But to his subordinates, he was a ghost in the machine. He used a technique called "gaslighting by proxy." He would give conflicting instructions to two rising stars, then sit back and watch them destroy each other’s reputations in a desperate bid to please him.
Julian didn't fire her. That would be too loud. Instead, he: Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work
Julian arrived at Sterling & Croft during a merger. While the rest of the executive team was drowning in spreadsheets, Julian was studying the people. He identified the "Empaths"—the hard workers who craved validation—and the "Pawn"—the ambitious but insecure middle managers. He didn't climb the ladder; he dismantled it behind him. But to his subordinates, he was a ghost in the machine
By the time Sarah realized she was being hunted, the board had already signed her severance package. Julian took her office by noon. The Aftermath That would be too loud
The corner office on the 42nd floor didn’t smell like success; it smelled like expensive sandalwood and ozone. Julian Vane sat behind a desk carved from a single slab of obsidian, his hands folded with a stillness that felt predatory.