We document who's complicit, who's actively harmful, and who's trapped. Then we make distinctions. Three categories, Emily said, thinking out loud. People who created the toxic culture and need to go.

People who participated but might be salvageable with better leadership. And people who were victims of it. That's good. That's really good.

Ryan wrote faster. We'll need to be thorough. Can't make assumptions based on position alone. Right.

Some entry-level staff might be just as cruel as management, and some managers might be trying to protect their teams. They worked for another hour mapping out the investigation strategy. Emily filled pages with notes, questions, observations. It felt surreal.

She'd been unemployed 36 hours ago, and now she was planning an undercover operation at a luxury hotel. Around 2 p.m., someone knocked on the conference room door. Sandra poked her head in. Sorry to interrupt, but Sophie's nanny called.

She wants to know if you'll be home for dinner. Ryan checked his watch, cursed softly. Tell her yes. 6:30.

Sandra nodded and disappeared. Emily watched him, curious. Sophie's your daughter? Yeah, she's 5.

His whole face changed when he said her name, softening into something unguarded. She's the reason I'm doing this. Honestly, I don't want her growing up thinking the way I've run this company is normal. Don't want her to see people as transactions.

Does she know what you do? She knows daddy owns hotels. She doesn't really understand what that means. Ryan smiled.

She asked me once why I had to go to work if I already owned the building. Couldn't I just play there instead? Smart kid. Too smart.

She sees through everything. He paused. You should meet her sometime. She'd like you.

The casual way he said it made Emily's stomach flip. This was getting weird. Good. Weird, maybe, but weird.

She was supposed to be an employee, a consultant, not someone who met the boss's daughter. Maybe, she said non-committally. Ryan seemed to realize what he'd said because he cleared his throat and went back to the whiteboard. Right.

Anyway, we should finalize your cover story. Your They spent another hour building Emily's fake identity. Madison Cole, independent hospitality consultant from Portland, representing a private equity firm looking to acquire luxury properties in the Pacific Northwest. Reputation for being demanding but fair with a particular interest in service culture and employee satisfaction.

That last part is important, Ryan said. It gives you an excuse to ask staff about their experience without seeming weird. Won't Victor be suspicious? Victor will be too busy trying to impress you to be suspicious.

Men like him see wealthy women as either conquests or challenges. Either way, he'll want to prove how competent he is. Emily made a face. Great.

You'll need appropriate clothing, credit card with a high limit, documentation about Madison Cole's background in case anyone checks. This is very elaborate for hotel reconnaissance. You'd be surprised how thorough people are when there's money involved. We need the cover to be airtight.

Ryan pulled out his phone, texted someone. I'm having Sandra set you up with a personal shopper. You'll need business clothes, evening wear, luggage. Everything has to look expensive.

I don't need Yes, you do. You're playing a role. The costume matters. Emily thought about arguing, but realized he was right.

Madison Cole wouldn't show up at the Grand Meridian with the Target suitcase and off-brand blazers. Okay, she said. When do I check in? Friday.

That gives us 3 days to prep. You'll stay the weekend, really get a feel for the place. Different shifts, different staff, different guest experiences, and you'll be nowhere near you. Can't risk anyone connecting us."

Ryan's expression was serious. Once you check in as Madison Cole, we can't have direct contact. Everything goes through Sandra via encrypted messages. No calls, no texts from my personal number.

Nothing that could blow your cover. The reality of it hit Emily. and she was going to walk back into the Grand Meridian, the place that had humiliated her and fired her 3 days ago, as a completely different person. She'd sit in the restaurant where she used to serve drinks. She'd walk past Victor Hail, the man who' destroyed her, and he wouldn't even recognize her.

The thought was terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure. "What if someone recognizes me?" she asked. "They won't. You'll have professional hair and makeup, expensive clothes, completely different body language.

People see what they expect to see. They expect a waitress to look and act like a waitress. Madison Cole will be nothing like Emily Carter. I'm not sure I can pull this off.

Yes, you can. You stood up to Victor when you had everything to lose. This is easy compared to that. Emily wasn't sure she agreed, but she nodded anyway.

Sandra appeared again around 4:00 with a schedule. Personal shopper appointment tomorrow at 9:00, followed by media training at noon. Apparently, Madison Cole needed to know how to handle herself in professional settings. Then dinner with Ryan and his legal team to finalize the documentation.

Media training? Emily asked. How to talk to people with money and power without looking intimidated? Sandra explained.

Posture, vocabulary, confidence. It's basically acting lessons for rich people. I feel like I'm in a spy movie. It's honestly not that different from what we do every day in corporate America.