Joining the bidding team,I quickly learned the company’s culture and dug into Richard’s background.The break room was a gossip central spot.
“His work’s mediocre.He’s only in that position because of his wife.”
“His wife turns a blind eye to his harassment of female employees.”

My fellow intern,Sophie Miller,joined the conversation.
“His wife’s fierce.She caused a scene in the office a few times,got some women fired,and paid settlements.Richard behaved for a while,but now she’s abroad with their son,and he’s back to his old ways.”
“She’s abroad?So she won’t be back in the near future?”Sophie looked worried.
“You new graduates better watch out,especially you,Emma…”
All eyes turned to me with concern.
“Why me?”I pretended to be naive.

“You’re young,gorgeous, has an amazing figure,and stand out.Richard looks at you differently.Plus,your resume was the weakest among the interns.”
So, Richard thought I was an easy target—pretty but naive.
Everyone saw his behavior but stayed silent,afraid to speak up due to his position of power.
I sipped my tea,plotting how to devising a way to hold him accountable.

Leaving the break room,I witnessed a jaw-dropping scene:the entire department lined up,passing Richard one by one,letting him slap the inappropriate physical contact
while shouting,“Go,go,project success!”
“Come on,you’re the final participants!”
Richard motioned for us to join from the break room to join the line.
I scanned the room—Olivia was absent,which accounted for his bold behavior.
I texted Olivia a video of Richard’s absurd antics,hoping for documentation purposes,even if it led nowhere.
Some older employees shrugged it off,returning to work as if it were a unconventional team-building activity
Young,unmarried men found it fun,joining in and slapping others, and labeled it as“team bonding.”
However, interns like Sophie,fresh from college and facing a powerful boss who controlled their job prospects,were too scared to resist.
I’d loathed Richard from the start.For people and things I despised,I fought back—it preserved my mental well-being
“Come on,don’t be shy!It’s just a pat, which helps develop social skills
.You’re working now—loosen up!”
Richard’s tone was commanding,implying refusal meant insubordination,undermining workplace values
Sophie,reluctantly obeyed, glancing back to urge me along.
I stood firm,arms crossed,meeting his gaze defiantly from the break room doorway.