My hand flies over my mouth as I finish reading the message, my heart racing in disbelief. I settle on the bed, trying to steady myself and prevent fainting as my body shakes in shock. I can’t believe she actually spiked my water; that explains why I was asleep until evening. I suspected something was off, but I brushed it aside, thinking it was just fatigue. Now, the reality of the betrayal hits me hard, and I feel a mix of anger and fear coursing through my veins. I can’t let her get away with this. Just as I’m processing everything, I hear footsteps approaching the door, sending a jolt of adrenaline through me. I quickly grab my phone, taking pictures of her message to ensure I have proof of her deceit. I transfer the so-called evidence she obtained to my phone, my fingers trembling as I realise how crucial this moment is. “Who’s that?” I ask, my voice slightly shaky as I walk to the door, the sound of knocking rattling my nerves. The anticipation hangs in the air, thick with un
“Oh, I’d love to show you, but I don’t have my phone here,” Alice replies, a look of annoyance creeping across her face, as if my request is an inconvenience she didn’t anticipate. I nod, playing along with her charade, “That’s too bad; maybe you can show me later,” I state, keeping my voice steady despite the tension in the air. “But in the meantime, can you explain what you were doing in my marital room half-naked?” I ask, my voice rising, the anger evident in my tone as it cuts through the facade she’s trying to maintain. The question hangs between us like a storm cloud, charged with unspoken accusations and the weight of betrayal. Her expression shifts, and I can see the gears turning in her mind as she struggles to concoct a response that might salvage her dignity in this precarious moment.“Don’t play with me, Alice. You don’t want to see me angry. What were you doing in my room? I need answers right now,” I demand, my voice steady but laced with an edge that makes it clear I
The silence stretches between us, thick with unspoken words, as I wait for her answer, desperate to understand the motives behind her betrayal.Clark rises from his seat and moves to sit beside me, his warm hand enveloping mine as he gently strokes it, a soothing gesture that calms the storm of emotions swirling inside me. “She’s asking you a question?” Clark’s voice booms, filling the entire room with an authority that demands attention.Her eyes dart between Clark and me, a flicker of panic crossing her face as she grapples with the reality of her situation. It’s evident she’s searching for a way to dig herself out of this pit, but the weight of her deception looms too large. With a newfound confidence, she rises to her feet, shaking off the remnants of her earlier facade. “I owe you no explanation,” she states defiantly, wiping away the fake tears that had once seemed so convincing, and folding her arms across her chest in a protective stance. “You even drugged me,” I say, my voi
“Are you alright?” Clark asks, his voice low and filled with concern as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to steady my trembling frame. I shake my head, the movement almost frantic, as I cling to him as if he were my lifeline in a stormy sea. “I can’t believe that Alice would do this to me,” I sob into his chest, my words muffled by the fabric of his shirt. The warmth of his embrace offers a small comfort, but the betrayal feels like a knife twisting in my gut. Each sob that escapes me is laced with disbelief and hurt, and I can feel the tears streaming down my cheeks, soaking into his shirt. “I thought she was somewhat a friend,” I continue, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. “How could she turn against me like this?” Clark tightens his hold, his fingers gently stroking my back in a soothing rhythm. “You’re not alone in this,” he reassures me, his voice steady and calm. “We’ll figure it out together.” I shake my head, tears strolling down my cheek, “it
“Everything is fine now,” he says softly, his voice a gentle caress aimed at soothing my frayed nerves. I look up into his eyes, searching for the truth behind his words, and ask, “Do you truly not blame me?” His gaze is steady, unwavering as he shakes his head. “Never for a second did that come across my mind. I don’t blame you for anything. It’s definitely not your fault that you were trying to be kind and helpful to someone in need”, He states.“Thank you,” I reply tiredly, relief washing over me as I wrap my arms around his neck, the overwhelming feeling of blame slowly dissipating. His presence feels like a safe harbour in the storm of my emotions. “No need to thank me,” he says with a soft smile, “thank you for trusting me when you caught me in a compromising situation.” He leans in and places a tender kiss on my cheek, igniting a warmth that spreads through me.In a swift motion, he rises to his feet, effortlessly lifting me into his arms. I nestle against him, feeling the st
In all honesty, as much as I’d like to see them pay for their deeds, I also want to limit my contact with them. The thought of raising a court case sends a wave of anxiety through me. It would mean facing them repeatedly, as often as the court requires, and that’s something I dread. I can already imagine the tension in the air, the way my stomach would knot at the mere sight of them. Plus, I can’t ignore the fact that it would lead to negative publicity for my company, and I simply don’t have the energy for that kind of stress right now.He nods, “Yeah, first thing tomorrow I’m going to get on a call with my lawyers to discuss the case with them. They have to pay for messing with us, with you most especially,” he states, his voice firm and unwavering.My eyes soften at his words, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for him. It’s a warmth that spreads through me, reminding me just how fortunate I am to have someone like him in my corner. I’m sure Clark has a lot on his plate,
