Thanks to her future sister-in-law Laurel's advance warning, Thea rushed to meet her client, Derek, at the provided address. She didn't even call Felicity. Although her friend was extremely trustworthy, she also had a strong sense of justice. It was best to keep her out of this situation for now.
After several twists and turns, Thea arrived at Derek's house. It wasn't large, and a few families lived nearby.
When she got there, she saw a group of people gathered at the front door, talking to those inside.
Some of the men outside had tattoos on their arms and exuded an intimidating presence. Their leader, a young man in a suit and tie, forced a smile and said,
"Mr. Derek, if you don't pay the mortgage on time, we'll have no choice but to take legal action… I assume you don't want that to happen."
The people inside the house remained silent, forming a human barrier to prevent the group from entering. Meanwhile, several neighbors opened their doors in support.
"We're with you, Mr. Derek!"
"Hang in there! We'll find a solution soon."
The debt collector smirked and pointed at Derek.
"You have three more days. If you don't vacate the house by then, Mr. Frank Portinal will not be pleased."
He glanced around, and several neighbors who had made eye contact quickly lowered their heads. Satisfied, he turned and left with his men.
The situation was serious. Frank Portinal was a businessman in the construction industry, but behind the scenes, he was known for his ties to organized crime. His name alone was enough to instill fear in the city.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Thea took the opportunity to approach the door.
"Mr. Derek Leston, may I speak with you?"
The middle-aged man was deep in thought, worried about how he would come up with the money. When he saw Thea, his first instinct was to assume she was another debt collector. But he quickly realized that wasn't the case.
"What do you want?" he asked in a serious tone.
Thea, dressed in professional attire and wearing glasses to appear older, got straight to the point and handed him a business card.
"Thea Queen? From Queen Group? Why are you here?"
Derek's tone shifted from confusion to suspicion.
"Would you rather we talk here, or should we find a more private place?"
Noticing that some neighbors were still watching from a distance, Derek hesitated. He knew word had already spread about his intention to sue the Queen Group. If Thea had come in person, she was likely there to negotiate. Some matters were best discussed in private.
"Come with me."
He led Thea to an outdoor café, where they sat under an umbrella.
"You may speak, Ms. Queen."
"I reviewed the group's report and acknowledge that some of our decisions were unfair. For that, I sincerely apologize."
She couldn't reveal that she had gotten this information from Laurel. Whether Derek believed her or not was another matter.
"The group is prepared to reassign you to a new position within three days. If you want to continue as a foreman, that can be arranged, but you'll have to relocate. As you know, there are hardly any factories left in Star City."
Thea wanted to resolve the issue quickly. Given the support Derek had received from his neighbors, it was clear he was a respected figure among the workers. If he started a movement, the Queen Group would be in serious trouble.
"If you don't want to continue working, we can reissue your severance pay and pension. Regardless of your choice, there will also be additional compensation as a gesture of apology from the group. Do you have any questions?"
Derek lowered his head in thought. Should he accept a new job or take the severance package? Accepting the money would mean dropping the case entirely.
But he wasn't just thinking about himself. Looking at Thea, he asked,
"Does this agreement apply only to me, or to all the other affected workers?"
When she heard this, Thea realized Derek was practical. If there was a chance for everyone to get their jobs back, he wouldn't leave his colleagues behind. The problem was that ensuring opportunities for 1,500 workers wouldn't be easy.
She smiled, concealing her concern.
"It applies to everyone. If you're truly invested in this, you'll receive an update in the coming days."
Derek immediately agreed, praising the Queen Group's approach and expressing his willingness to cooperate.
Thea nodded, thanked him, and left the café. No accusations had been mentioned, but the issue was far from resolved.
Back at Queen Group headquarters, Thea paused in front of the CEO's office, gathering her thoughts before entering. She knew her mother and Walter might be in a private conversation, so she waited a moment before knocking.
As she stepped inside, she noticed the smile on Walter's face. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, she knew the matter was serious.
Without wasting time, she recounted everything that had happened.
When Moira heard about the potential lawsuit against the Queen Group, she tensed. But when she learned it involved 1,500 people, she hesitated.
Handling one or two cases was easy. But fifteen hundred workers? That required a well-thought-out strategy. Any misstep could trigger a scandal, damaging both the company and Moira's political career.
Thea knew she had to find a fair solution. Solving Derek's case today was one thing, but what if others followed?
Besides, her mother needed tangible achievements to strengthen her campaign. Creating jobs could win her crucial voter support.
Thea took a deep breath. This was a massive challenge. But one thing was clear—she couldn't ignore it.