I did regret it.

I did regret it.

Not the sex. Not the way she’d looked at me while she rode me in that chair, or the way she’d trusted me enough to record it in the first place. I didn’t regret any of that.

But I regretted the part where forty-seven strangers had seen it. And I regretted it even more when my phone rang at 7:42 a.m. on Monday morning.

I was still in bed, half-asleep, when HR called. I didn’t even make it to the warehouse.

“Tom, it’s Sarah from People & Culture. We’ve had an allegation come through regarding content that was shared online over the weekend. It appears to involve you in a manner that may breach the company’s social media and conduct policies. Until we complete an initial investigation, we’re asking you not to attend work. You’ll remain on full pay while we look into this. We’ll be in touch within the next forty-eight hours.”

I sat on the edge of the bed in my underwear, staring at the wall while she spoke. My stomach had dropped somewhere around my knees.

When the call ended, I just sat there for a long minute, phone still in my hand.

The stream had reached my workplace.

Someone had recognised me. Or recognised us. Or recognised the situation. And now my job — the one steady thing I had while I tried to save for a deposit — was under threat because I’d let myself get caught up in something that was never supposed to be public.

I texted Veronica before I even got dressed.

Tom: HR just called. They’re investigating me over the weekend stream. Told me not to come in.

Tom: Someone at work saw it. Or heard about it.

She replied almost immediately.

Veronica: Fuck. I’m so sorry.

Veronica: It came up on my stream last night too. People were talking about it. A lot of the ones who missed the original stream now know what happened.

Veronica: No one’s reported me to mods though. And I haven’t seen any recordings floating around. Small mercies.

Veronica: Are you okay?

I didn’t know how to answer that.

I was still sitting there trying to figure it out when the group chat with the boys started blowing up.

Mick: Lmao did you guys see what happened on that streamer chick’s stream this weekend??

Mick: The one with the massive tits who does the chill streams

Mick: Apparently she got railed live on accident and half the chat lost their minds

My stomach twisted.

I knew exactly who he was talking about before he even dropped the name.

Dave: Wait which one

Mick: Veronica something? The short curvy one. Nerdy gamer girl.

Mick: My mate who’s subbed to her was losing it in another group chat. Said it was the best accidental content he’s ever seen

I stared at the messages.

One of my mates watched her.

Not just casually. Enough to be in other chats talking about her. Enough to know her name and what she looked like and that she’d apparently been “railed live.”

And now they were joking about it in our group chat.

Jay: Send the link if there’s a clip lmao

Mick: Nah it got taken down pretty quick but people are still talking about it

Mick: Apparently the guy was some tall dude and she was riding him in the chair

Mick: Chat was going feral

I felt sick.

They didn’t know it was me. Not yet. But they were sitting there laughing about the most intimate, **** thing Veronica and I had ever done together like it was just another funny internet story.

My phone buzzed again. This time it was Veronica.

Veronica: My regulars are being surprisingly chill about it. A few of them tipped during the accidental stream apparently.

Veronica: But some of the people who only heard about it second-hand are being gross in chat.

Veronica: You still there?

I typed back with numb fingers.

Tom: Yeah.

Tom: One of my mates just started joking about it in the group chat. He watches your stream. Didn’t see it live but heard about it.

Tom: They don’t know it was me yet.

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

Veronica: Shit.

Veronica: I’m really sorry, Tom. This is my fault. I should’ve double-checked the settings.

Veronica: Do you want me to come over? Or do you need space?

I looked around my room. The same room I’d been grinding in for months while trying to save money. The same room that now felt smaller because my job was on the line and my mates were unknowingly taking the piss about the best thing that had happened to me in years.

I didn’t know what I needed.

But I knew I didn’t want to do this alone.

Tom: Come over if you can.

Tom: I don’t want to be by myself right now.

She replied almost instantly.

Veronica: On my way.

I put the phone down and stared at the wall again.

Monday had arrived exactly like it always did.

Except now everything felt like it was unravelling at once.