2: 2
The group chat went quiet for a moment.
Then a coworker posted a single question mark.
【? Willow, isn't that a little cold-blooded?】
A string of people copied it and flooded the chat.
The boss called me out by name:
【Willow Barnes, you'd better be ready to answer for what you just said! If something actually happens to Lorraine, this is all on you!】
Then Lorraine Pruitt posted a photo:
Wood floor completely underwater, a pink slipper floating beside it, a big soaked patch spreading up the foot of the bed.
【Mr. Finch, please don't blame Willow.】
【There's a hurricane out there. She just doesn't want her brother out in it.】
【It's fine, I'll wait a bit longer. Maybe the rain will let up soon.】
That set the whole chat off, righteous and furious.
【How's this rain going to let up anytime soon?】
【Supervisor Barnes, you're well off, you live in a big house. You don't know what it's like for the rest of us renting.】
【Your brother just has to drive over and pick someone up. Nobody's asking him to wade in and save a drowning person.】
My dad heard the commotion and came out of his study:
“The wind's fierce out there. Don't let Ray leave the house.”
In my last life, he'd said the exact same thing.
But I didn't listen.
I kept thinking about Lorraine Pruitt, a young woman fresh out of college.
Alone in a big city, trying to make a living. It wasn't easy.
Later, strangers online tracked us down to our door, hung banners, threw red paint, pointed at my parents and screamed that they'd raised a rapist.
My always-dignified parents were pelted until they were covered in rotten eggs, and both had heart attacks right there.
Sprawled on the ground, hands stretched out, begging for help.
In that moment the regret was more than I could bear.
My overflowing sympathy had, in the end, destroyed my own family.
My phone was still buzzing.
Seeing that I wasn't answering, the boss tagged me again:
【Willow Barnes, the group's management appointments go before the board next week!】
【When this company promotes someone, what counts isn't seniority. It's vision and the willingness to take responsibility.】
【If you can't even solve a problem for your own subordinate, why would the board feel safe handing you the East Coast region?】
I took a deep breath and typed calmly:
【The way I've handled this is fully in line with company emergency procedure.】
【Lorraine Pruitt, send your exact address, building, and unit number. I'll call 911 and have rescue sent to you.】
Lorraine replied fast:
【Never mind, don't bother.】
【I'm renting a partitioned room. My landlord doesn't want us making a scene.】
【If the fire department shows up, he'll definitely kick me out.】
【I just graduated. I can't afford to go find a new place.】
The coworkers all felt for her:
【Lorraine already has it this hard. Supervisor Barnes, quit hiding behind procedure to make things difficult for her.】
I was making things difficult for Lorraine Pruitt?
Why didn't any of them stop to think that Lorraine asking me for something like this was making things difficult for me?
【Supervisor Barnes always seemed so good to her people. Turns out it was all an act.】
【It's the easiest thing to do, and she'd rather just stand by and watch. So selfish.】
【Stuck with a supervisor like that, Lorraine really got unlucky.】
I gave a cold laugh:
【Whoever thinks she's so pitiful can go get her. Either way, my brother is not leaving this house.】
I sent it, turned off the screen, and stopped answering.
I'd made up my mind. Pressure me all they wanted, worst case I'd just quit the job.
But the next second, my brother's phone screen lit up.
A friend request had come through on the messaging app.
Somewhere Lorraine Pruitt had gotten hold of his account.
The request carried just one line:
【Sorry for the trouble I've caused you.】
My brother held up his phone:
“Sis, she added me.”
I took his phone and tapped decline on the spot.
He said quietly:
“Sis, she seems pretty polite. She doesn't seem like a bad person.”
I looked at him and said, dead serious:
“Ray, remember this. Someone truly in danger will find the person who can actually save her.”
“Only someone with an angle goes around 911, goes around the property manager, and insists on coming to you.”
He blinked, thinking it over.
I pushed him into his room.
“From now on, you stay in this room. Don't set one foot outside.”
“Got it?”
“Got it.”
My brother's bedroom door closed in front of me.
I finally let out a breath.
My eyes went a little damp too.
This time, I wouldn't let my brother and my family be hurt again.
Except the next day, the moment I got to the office, I heard someone shouting upstairs:
“It's bad! Lorraine Pruitt jumped off the building!”
