The Coworker

Freida McFadden

57 pages 1-hour read

Freida McFadden

The Coworker

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Natalie is a 30-year-old top salesperson at the nutritional supplement company Vixed. Glamorous and popular, she prides herself on her ability to charm clients and coworkers alike. Despite her carefully cultivated outward appearance and active social life, her professional boundaries are often blurred. She becomes the center of a police investigation when her strange coworker suddenly goes missing.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Caleb McCullough

Former Romantic Partner of Seth Hoffman

Best Friend of Kim Healey

Coworker of Dawn Schiff

Former Classmate of Mia (Amelia) Hodge

Investigated by Detective Santoro

High School Friend of Tara Wilkes

Salesperson of Zelda Morris

Dawn is a highly punctual, socially awkward accountant at Vixed who suddenly vanishes. Known for her rigid schedule, monochromatic meals, and intense obsession with turtles, she struggles to fit into the conventional office culture. Her past emails reveal her earnest but often unsuccessful attempts to connect with her colleagues. She finds comfort in routine and predictability, making her sudden absence highly suspicious.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Natalie Farrell

Employee of Seth Hoffman

Childhood Best Friend of Mia (Amelia) Hodge

Daughter of Rhonda Schiff

Coworker of Kim Healey

Investigated by Detective Santoro

Caleb is a newly hired part-time website specialist at Vixed and Natalie's current boyfriend. They have been dating for two months, and he presents himself as a devoted, respectful partner. His presence provides Natalie with a sense of stability. He is quickly pulled into the stress and police questioning surrounding the disappearance of their coworker.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Natalie Farrell

Coworker of Dawn Schiff

Employee of Seth Hoffman

Questioned by Detective Santoro

Coworker of Kim Healey

Website Manager for Zelda Morris

Seth is the branch manager at Vixed, overseeing the sales and accounting staff. He is casually authoritative but often allows his personal preferences to dictate his management style. He explicitly favors top earners like Natalie. His leadership is tested as the company comes under police investigation, bringing unwanted attention to both his professional decisions and his private life.

Key Relationships

Former Romantic Partner of Natalie Farrell

Employer of Dawn Schiff

Husband of Melinda Hoffman

Employer of Caleb McCullough

Employer of Kim Healey

Questioned by Detective Santoro

Supporting Characters

Mia is Dawn's childhood best friend and the primary recipient of her lengthy emails. Having grown up with cerebral palsy, she formed a tight bond with Dawn during their early school years. The two relied on each other for support against unkind classmates. Though not physically present in the current office timeline, she serves as Dawn's sole confidant and a sympathetic ear for her workplace struggles.

Key Relationships

Childhood Best Friend of Dawn Schiff

Former Classmate of Natalie Farrell

Detective Santoro is the lead investigator assigned to Dawn Schiff's sudden disappearance. Methodical and observant, he is unswayed by the polished appearances of the Vixed staff. His personal history of being targeted in school makes him highly sensitive to workplace dynamics, driving his determination to uncover the truth.

Key Relationships

Investigator of Natalie Farrell

Investigator of Dawn Schiff

Investigator of Seth Hoffman

Investigator of Caleb McCullough

Kim is a salesperson at Vixed and Natalie's closest workplace friend. Recently married and eager to maintain her social standing, she frequently engages in office gossip. She actively participates in the exclusion of less popular colleagues, though her alliance with Natalie is underscored by quiet competitiveness.

Key Relationships

Friend and Coworker of Natalie Farrell

Coworker of Dawn Schiff

Employee of Seth Hoffman

Coworker of Caleb McCullough

Melinda is Seth Hoffman's estranged wife. Her marriage has been strained by infidelity, leading her to issue threats to those she believes are involved with her husband. Her presence looms over the office as a source of tension for the Vixed staff.

Key Relationships

Estranged Wife of Seth Hoffman

Antagonist of Natalie Farrell

Rhonda is Dawn's mother, a highly critical woman who has always struggled to accept her daughter's social differences. Rather than offering emotional support, she frequently demands financial assistance and critiques Dawn's inability to conform to mainstream expectations.

Key Relationships

Mother of Dawn Schiff

Tara is a former high school friend of Natalie's. She was part of Natalie's popular social circle during their teenage years, sharing in the group's collective behaviors and attitudes toward their classmates.

Key Relationships

High School Friend of Natalie Farrell

Zelda is a customer who purchases the nutritional supplement Collahealth from Natalie. She experiences severe, debilitating side effects from the product and threatens legal action, highlighting the questionable ethics of Vixed's business practices.

Key Relationships