บท 53: The Dirty Linen

Drake's plan had worked well; he had leveled up, and Zack White hadn't been able to offer a tribute or access the system. He should have been at peace now, as piece by piece, all sources of his torment were being eliminated. However, a lingering unease gnawed at him.

"Why do I still feel anxious?" he wondered, gazing at the pile of documents on his desk.

"Is something the matter?" Marianne inquired, standing before Drake's table, patiently awaiting his response. "Is there anything you'd like me to review again?"

"No, it's fine," Drake said, snapping out of his unwarranted worries. He resumed signing the papers after a quick skim. To his surprise, he discovered a full list of applicants under Linda Chwe's recommendations.

"What is this?" he asked.

"The HR department sent that. They wanted to know if you were familiar with these applicants claiming that you endorsed them based on Linda Chwe's recommendations. She's your mother, isn't she?" Marianne explained.