The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 682

The crowd gasped at the sight of the injuries, and their collective shock quickly morphed into a more ferocious roar. Someone grabbed a piece of wood and smashed it against the glass door. With a sickening crunch, the entire entrance of the Sloan Group headquarters shuddered.

Dora’s breath caught in her throat. This wasn't just a protest over wages; it was turning into a riot. If this continued, someone was going to get seriously hurt.

“Dora!” The receptionist looked at her as if she were a savior. “They say they want to see the chairman, or they’ll smash their way in!”

Seeing the chairman wasn't that simple, especially since Hackett was still in a critical meeting. Forcing herself to remain calm, Dora asked, “Have you called the police?”

“We did! But they said it’ll be at least twenty minutes before they can get here!”

Dora took a deep breath and strode towards the entrance.

The head of security, his forehead beaded with sweat, tried to stop her. “Dora! Don’t go any closer! It’s too dangerous!”

Dora shook her head. “Someone has to talk to them.”

She stood before the fractured glass door and raised her voice. “Gentlemen, please! I ask you to calm down! We can discuss this and find a solution.”

She tried to project authority. “My name is Dora Lawson, I’m the chairman’s executive secretary! If you have a grievance, you can send in a representative to talk with us! Anger won’t solve anything!”

The crowd quieted for a moment, only to erupt with even greater fury. “Don’t listen to her! She’s just a secretary, what power does she have?”

Dora had come straight here after the call, so she didn't have any more details. Hackett’s temples throbbed. Protesting laborers were a sensitive issue, and if this wasn’t handled perfectly, the company’s stock would plummet.

After listening to Dora’s account, Josiah Sloan reacted swiftly. He walked to the window and looked down. In front of the main entrance, a dark mass of people held up banners, their blood-red lettering a jarring sight: [SLOAN GROUP: INJURY AND INJUSTICE!] and [PAY OUR WAGES, FACE THE LAW!] The crowd was seething, the scene a chaotic mess.

Josiah observed them for a moment and noticed a few inconspicuous men who seemed to be deliberately stirring up the emotions of those around them, making the workers increasingly agitated.

His eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary wage dispute.

He turned to his father. “Dad, we can’t just let this drag on. I’ll go down and handle it.”