Becky nods, her curiosity piqued. “Thank you for that explanation. Could you give a breakdown of your role in relation to signatures?”Elle nods, her expression serious. “My job is to get every important communication made by the CEO and the managing director,” she begins, her tone steady. “Part of my job is basically to ensure that signatures are not falsified, thereby preventing fraud,” she explains, her voice confident as she lays down the intricacies of her role. “As you can imagine, signatures are a critical component of our operations. I meticulously verify each one, ensuring that every document is authentic and that the integrity of our communications is upheld”.“This process not only protects the organization but also fosters trust among our stakeholders,” Elle adds, her passion for her work evident as she delves deeper into the importance of her responsibilities.“Thank you, Elle. Your honour, I’d like to provide another set of evidence regarding this case. May I approach
“If you look closely at the evidence provided by Miss Alice’s lawyer, a few glaring discrepancies stand out. You’ll notice that there is no payment instruction attached to the contract, which is a crucial component in our standard procedure”.“This omission raises immediate red flags regarding the legitimacy of the agreement. Furthermore, if you examine the contract evidence they submitted, you’ll see that there are only two signatures present. One is from the homeowner or agent, which is expected, but the other is the falsified signature of Mrs. Lara”. “Which is funny because the contract evidence provided by Miss Alice's lawyer does not even include Miss Alice's signature. This is quite peculiar; after all, a contract should at least bear the signature of the person to whom it pertains”. “It’s almost as if they expect us to overlook this glaring omission, which raises serious questions about the validity of the entire agreement”. “From the evidence I have provided, I can confiden
Rick, visibly taken aback, hesitates for a moment, the defiance in his posture wavering as he processes her words. He finally lowers himself back into his seat, the chair creaking under the sudden shift, and the judge’s piercing gaze remains fixed on him, ensuring her command is respected.His face clearly shows his dissatisfaction with the outcome of his interruption, the tension in his jaw and the slight furrow of his brow betraying his frustration. However, he chooses to remain silent, the weight of the judge's warning hanging over him like a dark cloud, making him acutely aware that she might just follow through on her threat.“Please continue, Miss Elle,” the judge says, leaning back against her chair, her demeanor shifting slightly as she prepares to listen. Elle nods appreciatively, her confidence bolstered by the judge’s attention. “Thank you, your honor. As I mentioned earlier, there are notable differences in the signatures”. “Mrs. Lara’s signature consistently features he
“Miss Rita, please answer the question. Kindly remind the court of your relationship with Mrs. Lara,” she states, her tone constrained.“Oh, sorry,” Rita replies, her voice coming out a bit too loud as she snaps out of her thoughts, a flush creeping up her cheeks. The momentary lapse in focus seems to resonate in the hushed silence of the room, and she takes a deep breath to steady herself. “I’m currently the personal assistant of Mrs. Lara Rique at SignaBook,” she says, putting on a smile that feels slightly forced, as if she’s trying to ease the tension that has settled heavily around her. Becky nods, her expression serious yet encouraging, “And could you tell us the basis of your employment, as we all understand that Miss Alice was the former personal assistant?” Her question hangs in the air, prompting Rita to gather her thoughts. The mention of Alice’s name seems to evoke a flicker of hesitation in Rita’s eyes, but she quickly regains her composure. Rita nods, her gaze traveli
Becky shrugs, a wide smile spreading across her face, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Why don’t you tell me about the personal relationship you have with Miss Alice?” she prompts, her tone edged with seriousness. “And remember, only the truth is tolerated at this stand,” she adds, leaning in slightly as if to emphasize the weight of her words. The atmosphere shifts, the air charged with anticipation. Becky’s smile, though bright, carries an undercurrent of challenge, inviting Rita to step out of the shadows of ambiguity and into the light of honesty. Rita turns her head to face Alice, her expression a mix of uncertainty and concern, but Becky doesn’t stand for it. She immediately corrects Rita, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Please face me. I’m the one asking the questions here, not Miss Alice,” she instructs, her tone firm and unwavering, a clear signal that she means business. Rita hesitates, her brow furrowing slightly as she processes the command. Slowl
“The next person I would like to call to the stand is Miss Kelly,” Becky states, her voice steady and authoritative as she folds her hands behind her back, exuding an air of calm confidence. She stands tall, patiently waiting for Kelly to make her way to the stand, her eyes scanning the room as she prepares for the next phase of the proceedings.Kelly walks briskly, her pace almost too quick for the moment. In her haste, she miscalculates her steps and nearly stumbles, a look of panic flashing across her face. Just in time, Becky’s quick reflexes kick in, and she reaches out, grabbing Kelly by the elbow to steady her. The tension in the room dissipates slightly as Kelly regains her balance, a sheepish smile replacing her earlier anxiety.“Be careful,” she says, her voice ringing out clear enough for the court to hear, yet soft enough to convey genuine concern without appearing overly dramatic. Kelly meets her gaze, nodding appreciatively, “Thank you,” she replies, her tone a blend
