My phone started ringing.It was Richard.
“Emma,delete the video!Delete it immediately!”
His voice sounded frantic.

“Mr.Baxter,don’t worry,I’ll delete it.I know the law.But only after everyone’s seen it.Your‘heroics’deserve to be seen,right?”
I teased,relishing his helpless rage.
“Emma,you’re ruining me!You’re nothing but a tramp,flaunting your looks,seducing men.You claim I harassed you,but you’re the one parading around in revealing clothes to tempt me!”
“You women play innocent while attracting men!Are you jealous Sophie got to me first,took your chance at a permanent job?”
“You called my wife,and when I covered it up,you posted the video aiming to destroy me,you are despicable!”
“Richard,you brought this upon yourself.”

I hung up,and finished with him.
I deleted the group chat videos.They’d spread enough.
A chill ran down my back.
Turning,I saw Richard glaring,eyes bloodshot,rushing at me.

As he lunged for my throat,someone grabbed his wrist.
“Nathan Harper!”
I gasped, not shocked by his presence but by him helping me again.
“Mr.Harper,”Richard muttered,stepping back.
“Here for the celebration,invited by Olivia.Shouldn’t I be here?”
Nathan smiled.“Mr.Baxter,given your current situation,you’re unfit to lead the Harper Group project.Olivia’s better suited.”
“Mr.Harper,she’s setting me up!”Richard pleaded.
“Richard,”Olivia arrived with the VP,“your conduct has caused significant harm to the company.After an emergency board meeting,we’ve terminated your contract.You’re terminated.”
“VP,please,for the sake of my wife,help me!”
Richard collapsed to the ground,begging.
The VP stepped back, stepping back to avoid him.
Richard moved toward Olivia.“Olivia,please,tell them not to fire me.I’ll take any job!”
Security dragged him out,and he was dragged out of sight.
Olivia was promoted to Richard’s position,and was offered a permanent position.Richard’s wife divorced him,and Sophie,pregnant with his child,clung to him.
They disappeared from my life.
I saw Richard again at my engagement party to Nathan Harper.He tried getting past security but was stopped.
I met him outside. His arrogance was gone—hunched,disheveled,a broken man.
He sneered,“You’re a hypocrite.You rejected me to play hard to get,but Sophie beat you to it,so you got together with Nathan.Women like you are all the same,just better at pretending.”
“Richard,I despised you from the start.Your harassment,your cheating—everything about you disgusts me.Your downfall is your own fault,not mine or any woman’s.”
“But you’re right about one thing:you are messing with the wrong person.Anyone else,you might’ve won.But you met me,and you got what you deserved.”
Unable to argue or fight,he stood there panting,then sighed heavily and left.
“Also,women aren’t hypocritical.When we say we hate you,we mean it.I hope you and Sophie make it work.”
His paused,then hurried away.
I don’t anticipate Richard to change.
But my life won’t be swayed by men like him.I’m certain that only by standing independently and pursuing my own path will I find true happiness.