiped at my face with shaking fingers. I had held it together for days, pushing back my fears, my doubts, my shame. But now, in the presence of Claire and Mr. Leo—two of the most powerful people in this company—I couldn’t stop the flood. My walls had crumbled, and all I could do was let it out.
Evelyn had left the room some time ago, leaving just the three of us. The silence stretched, save for my broken breaths and Claire’s quiet reassurances. Mr. Leo sat across from us, his expression unreadable as he let Claire take the lead.
I hiccupped, shaking my head. "Why?" My voice cracked as I finally managed to speak. "Why are you doing this for me? I’m just—just an employee. A newbie. A nobody. You’re CEOs, you have a million other things to worry about. Do you always go this far for people like me?"
I was rambling, the words tumbling out in between sniffles, but I couldn’t stop. My thoughts were a tangled mess, overwhelmed by gratitude, confusion, and disbelief. "It doesn’t make sense," I whispered, my gaze darting between them. "Why do you care so much?"
Claire stiffened slightly beside me, her grip on my shoulder tightening for just a fraction of a second before she forced out a soft laugh. "Mae…" she hesitated, as if choosing her words carefully. "I don’t help people just because it’s my job. I help people because I want to. Because I can’t stand by and do nothing when someone is suffering."
I bit my lip, more tears spilling over. Claire reached out, brushing them away with her thumb before I could flinch. The tenderness in her touch made my chest ache even more.
Mr. Leo finally spoke, his voice calm and measured. "You’re part of this company, Mae. That makes you one of us. And when someone tries to harm one of us, we don’t just look away."
I exhaled shakily, my mind struggling to process the enormity of what they had done for me. Finn was gone. The threat of the video, of his control over me—it was all erased in a matter of hours. And I hadn’t lifted a finger.
But still, a quiet voice in the back of my mind whispered doubts. "What if he comes back? What if he finds another way to hurt me?"
Claire turned fully to face me now, her fingers reaching for my hand. Her warmth seeped into my skin, grounding me, tethering me to the present. "He won’t, Mae. We made sure of that."
Her words carried a finality that sent a shiver down my spine. I didn’t know what, exactly, they had done behind the scenes, but I believed her. Claire wasn’t the kind of woman to leave loose ends. And neither was Mr. Leo.
For the first time in weeks, I let out a breath that wasn’t laced with fear.
Claire’s thumb brushed over the back of my hand absentmindedly, and it wasn’t until I glanced down that I realized she was still holding it. She didn’t pull away. And neither did I.
I sniffled, offering a weak smile through my tears. "Thank you."
Claire smiled back, and for a fleeting moment, something flickered in her eyes—something unreadable, something almost vulnerable. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by her usual composure.
"Anytime, Mae," she murmured.
And somehow, I believed her.
.
.
.
 
Timestamp: 02:21
 
The moon keeps me company, as always.
I push open my window, hoping the night air
might clear my head,
might erase the weight of today—
of him, of everything.
 
How much do I hate him?
Enough that even breathing feels heavy,
enough that his name burns in my chest.
But the moon doesn’t ask questions.
It just watches.
 
It’s seen me break a hundred times,
seen the silent sobs,
the nights I curl up, whispering to no one.
The world sleeps, but I don’t.
Not really.
 
So here I am again, under its light,
spilling the things I can’t say out loud,
knowing that even if the moon listens,
it won’t speak back.