Becky watches as Kelly takes a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing just a bit. “Alright, Miss Kelly, please explain to the courtroom the hiring process for Miss Rita,” Becky requests, moving slightly closer to Kelly.Kelly nods, gathering her thoughts before she begins her narration. “Miss Rita was recommended to me by Miss Alice,” she states, her voice steady but soft, pausing momentarily as she scans the courtroom, taking in the faces of the jurors and the judge, each one a reminder of the importance of her words. “After Miss Alice was promoted and a new personal assistant was required, Miss Alice came to me saying she knew someone who was the perfect fit for the job”. Kelly continues, her voice gaining strength as she recalls the moment. “I remember feeling a wave of relief wash over me because we already had other types of hiring to do, and the last thing I wanted was to add another lengthy recruitment process to my plate”.“So, when she mentioned Miss Rita, I felt a spark of ho
Becky nods thoughtfully, her brow furrowing slightly as she processes the information. “Thank you for that clarification. Please tell the court the usual recruitment process for all staff and kindly highlight the specific steps that were not performed for Miss Rita,” she inquires, her tone steady and professional.Kelly takes a moment to gather her thoughts, her expression serious. “The recruitment process entails three main sections: the interviews section, the documents section, and the background check section. Let me break it down for clarity,” she states, her voice firm as she begins to elaborate. “First, we conduct interviews to assess the candidate's qualifications and fit for the role. This involves a series of questions designed to gauge their skills and experiences. Next, we have the documents section, where we require essential paperwork, such as identification and proof of qualifications, to ensure that everything is in order.”She pauses, making eye contact with Becky to
It was a crisp Saturday morning when Clark and I decided to escape the city for a while. The sun was just starting to rise, casting a golden hue over everything, and I could feel the excitement bubbling inside me. "Are you ready for our adventure?" I asked, glancing over at Clark as he adjusted his backpack. "Absolutely! I've been looking forward to this all week," he replied, a wide grin spreading across his face. His enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile back. We hopped into the car, the engine humming to life as we set off toward the countryside. As we drove, I watched the scenery change from the bustling streets of Lagos to the serene landscapes outside the city. "Look at that view, Lara!" Clark exclaimed, pointing towards a sprawling field dotted with wildflowers. I turned my head just in time to see a burst of color against the green backdrop. "It's beautiful," I said, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. "We should stop and take some pictures." Clark pu
As we dig into the meal, the aroma of the food fills the air, wrapping around us like a comforting blanket. The table is adorned with a colorful spread—fresh fruits glistening in the sunlight, a platter of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and golden-brown toast, all meticulously arranged to create a feast for the senses. I watch as he takes his first bite, his eyes lighting up in delight. “This is incredible,” he exclaims, savoring each mouthful as though it’s the best thing he’s ever tasted. I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm; it’s moments like these that remind me of the joy of sharing a meal with someone special.We fall into a comfortable rhythm, the clinking of cutlery and the soft sounds of chewing filling the space between us. I take a moment to observe him, the way he enjoys his food, the little quirks that make him uniquely him. There’s something so endearing about the way he closes his eyes for a brief second as he savors the flavors, as if he’s trying to capture the mome
I smile, nestling deeper into his embrace, “what’s done is done, there’s nothing we can do about it now. And it’s not like you can fire her after all you went through to hire her” I say, sympathetically.He shakes his head, “right now, I’m thinking very much of firing her. She can’t go scot free with that sort of behaviour”. I smile, “no let it be Clark, I don’t want to leave you without help at the office. As long as this was a one time thing then I’m fine, let’s move on” He smiles, “you’re just too kind but I can see that your mood isn’t totally lifted. I shrug, wearing a tired smile, “I just feel trained after that conversation, why don’t you go ahead and have lunch without me. I’ll eat later” I say.He shakes his head, “no way, you came all the way to my office for us to eat together. So what can I do to lift your mood” he says, a mischievous smile on his face. “Letting me sleep” I chuckle, suddenly feeling very tired.“I’ll let you do that in due time, but please let’s have lun
