Chapter 5: Beneath the Surface.

House Of Willow.

Matilda’s POV.

"I was able to dissuade the shareholders from holding the meeting," Liam reports, standing tall beside Chairman Willow. "I informed them of your absence, and while they agreed to reschedule, their displeasure was evident. The reporters are still staked outside, but they'll have to leave in due time."

He exhales deeply, the weight of the moment pressing against him. "Thank you, Liam. Your assistance is invaluable."

"It's no problem, sir. The least I can do is perform my job well." His gaze drifts toward me, a flicker of accusation unspoken in his eyes.

I bite back a retort, feeling the sting of his accusatory tone. Thankfully, since leaving the office, the anxiety that once swelled within me has dissipated, and my head feels clearer.

"I understand how this looks and why you'd assume I did my work poorly," I say, my voice steady. I pause, locking eyes with Liam for a second before turning back to Chairman Willow. "But this is not my doing, sir."

He turns his gaze away, his disappointment clear. "I want to believe you, but everything that transpired between us has become public knowledge. What am I to think when the evidence points to you?"

I twiddle my thumbs behind my back, his words striking deep. He’s right. Before now, the rumours were groundless, but with that false article in the name of the company, the stakes are far higher.

Liam clears his throat, the sound sharp against the tension in the room. His eyes are cold, untrusting. "If you can't defend yourself, why should he believe you?"

I pinch the inside of my palms to steady my resolve. "Because I would never lie to him, especially not about something as crucial as this. I know you’re being protective, but he matters to me as much as he does to you." I hold my breath, fighting the urge to snap at him.

"The article was published in your name!" Chairman Willow slams his fist down on the sofa, his eyes blazing with hurt.

My heart sinks, a knife twisting in my chest as I realise how little he trusts me. Was our father-daughter relationship merely a figment of my imagination?

Suddenly, hurried footsteps burst into the room, chaotic and frantic. A flurry of activity follows—her right foot slips out of her heels, shopping bags fly everywhere, and then a moment of clumsiness as she tangles herself in the mess.

She yelps, squeezing her eyes shut, bracing for impact, but Liam is quick to her side, catching her just in time. "Mrs. Willow!" She opens her eyes in surprise, her small frame clutching his biceps as though her life depends on it.

Her face is framed by tortilla-coloured curls, and she breathes out, "Liam."

"Are you alright, ma'am?" he asks, concerned about etching his features.

"Y-yes, thank you." Her response is shy, laced with embarrassment.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Liam releases her. Her honey-brown eyes dart everywhere but at him as she adjusts her Tadashi Shoji sequin gown. I shake my head playfully at Mrs. Willow; she may be a bit clumsy, but her heart is as big as her smile.

Despite their ten-year age difference, which draws whispers of her being a gold digger, the love between her and Chairman Willow is genuine and unshakeable.

"Honey, I saw the news! Please tell me you're not sick," she exclaims, throwing herself at him, her voice a wail of concern.

He looks at her with warmth, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Darling, please calm down. It's nothing more than a misunderstanding. I'm as healthy as I can be." His fingers weave through her hair, the tenderness evident. "Not a single sick bone in me," he reassures.

She pulls away, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "A-are you sure? Really sure?" She clasps his face gently, the sincerity of her concern striking.

He wipes her tears away tenderly, his own smile faltering. "I promise I'm fine." He leans down, kissing her forehead. "Please don't cry, darling. It breaks my heart to see your beautiful face covered in tears."

She wipes her eyes, exhaling a shaky breath. "What a relief. I can’t bear the thought of losing you and neither can the kids."

"I'll be here until we’re both old and wrinkly." He whispers faintly. She closes her eyes, burying her head against his chest. Yet, beneath his smile, I catch the glint of sadness in his eyes—an ache that echoes my own.

Feeling like an intruder in their intimate moment, I glance away. Liam appears just as uncomfortable, his eyes glued to the floor. Will I ever experience such tenderness?

Mrs. Willow clears her throat loudly, snapping me back to reality. "Suddenly I feel embarrassed. I’m sorry for interrupting." She stands, attempting to gather herself.

"You don't have to apologise," Liam replies, helping her slip back into her heels.

"Please, pretend we weren’t here, ma'am," he adds, handing her the scattered shopping bags.

She smiles as she accepts them. "Thank you." With a cheerful goodbye, she exits the room, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

That’s when it hits me—the sound of her heels! 

With a newfound surge of energy, I step forward, determination bubbling up inside me. "Yesterday, someone was listening in on us!" I declare.

