Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Joanna's POV
Monday morning, I stood at the street corner across from King Tower, my stomach twisting into knots. Even from a distance, I could see the crowd gathered at the building entrance. They held signs with angry slogans: [King Enterprises, Return Our Money!] [Sebastian King, Corporate Thief!] Some were even shouting, calling Sebastian a "bloodsucker."
My heart pounded against my ribs as I clutched my purse strap tighter.
'Oh God, this is really happening. All these people... are they here because of my photos? I just wanted to help those residents, but how did it turn into this?'
I kept my head down and walked quickly through the crowd, trying not to look at their faces. But their angry voices still reached my ears: "King Enterprises, get out of Manhattan!"
My chest tightened. 'Sebastian, what will you think when you see this? But those elderly people's suffering is real. What did I do wrong?'
I squeezed through the entrance where security guards maintained a tense barrier, their cold eyes sweeping over me as I passed.
'Pull yourself together, Joanna.'
The elevator dinged, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. I took a deep breath and stepped out.
---
The company lobby was buzzing with tension. Employees clustered in small groups, whispering urgently, their faces drawn with worry. I walked past the break room where two coworkers were huddled over someone's phone.
"Stock prices dropped again this morning," one whispered. "The Bronx scandal is getting picked up by more media outlets. Even CNN covered it."
The other sighed heavily. "We're in deep shit now. Mr. King is going to be furious."
My stomach dropped. 'CNN? This is worse than I thought.
Sebastian's company stock is taking a hit. Is this all because I took those photos? Zayne, you said you'd keep things contained, but it's getting worse...'
I hurried to my desk and switched on my computer. My screen immediately filled with news notifications about the Bronx relocation issue. The headlines screamed at me: [King Enterprises Accused of Embezzlement, Resident Protests Escalate.]
My hands trembled slightly as I scrolled through the articles. Pictures of angry protesters filled the screen, some showing elderly residents from the Bronx development.
'Sebastian, what will you do now? Will you return the money to the residents, or...'
I couldn't finish the thought. Zayne's warning from last night echoed in my head: '"He might retaliate—perhaps by cutting your mother's medical funds, or worse..."'
I glanced around the office. Everyone seemed on edge, typing frantically or speaking in hushed tones on phones. The atmosphere was electric with anxiety, and I was at the center of the storm that caused it all.
---
My phone buzzed. Daniel. I answered immediately, desperate for a friendly voice.
"Jo, are you at work?" His voice was tense, worried.
"Yes, I just got in. Daniel, it's crazy here. There are protesters outside and—"
"I know. It's all over the news." He cut me off, his voice dropping lower. "Listen to me carefully. You need to get out of there."
"What? I can't just leave, I have work—"
"Fuck the work, Jo!" His voice hardened. "I told you from day one that Sebastian King is bad news. That entire family is poison. Now there's a full-blown scandal, and you're sitting in the epicenter."
I glanced around nervously, lowering my voice. "Daniel, I can't just quit. Mom's medical bills—"
"We'll figure something out," he insisted. "I've been working extra shifts. We managed before King, we'll manage after."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's not that simple."
"It is that simple. Your safety comes first." There was a rustling sound, like he was moving somewhere more private. "Jo, I've been hearing things about Sebastian King for years on construction sites. The way he treats people, the corners he cuts. What happened in the Bronx is just the tip of the iceberg."
"But Daniel—"
"Promise me, Jo." His voice cracked slightly. "Ever since you started working for that bastard, you've changed. You're always stressed, always worried. I hate seeing what he's doing to you."
The raw concern in his voice made my throat tighten. "I promise I'll be careful. I'll try to leave early."
"Good." He paused. "Start looking for another job. Today. Whatever he's paying you, it's not worth what he's taking from you."
After we hung up, I sat staring at my phone, Daniel's warning adding to my growing unease. He'd never liked Sebastian, had warned me about the King family from the start.
Throughout the day, I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact with colleagues. I didn't see Sebastian at all, though rumors whispered through the office that he was in meetings all day with legal and PR teams.
By five o'clock, the knot in my stomach had grown unbearable. I packed up quickly and headed for the elevator, following Daniel's advice to leave early.
---
Tuesday morning, the scene outside King Tower was even worse. The crowd of protesters had doubled overnight, their signs more aggressive, some throwing eggs at the building while security struggled to maintain order.
I ducked my head and rushed inside.
In the office, I opened my computer to discover that the company's social media accounts were flooded with angry comments and accusations. News headlines announced further stock price drops, and analysts were speculating about long-term damage to King Enterprises' reputation.
'This is massive,' I thought, a metallic taste of fear spreading across my tongue.
On my way to the copy room, I passed by Sebastian's office. Through the glass partition, I could see him sitting at his desk, calmly reviewing documents. There wasn't a trace of anger on his face—in fact, the corner of his mouth seemed to curl in a slight smile.
I stopped in my tracks, confused. The blood seemed to slow in my veins.
The question haunted me as I walked away. Sebastian's unexpected composure was somehow more terrifying than any rage could have been.