Whisper Network

Sloane tells Derek that she is planning to sue Ames and Truviv. He reminds her that they only have their fancy lifestyle because of her job, but she tells him that it’s time to come forward about Ames to set the right example for Abigail. Sloane kept her mouth shut to be General Counsel, but she cannot continue to let Ames have total control over the women in the office. Sloane cannot settle her issues with Ames out of court—to make sure they don’t just fire her, she needs to file a sexual harassment lawsuit. Derek concedes; Sloane wins almost all the fights in her marriage. She knows that this is an impulsive decision, but it is also right.

Sloane thinks that her affair with Ames will probably come out during this lawsuit, so she tells Derek that she had a relationship with Ames before they were married—she spins it as a brief bit of insanity after their engagement and argues that cheating before marriage does not really count and that she has never cheated on him post saying vows. Derek is totally torn up. Sloane has to remind herself not to “assume the role of the offended” (273) as she downplays her affair.

The chapter-ending deposition transcript reveals that Sloane’s salary is in the top 1% in the country. Ms. Sharpe asks Sloane if her harassment lawsuit had financial motivations. Sloane responds that forcing a corporation to pay money is a way to create change. When Ms. Sharpe asks whether Sloane could benefit from more money, Sloane replies that most people could benefit from more money.

At home, Grace asks Liam why she’s never been sexually harassed—or at least, not in a deeply traumatizing way—especially considering that she is prettier than other women who have been assaulted. Liam suggests that harassment is random and asks Grace if she is feeling left out; she acknowledges that she might be. Liam says that it is hard to understand the motives of perpetrators, but perhaps it has to do with targeting the weak. When Grace tells him that Sloane is not weak, Liam replies that her situation made her weak. She asks if that makes the situation Sloane’s fault; he answers that Ames simply saw an opportunity.

As Grace stays up to feed Emma Kate, Sloane texts the group chat that she is filing a public lawsuit. Grace is scared of how this decision will impact their jobs, so she calls a sorority sister to ask if women are overly sensitive. When Grace explains to her sorority sister that some women at her job are making sexual harassment complaints, the friend replies that some women, unlike themselves, need to dramatize things for attention. The friend worries about men in her life, now that a claim of sexual harassment is enough to ruin a man’s life. After hanging up, Grace wonders what she would do if someone accused Liam of harassment.

In a deposition transcript, Ms. Sharpe and Sloane argue about whether her intent was to ruin Ames’s life. When Ms. Sharpe claims that no other women have come forward with information about Ames, Sloane reminds her of the three who have. Ms. Sharpe asks what happened the day that Sloane decided to file a lawsuit. Sloane describes how Katherine told them about her relationship with Ames. 

The first-person plural narrator complains that while women just want to do their jobs, constant emails, networking, and trainings are always getting in their way—not to mention workplace harassment.

On April 6, Ardie sees two men go into Ames’s office. Two hours later, she is summoned to a meeting with HR. Ardie meets up with Sloane, who is dressed sleekly, and Grace, who has joined the lawsuit. HR officer Al Runkin tells them that a lawsuit is not necessary—the company has a hotline for harassment cases. When Ardie points out that hotlines generally make the caller report to the person they are complaining about, Al responds that at Truviv, the caller speaks to the senior manager. Grace reminds him that Ames is the senior manager. Sloane suggests that the company fire Ames. Al tells them that Ames is under a week-long investigation.

The chapter concludes with employee statements from April 14. A woman claims that other women in the office had it out for men. Al was unaware of any violence in the office—the company takes mental health seriously, so he doubts homicide.

On April 7, Sloane is at the bar drinking wine. When she woke up that morning, Derek was gone. She is worried about him finding a new, younger, and more beautiful girlfriend. A man asks to buy her another drink and when she replies that she is married, he cattily responds that he wasn’t trying to marry her—he is Cliff Colgate, a reporter for The Dallas Morning News. Cliff is writing a piece on the BAD Men List and wants to know if Sloane has a comment, since not long after Ames was added to the list, she filed a lawsuit against him. When Sloane acts surprised, Cliff reminds her that over 3,000 people have access to the list.

On April 11, Rosalita asks the foreman for a key to the supply room. He threatens to check that she does not steal anything. Crystal confides in Rosalita that the foreman asked her for a blowjob. Rosalita replies that he asks everyone that. When Crystal says that she does not like being alone in the office, Rosalita reminds her that she was alone the whole time that Crystal was gone. In the supply room, Rosalita takes some supplies for Salomon: “Rosalita was stealing, but only in the same way that the men and women who worked on these floors did for their children’s school projects. And they didn’t feel guilty, so why should she?” (300). While cleaning the 15th floor, Rosalita sees that the trash can in Ames’s office is filled with vomit.

The chapter concludes with the comment section on a Dallas Morning News article about the sexual harassment charges at Truviv. Some commenters argue that people are innocent until proven guilty, while others argue for believing women. An anonymous commenter names a different abuser at Truviv.