Chapter 420
Dominic's fingers trembled as beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead.
The glowing monitor screen reflected in his wide, unblinking eyes.
He never anticipated Evelyn would play such a masterstroke. That Sophia possessed the research records was equally shocking.
"This isn't over yet!"
Dominic shoved his chair back with such force it nearly toppled over.
A memory surfaced - during their previous lawsuit against Evelyn, he'd ordered Vanessa to recreate a set of research notes.
Those forged documents could now become his lifeline.
After frantically ransacking his office, he unearthed the counterfeit notebook from the depths of a filing cabinet.
He slammed it onto the desk, reaching for his phone to photograph the pages when realization struck like lightning.
A crucial detail came rushing back.
When Evelyn left Phoenix Labs, she'd deliberately planted errors in the research data.
Not obvious mistakes, but subtle inconsistencies that Vanessa had unknowingly replicated in her forgery.
If he published these notes now, the internet sleuths would undoubtedly uncover the discrepancies.
The backlash would be catastrophic.
Dominic ran shaking fingers through his hair, desperately searching for an angle.
His screen flashed with relentless notifications - his inbox overflowing with vitriolic messages.
He didn't need to read them to know their contents.
Condemnation. Ridicule. Threats.
The weight of public opinion pressed down like an invisible vise around his throat.
Ironically, all this fury existed in the digital realm.
A simple power button could make it all disappear.
Yet the psychological torment remained, inescapable and suffocating.
He understood better than most the terrifying power of modern cancel culture.
It could make careers... or destroy them overnight.
The mounting product return requests and boycott threats signaled impending disaster.
Drawing a shaky breath, Dominic resolved to try one last gambit.
He vaguely recalled Evelyn's masterful handling of her own scandal - a single, defiant post claiming innocence with effortless cool.
That nonchalant response had not only silenced critics but gained her legions of new admirers.
Dominic would attempt the same strategy.
Instead of disabling comments or blocking critics, he reposted Sophia's damning evidence with a single bold caption:
"I stand by my work. The truth will prevail."
His fingers hovered over the keyboard before pulling back.
Next, he speed-dialed the customer service director.
"Establish a dedicated returns hotline," he ordered, voice steadier than he felt. "Process refunds in chronological order - slow but deliberate. Approve some immediately to show good faith."
The manager protested, "Mr. Reeves, half these requests are from people who've already used the products! This is clearly malicious-"
"Doesn't matter," Dominic cut in. "Emphasize our commitment to customer satisfaction. Make them wait, but make them feel heard."
After issuing similar instructions to PR, Dominic strode to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
A fierce wind howled outside, its chill penetrating the glass.
This was his final gamble - betting on public sympathy, on the fickle nature of internet outrage.
'Evelyn,' he thought grimly, 'let's see whose luck holds out this time.'
The city lights blurred as night fell, mirroring the uncertainty in his stormy gaze.