“Afternoon Miss Denie, you require our assistance” one of them says. She nods, “yes please kindly escort this woman downstairs”. They both turn to face me, their eyes widening in shock, before returning their attention to her, “that’s Mr Clark’s wife, please excuse us” they say, before exiting the room.I watch as Denie remains immobile and speechless as she processes their words. I don’t bother getting up as I patiently wait for Clark’s arrival.In less than a minute, Clark walks into the room, concern evident on his face as he walks directly towards me. “You sounded upset, is everything fine my love?” He asks, crouching down as he takes my hand.I look behind him to see Debie’s eyes widen at her mistake. I shake my head, “not really. I closed work early to come suprise you with some food and drinks” I say, raising up the lunch bag for emphasis.“But I was met with insults and disrespectful t from your assistant. She wouldn’t even let me inside your office. To think she actually cal
I’m met by a woman who seems to be in her late 20’s. She is seated in Lai’s former desk. Her auburn hair drops over her shoulders, and her hazel eyes catch my attention. “Good afternoon” she says, rising to my feet, a surprised look on her face as she slowly assesses me.Feeling uncomfortable with being under her scrutiny, I mumble a quick greeting before walking towards Clark’s office. “I’m sorry you can’t go in there” she says, blocking my path.I look up at her, obviously surprised at her audacity, “excuse me” I say, trying hard to control my emotions. She gives me a smile, which is more of a mocking smile, “I’m sorry but you can’t see Mr Clark right now, you shouldn’t even be up here. I wonder who let you in here” she says, frustratedly running her hands through her hair.I chuckle, slightly moving backwards as she’s right in my face at the moment. I quietly assess her, wondering how to address the situation. I force my lips to form into a smile, “I don’t appreciate the tone that
Clark brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle and reassuring. “We’re in this together, babe. No one can come between us,” he assures me, and I believe him. Our bond is unbreakable, forged through years of shared experiences, laughter, and even tears. I lean into him, feeling safe and secure in his arms.“Remember that time when we first met?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood. Clark grins, his eyes sparkling with nostalgia. “How could I forget? You were so sassy, but you still managed to charm me with that confidence of yours,” he confesses, his voice filled with warmth. “Yeah, I can be quite sassy,” I admit, “but I didn’t know this side to you. You were definitely worth it.” Clark’s smile widens, and I can see the pride in his eyes. “And look where we are now,” he says, pulling me closer. “Married, happy, and in love. It’s a beautiful journey we’re on.”I nod, feeling a swell of gratitude for the life we’ve built together. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” I say e
Jordan coughs, obviously uncomfortable with being made the third wheel, “I think you guys would love to be alone, so I’ll just leave and catch up with the others” he says, attempting to rise to his feet.Clark shakes his head, “absolutely not, I honestly don’t mind your presence here. A friend of my wife is mine” he states. Jordan smiles, “thank you, but in all honesty I have some things to discuss with Lai. Please excuse me and it was nice meeting you Clark” he says, before walking away leaving Clark and I to ourselves.“Why were you alone with him?” Clark asks, studying me. I smile, “I wasn’t alone with him, I was basically in the open. I purposely discussed with him, where you could easily see us” I say, chuckling at his jealous display.He smiles, “well I don’t like the fact that he keeps hovering around you. You might not be able to see it but I can definitely tell that he like you” smh r says, drawing me closer to him.“How so?” I ask, my tone evidencing my surprise at his words
“So what have you been up to?” Jordan asks, as we settle down. I shrug, partially intrigued by his sudden interest in my life, “nothing much to be honest. Just the usual, handling my business and enjoying my married life” I say, with a smile as I dwell on my relationship with Clark.Jordan chuckles, “how’s that going? Last time I saw you guys, you were both heavily invested in an argument” he says, slightly leaning forward. I chuckle, “you know how couples are, we fight and we make up. It’s all part of the process of understanding each other and learning to understand each other's triggers and boundaries” I say, my gaze drifting to Clark who’s heavily invested in a conversation before returning my attention to Jordan. “So you guys are good?” He asks, suggestively. I nod, “we are more than good, I’m in love with that man” I say, my smile huge as I set my boundary. “What about you, how’s life going?” I ask, shifting the attention from me.He shrugs, “nothing much, except from the fact
“Heyy Belle” I say, running to give her a hug, almost tripping along the way. “Careful Lara” Clark yells after me. “How are you doing?” I ask, pulling her into a hug, before releasing her as I examine her face.She smiles, “I’m hardly getting sleep with Tululla’s sleeping schedule. But in all honesty everyday feels like a blessing to have my little girl in my arms” she states.I nod, totally understanding what she means, “what about Lai?” I ask, scanning the room for my brother. “He’s over there with your dad and mine,” she says, pointing towards a section of the backyard.“They must be giving him some stupid parent advice” I joke, noticing how serious their conversation is. “Heyy Belle” Clark says, embracing her with a hug, “how are you doing?” He asks, returning to my side.She chuckles, “your wife already asked that. Like I told her, I feel blessed” she says, a wide smile on her face and I can tell that this is the happiest she’s been since I’ve met her. Clark nods, “alright, let