Page 109 of Not Safe for Work

He touches my face, his hand cupping my cheek. “I’m so sorry I’ve put you through this. You’ve been so patient and understanding. If the roles had been reversed, I would have lost my mind.”

His thumb runs along my bottom lip, and I lean into his touch, worried it’s the last time I’ll ever feel it again. He tips towards me, touching his forehead to mine. I inhale a deep breath, committing his scent to memory.

“I am going to deal with this, Tris. I promise.”

I don’t nod. I don’t speak. I just… break.

Rafe pulls away and stares at me. He wraps his arm around my waist as he lifts up my chin. “Tris, I—” He shakes his head. “Never mind. I’ll tell you later. When we’re back together.” Then he kisses me with such tenderness that my heart turns to dust.

He releases me from his hold, and I step away, needing to put some distance between us. I press the button and face the door. It hurts too much to look at him.

When the elevator arrives, I step inside and turn around because I need to see him one more time. Rafe stands with his hands gripping the walls on either side, staring at me while the doors slide closed.

I’m terrified of leaving right now.

Terrified of what will happen when Rafe returns to that suite.

His face disappears, and I tell myself that if I lose him now, he was never mine anyway.

But that only makes me feel worse.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

To: All Staff List

From: Trishara Malik

Subject: Burn it all down

Dear WMC Purcell,

Please consider this letter my formal resignation from the position of senior engineer at WMC, effective immediately. I do so without regret, nor am I leaving to pursue other opportunities. I do not wish you the best in the future, and I don’t want to keep in touch to discuss potential opportunities. Lose my number.

You’ve stolen five years of my life, and I am done.

Today, Paul Stuart propositioned me and said that if I had sex with him, he’d concede to voting for me for the executive training program. Diane Hart witnessed this scene and told me to look the other way. If this is how your executive team behaves, you don’t deserve me or any of the loyal, hardworking employees at this company.

For five years, I have endured sexist comments and behavior, as well as countless racial microaggressions. I’ve continued to look the other way, and that was a mistake.

Today, I will be silent no more.

To that end, I’m attaching the detailed notes I’ve kept over the years, outlining every incident I’ve witnessed and experienced in the presence of Rory McGregor. Some of these involve me directly, and some involve others in the Chicago office. I’ve redacted names and details, but I’m sure those individuals recognize who they are, and I hope they’ll come forward if they feel safe doing so.

I’m also attaching every screenshot I’ve collected from his social media feed of problematic statements, memes, and article shares. I hope WMC will make use of this information. If not, at least everyone will know and understand who he is.

Let this be a reminder to my peers: always keep those receipts.

Finally, WMC needs to start prioritizing diversity within the organization, but it shouldn’t be a checkmark to make yourself look good. David Gallagher awarded me this opportunity only when it suited his goals. I hope that someday, WMC engages in a legitimate process to start dismantling the oppressive systems in which it operates, but I’m done waiting around for that to happen.

There is so much more I could say about my time at WMC, but I’ll leave it here for now. I hope this is sufficient to make everyone see what this company stands for.

I trust I’ll receive a very generous severance.

Good luck and good riddance… and also, fuck off.

Sincerely,

Miss Trishara Malik