"Then why didn't you tell us about it?" Liam’s tone is accusatory, piercing through my moment of triumph.

"I didn’t say anything because I didn’t see who it was," I defended, frustration creeping into my voice.

"William, the marketing manager, and his team were there as well. Did they see anyone?" His doubt feels like a dagger.

I can feel my annoyance simmering just below the surface. "They didn’t see anyone! I could have caught up with whoever it was if I had noticed sooner, but I was out of it after hearing about Chairman Willow's health."

"You were distracted by what you learned about the Chairman; you might have imagined it. Especially since no one else saw whoever you think you saw," he concludes, his scepticism grating against my nerves.

I ball my fists, his face suddenly very punchable. "What is your problem? Why are you so hell-bent on pinning this on me?!" My patience snaps.

"No one else knows about this besides us, and it makes no sense that the article surfaced at such a time. You expect me to believe it's just a coincidence?"

"That's enough, Liam," Chairman Willow interjects, his voice firm. "Miss Matilda wouldn’t do this. She cares too much about me and the company to jeopardise us like this."

My heart swells at his words, the earlier hurt momentarily soothed. The love and trust we share are not figments of my imagination after all.

"I had a momentary lapse in judgement. I’m sorry for my earlier harshness; I should have known better." Chairman Willow says apologetically.

I break into a smile, warmth flooding my chest. "It's completely understandable, sir. Anyone would react that way in your shoes." His trust in me means everything.

Liam clears his throat, his posture shifting slightly. "I too would like to apologise for not giving you the benefit of the doubt," he mumbles, just loud enough for me to hear.

Liam is the most level-headed person I’ve ever met, rarely allowing emotion to show. I've never seen him smile; he’s concise, painfully so, and keeps to himself. Yet now, he’s shown a glimpse of concern—if only for Chairman Willow.

I offer him a small smile. "It’s fine." He may have overstepped, but I understand his worry.

"Do you have any idea who could have done this?" he asks, his frown deepening.

"Honestly, I have no idea," I responded, shaking my head.

"It's odd that the shareholders arrived when the news was being aired and not afterward. They shouldn’t have been able to react so quickly," he mutters.

"So it must be someone with enough influence to sway the board, even when there is no technical reason for them to," I suggest.

"Yes, but it’s also possible that the culprit just tipped off the shareholders. They were already on edge, and the news could have easily swayed them," he adds.

"That would most likely be the case. The shareholders are too busy to orchestrate something like this," I agree, unable to picture any of them engaging in such a scheme.

"It could be a mole working for our competitors. It’s not uncommon in corporations like ours," he sighs, crossing his arms.

My thoughts race. The only people with the power to manipulate the board are Mrs Chanler and Mrs Lionheart. It’s terrifying to consider that one—or both—could be behind this.

"All we have to do is check the security footage; we’ll find proof of whoever it was," Liam suggests.

“I already asked for the footage, but they gave me some excuse about not capturing anything from yesterday.” My shoulders sag in defeat, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on me.

Chairman Willow chuckles, an unsettling amusement flickering in his eyes. “The footage doesn’t exist?” The sound of his laughter sends a chill down my spine, as if he finds the situation almost comical.

“Release a statement debunking the earlier news,” he instructs, his tone shifting to one of authority. “Ensure that every rumour regarding my health is eradicated. Let it be clear that we are collaborating with the police to identify the source of the false information spread under Miss Matilda’s name, and we will pursue damages against anyone responsible. Have the PR team remove every false narrative concerning my son and announce that he will be taking over the CEO position.”

“Understood, sir,” Liam replies, his expression serious as he takes in the weight of the chairman's words.

“Do you think this will be enough to flush out the moles?” I ask, my heart racing with the urgency of our situation.

“It may not be sufficient to draw them out, but it will certainly rattle someone else,” Chairman Willow says, leaning back into his recliner, a calculating glint in his eyes.

“The reporter!” The realisation hits me like a jolt. He is the one most likely to take the fall for everything, making him the easiest target for us to corner.

A sly smirk spreads across his face. “Have you ever gone fishing, Miss Matilda?” he asks, tilting his head slightly as if savouring the analogy.

“Never, sir,” I admit, perplexed by the sudden shift in our conversation.

“You see, when you go fishing, worms are good for catching small fish. But when you want to catch something bigger, you use another fish to lure in the larger catch.” He pauses, his eyes narrowing. “That is what the reporter is to us.”

“He's our bait.”