After My Employee Exposed Me on TikTok

Chloe Miller, the new intern at my company, posted a tearful TikTok video accusing me of rejecting her request for a three-week honeymoon in Bali.

"Don't we all work hard to build the life we dream of? And now, my dream is being crushed by cold-blooded, out-of-touch elites like you!"

"You won't even approve my time off for my honeymoon. Am I just a work machine to you? Am I not a living, breathing person?!"

"I can't believe I was ever naive enough to believe in you, Sloane Hayes! You talked a big game about building an ethical, socially responsible fashion brand, but now your true colors are showing. You're nothing but a demon boss!"

The video went viral almost instantly, with countless young people rallying behind her, convinced of her plight.

They launched a coordinated online attack, doxxing me and sending death threats.

As the CEO, I decided not to hide. I went live to confront her head-on.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot approve Chloe Miller's leave request."

"She is free to resign, or she can file a complaint with the appropriate authorities. That is her right. But I will not compromise on her leave request."

My firm stance sent the livestream viewership skyrocketing.

Among Chloe's supporters, some who claimed to be lawyers offered to represent her pro bono.

But Chloe played the victim, putting on a troubled and vulnerable act for the camera.

"I just want to go on my honeymoon. I never wanted to quit, and I definitely never thought about suing Sloane..."

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Her damsel-in-distress act immediately won over the comment section.

"Oh my God! Look what you've done to her!"

"That poor girl! She looks terrified!"

"Sloane Hayes, you monster! You're driving your intern insane!"

"To all the lawyers in the chat! Help her! Sue this monster until she's bankrupt! She's a tyrant abusing her power!"

"She's just jealous! A bitter career-obsessed woman who can't get married, so she can't stand to see anyone else happy!"

And just like that, the narrative was set: I was the "abusive boss driving her intern to a breakdown."

I remained off-camera, choosing not to immediately refute the claims.

My assistant, Grace Young, and a few other employees couldn't take it anymore.

"That's not what happened!"

"But Chloe herself..."

"Sloane is always so fair about our paid time off, this isn't right..."

Their hushed protests were all picked up by the microphone.

The livestream chat immediately erupted.

"Did you hear that? She's threatening her other employees now!"

"Those women defending her are all in on it!"

"My God, that company is terrifying! It's a snake pit!"

"They've all been brainwashed by her! They're still defending that monster!"

"What is this, some kind of corporate cult?"

My personal phone buzzed wildly on the table.

The name "Mr. Arthur Caldwell"—my lead investor—flashed across the screen.

I ignored it.

I stared into the camera, watching the deluge of insults flood the internet.

Calling me "inhuman."

Calling me a "demon boss."

A "psychopath."

Someone was already trying to dig up my home address.

In front of tens of millions of viewers, I ended the stream.

The screen went black.

The livestream was a disaster. Chloe Miller had won the sympathy of the entire internet.

And I was now "the jealous, manipulative demon boss who mentally abuses her entire company."

The day after the livestream, I had just arrived at the office.

The Director of Operations rushed in, his face pale.

"Sloane, we have a major problem."

"Our brand, Aura, has had its new collection pulled by major retailers—Nordstrom, Revolve, online and in-store."

"The reason they gave was 'serious concerns about our corporate image,' and they're suspending sales pending an internal review."

"All our partner influencers have sent emails unilaterally terminating their contracts, and they're demanding we pay for breach of contract."

We were on the verge of collapse.

Before the words had even left his mouth, the office door was thrown open.

My investor, Mr. Arthur Caldwell, burst in, flanked by two lawyers. His face was ashen, his fury barely contained.

He slammed a file onto my desk.

"Sloane Hayes!"

His voice was ice-cold, the rage within it palpable.

"You dared to hang up on me yesterday?!"

"Are you insane!"

"Over one intern! Are you trying to drag us all down with you?!"

Before I could speak, my Chief Operating Officer, Rachel Bennett, stepped forward.

"Mr. Caldwell, please calm down!"

"Sloane is the most principled person I've ever met. She must have her reasons for doing this!"

Mr. Arthur Caldwell let out a bitter laugh. "Rachel! You want to go down with this ship, too?"

"What has she promised you? Why are you all defending her?!"

Rachel ignored him.

She took out her own phone.

In front of Mr. Arthur Caldwell, she logged into her personal, verified LinkedIn account and made a post.

"I'll stake my professional reputation on this: Sloane is the best boss. She is absolutely not the person the internet is making her out to be!"

Grace, my assistant who had spoken up during the livestream, and a few other employees from the design and marketing departments all began commenting under the post with their real names.

"Our company has the best work environment in the entire industry. There is absolutely no bullying!"

"Sloane is wonderful to every single one of us!"

"We support Sloane!"

The post and its comments quickly started trending.