My eyes flutter open, and I stretch my arms high above my head, feeling the warmth of the morning sun streaming through the curtains. My limbs feel like they’ve been recharged, and I can’t help but let out a little yawn. As I do, I catch sight of Clark walking towards me, a bright smile lighting up his face. “Good morning, babe,” he says, his voice smooth and inviting, before leaning down to plant a soft kiss on my lips.“Good morning,” I reply, feeling a flutter of happiness in my chest as I wrap my arms around his neck. I hold onto him a bit tighter than I usually do, savouring the moment and the comfort of his presence.He chuckles softly, amusement dancing in his eyes as he settles down on the edge of the bed, letting me cling to him. It feels so natural, so right, and I can’t help but smile back at him. “All done,” I say playfully, finally releasing him from my grasp, my heart still racing from the warmth of our morning exchange. “Are you heading to work?” I ask, noticing the
With a deep breath, I head downstairs, the anticipation bubbling within me. “Good afternoon,” I say, walking into the room and taking a seat on the plush sofa beside Clark. “Good afternoon,” they respond in unison, their voices blending together in a chorus of professionalism. I glance around the room, quickly counting about four lawyers, two of whom I recognize as Elvis and his assistant/wife, Becky. “I only got four of my lawyers to ensure it is kept a secret,” Clark whispers in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. I nod, a chuckle rising from my throat, “Only four? How many lawyers would you have gotten if I wasn’t sceptical about pursuing the case?” I whisper, my eyes glinting with amusement as I lean closer, enjoying this playful banter between us. “A minimum of a team of at least six lawyers,” he replies casually, a smirk playing on his lips as if he’s proud of his strategic approach.I chuckle, shaking my head in disbelief. “Thank you, babe,” I say, gently squeezing his
Annie nods, her expression serious. “I understand; this is a very serious matter. What would you like me to do?” she asks, her tone shifting to one of readiness and support. I can sense her commitment to addressing this issue, and it gives me a moment of reassurance amidst the issues at hand.I nod, my expression serious as I meet her gaze. “It is a serious issue, and it’s bigger than you imagine. I’d like you to come with me to answer some questions and also help identify your subordinate who was directly involved in the hiring process of Rita. It’s crucial that I speak with her, too, to get a clearer picture of what went wrong.” She nods, a look of resolve crossing her face. “Please give me a minute,” she states, her voice steady, before exiting the room. I take a moment to gather my thoughts, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on my mind. In a few moments, the door swings open, and she returns, this time not alone but with a younger girl by her side. “This is Kelly,”
“Are you willing to testify at court?” I ask, my voice steady and devoid of any emotion. Rita’s response is immediate, her head shaking slowly, almost as if she’s trying to physically reject the weight of my question. “I’m sorry, Lara, but I can’t,” she states, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of her words. “I can’t betray my cousin like that.” Her eyes dart away, avoiding my gaze as if the very act of looking at me might shatter the fragile barrier she’s built around her loyalty. I nod, a hint of irony creeping into my voice. “You already betrayed her by telling me the truth in relation to this matter, but don’t worry, I won’t force you to do what you don’t want to do.” I pause for a moment, letting my words sink in, watching as her expression shifts, a mixture of guilt and defiance flickering across her face. “It’s funny, isn’t it? You were so comfortable lying against me in the court of law, and now you’re hesitant to say the truth.” I can see her jaw tighten at my
Rita opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off, my voice firm and unyielding. “Remember that the system will log the exact time you arrived each day by tracking when you swiped your access card. So think twice before you try to lie or come up with some flimsy excuse,” I say, letting my tone carry the weight of authority. I lean in slightly, my gaze piercing through her defences, waiting for her to reconsider her next words. The silence stretches as she weighs her options, knowing full well that I’m not just making empty threats.She hangs her head, feeling defeated, “Yes, Lara. I’ve been coming into work late every day for the past week. I’m sorry,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper as she raises her head to meet my gaze. I nod slowly, my expression unwavering. “I need a tangible reason for why you’ve been strolling into the office late every afternoon,” I say, my voice steady and devoid of any emotion.“If you can’t provide a valid explanation, your pay will be docked,
