Chapter 5 " Come on , Marlene , just let us check . If you didn't take anything , you've got nothing to hide . Or ... are you scared because you're hiding something ? " one man drawled . " Yeah , Marlene , no need to be shy , " another chimed in , his tone laced with crude amusement . " It's not like your body's some secret . We've all the footage before , haven't we ? " seen A chorus of snickers erupted around the room , sharp and mean, each sound stabbing into Marlene's chest . Across from her , Kenyon merely frowned , as if this were a trivial inconvenience rather than her humiliation . " Marlene , " he said slowly , " I trust you wouldn't betray the company . But right now , we need to shut down the gossip and suspicion . You must understand . " Tears welled in Marlene's eyes , her lower lip trembling as she fought to keep her voice steady . " Fine , " she whispered , her voice quaking . " I'll do it . " Under the weight of their stares , Marlene began to undress , peeling off her clothes one by one . The room's eyes slithered over her like cold , venomous snakes . Humiliation seeped into every pore , a suffocating tide she couldn't escape . Marlene stood there , stripped down to her bra and panties . She clutched herself tightly as she forced back the tears threatening to 10.00 % 08 241 Chapter S spill . " Is this enough ? " she asked , her voice barely above a whisper . " Not quite , " one of the men jeered , his tone more taunting than suspicious . " You could still be hiding something under there . " Kenyon's voice cut through , cold and final . " Keep going . " Marlene's jaw clenched , her fingers trembling as they reached for the clasp of her bra . Just then , the door burst open with a frantic knock . A colleague rushed in . " Mr. Burt , we found the flash drive ! It wasn't stolen . It just slipped behind the projector screen ! " Marlene barely registered how she picked up her scattered clothes from the floor . Her hands shook violently , her stomach churning with a sickening urge to retch . As she stumbled out of the office , whispers trailed behind her , sharp and insidious . " So that was really Marlene in the video , " someone muttered . " Didn't peg her for the type . But damn , that body is something else . " " Talk about shameless , " another voice scoffed . " If I'd been exposed like that in front of everyone , I'd rather die . " " Wonder how much she charges for a night , " a third added , snickering . " Bet a used - up thing like her isn't worth much . " Kenyon approached , grabbing her wrist . " Marlene , you know I didn't have a choice , " he said , his tone almost casual . " With everyone watching ... " 34.80 % 08 24 Chapter 5 Marlene yanked her arm free , her eyes blazing , brimming with tears that felt like they could burn . " You're heartless , Kenyon . " As she turned away , the tears finally broke free , streaming down her face . It had taken her five years to see him for what he truly was . Now she felt Kenyon had never been the hero she'd painted him to be . She'd been the one to drape him in a halo of false virtue , blinded by her own devotion . She thought back to the year she graduated from college . Her father had fallen gravely ill , and medical bills loomed like a guillotine . When she was desperate , Kenyon had swooped in . Without hesitation , he'd wired her 80 thousand dollars . Back then , she'd seen him as a savior , generous and kind . Because of that , Marlene had let herself believe she could be the one to matter to him , to be his exception . What a fool she'd been . Marlene wiped her tears away with a fierce swipe of her hand . She only had one week left at this company . Once the resignation paperwork was done , she would never have to see Kenyon again . 70,72 %