As I step out of the office, my attention is immediately drawn to Rita, who is just settling into her desk. "Good afternoon," I say, offering a tight smile that barely masks my curiosity. I gently knock on the doorframe to catch her attention, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet of the afternoon.Rita looks up, her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, good afternoon, Lara! You’re here!" she exclaims, her voice filled with shock as she rises to her feet.I nod, a smirk dancing on my lips. “I work here, remember?” I say, letting a subtle hint of sarcasm slip into my tone. She looks up at me, her cheeks flushing slightly as she nods, “Of course, sorry ma’am,” her voice dropping as she glances down.That action instantly transports me back to memories of Alice, who would always adopt that same piteous look whenever she was called out for something. A wave of annoyance washes over me as I watch Rita mimic that behaviour. “Anyway,” I say, shifting my gaze away from her and scanning her clut
“Where are you heading to?” Clark asks, a confused look on his face as he rises to his feet, his brow furrowing slightly. “To the office,” I state, my tone laced with surprise at his question. It’s almost as if he can’t believe I’d choose to dive straight into the investigation on a day like today.“Today?” He asks, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Yeah, the sooner I get started with the investigation and communication approval, the sooner the lies made by Alice can be revealed.” I can feel the urgency in my words, the determination to clear the air and gather sufficient and compelling evidence.He nods, a spark of understanding igniting in his eyes. “Alright, I’ll come with you. Thank you so much for your time and dedication,” he says, his voice steady and sincere as he exchanges handshakes with both Becky and Elvis.“Yeah, thank you. I’ll contact you as soon as I can,” I say, exchanging firm handshakes with Elvis. Then, I turn to Becky, pulling her into a warm goodbye hug, “Take ca
“And what is the conversation with the HR team meant to achieve?” I ask, slightly leaning in as I wait for Becky’s response. Her face scrunches up a bit, which is a very common trait that she shows when she is thinking, and I can’t help but find it endearing. “Speaking with the HR unit helped us understand the hiring process and if there was any bias involved,” she explains, her tone growing more animated as she continues. “This could help us prove to the court that Alice brought Rita into the firm for ill intentions. If we can show that there was favouritism or a lack of proper procedure in Rita’s hiring, it’ll cast doubt on her credibility. We need to establish that her testimony is tainted by her connection to Alice, which means her words can’t be trusted by the court since she’s not independent from any of the parties involved in the case.”I nod, absorbing her words, feeling the gears in my mind turning. “So, if we can uncover any discrepancies in the hiring process, it not onl
“Good afternoon, Mr. Clark,” Elvis says, his voice warm and inviting as he stretches out his hand for a handshake.“Good afternoon, Elvis,” Clark responds, meeting his grip with a firm yet friendly shake, the corners of his mouth lifting into a light smile that hints at a shared camaraderie. “And it’s just Clark,” he adds, his tone casual and approachable.Elvis nods appreciatively, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Apologies, afternoon Mrs..” he begins, but before he can finish, I interject with a playful smile, “Afternoon, Elvis!” “It’s just Lara,” I continue, teasingly cutting him off. “What’s up with him today? He never calls me Mrs.” I chuckle, shaking my head in mock disbelief as I turn to face Becky. “Good afternoon!” I exclaim, pulling her into a tight embrace. She shrugs lightly as I finally release her from my embrace. “How are you doing?” I ask, gesturing for us to settle onto the plush sofa. She smiles, her expression brightening the room. “Quite fulfilled,” she
“Didn’t you notice that there were no media personnel in the room?” Clark asks, his smile widening. I shake my head, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. “I didn’t take notice since I came in at the last minute. I know that most court cases are open to the public, so I just sort of assumed that they were there,” I state, my voice trailing off as I glance around the room.He shakes his head, “well, they weren’t. I personally requested the court to make the case a private trial, with only the necessary attendees being allowed to view the proceedings.” “Really? And when did you do this?” I ask, intrigued by the proactiveness of the man before me. There’s something admirable about his initiative, and it makes me curious about his deeper feelings for me. “Two weeks before the court case,” he replies, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that suggests he’s not merely following protocol but doing this for a deeper reason. “It takes a week to apply and process the documents submitted
Clark walks towards me, his presence radiating warmth as he wraps me in his embrace, pulling me close as he slides his arms around my waist. “What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice laced with concern, turning his face just enough to catch a glimpse of mine, searching for the truth behind my silence.I shake my head gently, feeling the weight of my thoughts as I release myself from his comforting hold. I turn to face him fully, wanting him to see the turmoil swirling in my mind. “Nothing, really. I’m just thinking about the court case hearing from last week Monday,” I say, letting out a heavy sigh that seems to carry all the tension I’ve been holding inside. “I’m sorry,” I say, frowning deeply, my face a canvas of worry as I replay the events in my mind. The way Alice and her lawyer, Rick, manipulated the entire situation feels like a bitter pill to swallow. “I can’t believe they would twist the entire story to their advantage like that,” I continue, my voice tinged with frustration. “To m