“That’s not how it works here, Ms. Clarke,” one said. “These stolen items are incredibly valuable, and you’re the prime suspect. At the very least, you owe us an explanation.”
Another chimed in,
“Exactly. People are going to think you’re guilty if you can’t explain yourself.”
“And the logs don’t lie. The cameras may have malfunctioned, but the entry and exit records are clear. You were the last one to leave, and this morning, the perfumes were missing.”
“Right! Those perfumes are expensive, not to mention off-limits to most of us. Unless someone…”
The insinuations were blatant, their voices dripping with malice. The atmosphere grew thick with tension as they fired argument after argument.
But not everyone was willing to stay silent. Some of the employees were fed up and began to push back.
“Marc, have you lost your mind?” someone spoke up. “Did you forget it was Ms. Clarke who saved us from that nightmare client just last week?”
“Yeah, and so what if she’s an orphan? She’s got more than enough from her company shares to live comfortably. She doesn’t need to steal anything,” another added.
“And what are you even talking about? You don’t have proof, and you’re already spreading rumors. This is ridiculous!” Several others who had worked late alongside Allison voiced their support, tired of Marc’s gang’s constant bullying. They knew her well enough – Allison was a fair and kind woman, unless provoked. The idea that she would steal was absurd.
Marc, seeing the tide turn, clenched his jaw, his resentment boiling over. Desperate to regain control, he turned his venom on her once more, this time in front of Kellan.
“You can’t always know someone’s true nature, though, can you?” he sneered. “I’ve heard stories… like how she tried to seduce another man’s fiance. A lonely divorcee like her – maybe she just-“
Before he could finish his venomous sentence, a cold voice cut through the air.
“You like to gossip, Marc. How about I help you keep quiet?” Kellan’s voice was ice, his eyes colder still.
Marc froze, his throat going dry.
“Mr. Lloyd, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Then shut up.”
If Allison hadn’t restrained him earlier, Kellan would have already had Marc thrown out. He hadn’t understood why she hadn’t retaliated from the start, but now it was clear – she was setting a trap, one far more elaborate than Marc’s pathetic scheme.
If not for this incident, Kellan might never have uncovered how many snakes lurked in his lab.
His anger simmered as he turned his cold gaze on the group.
“You were hired to work, not to spread baseless rumors and slander your colleagues. You’ve turned this place into a circus. If you can’t act professionally, I won’t hesitate to fire every single one of you.”
He locked eyes with Marc, disgust evident in his expression.
“You can start packing your things.”
A stunned silence followed.
Marc stood there, dumbfounded, never imagining that Kellan would defend Allison to the point of threatening to fire everyone – especially not by making an example of him.
Marc hurriedly tried to mediate, desperation creeping into his voice.
“Mr. Lloyd, please, let me explain. I didn’t mean to spread any rumors, and Ms. Clarke is not that kind of person. We just thought… maybe she was pulling a harmless prank.”
However, at that moment, Kellan exuded an intimidating presence.
“Who do you think you’re fooling?” Kellan’s voice was sharp, laced with contempt. “Your little tricks are transparent! You’re a mediocre worker, but you’re a pro at stabbing your colleagues in the back. There’s been word that you were the one stirring up trouble at the recent inter-company conference. I have no patience for rats in my company. Call HR. Fire him – now!”
Marc’s face turned pale. He had never imagined that a few ill-chosen words would cost him his job in an instant.
Allison’s lip curled into a sneer. She and Kellan had a knack for sizing people up.
It wasn’t worth wasting time on blunt fools with loud mouths, but those who wore sweetness like a mask while sinking the knife in from behind – those were the worst.
In some ways, Marc was no different than Melany. Both hid behind others, pretending to be the virtuous ones, manipulating from the shadows like they were carved from the same deceitful mold.
“Last night, Ms. Clarke left work with me. So, if you’re accusing her, you’re accusing both of us of theft. Is that what you’re suggesting?” Kellan’s words echoed in the room, a challenge thrown down for all to hear.
Despite the lack of concrete proof, even with Allison being the primary suspect, he wasn’t about to let her get dragged through the mud by people who didn’t even know what was at play. His eyes grew colder, and the room fell silent under the weight of his gaze. No one dared utter a word.
Marc, on the other hand, was panicking inside. His mind raced as he grasped the full weight of what had just happened. Fired, just like that. There was no turning back.
Desperate, he made a decision that only a fool cornered by his own mistakes would make – he’d have to seek refuge with the Stevens Group, and the only way to earn his place would be to destroy Allison completely.
With madness in his eyes, he lashed out with venom in his words.
“Why defend her, Mr. Lloyd? Ms. Clarke’s divorced, for God’s sake! No matter how good she looks, you’re just picking up someone else’s scraps-“
The sentence never finished. A sharp scream ripped through the air.
Allison had kicked Marc straight in the groin at the exact moment Sherman, Kellan’s assistant, landed a fist to Marc’s face.
Marc crumpled to the floor in agony, curling into himself as his screams echoed through the office.
“Ah!!!”
Allison shot a glance at Sherman. She was impressed – Kellan really surrounded himself with capable people. Sherman, with his mild demeanor, clearly knew how to throw a punch when necessary.
“Call the police!” Kellan said coldly. “Or, if you’d prefer, we’ll see you in court. Either way, the Lloyd Group will crush you.”
Security arrived quickly, dragging Marc away, but in his madness, he called out, his voice raw with desperation,
“Mr. Lloyd! You can protect her all you want, but don’t take it out on me! Everyone else will see this as an injustice!”
Marc knew he was no match for Kellan. Even if he did get the authorities involved, Kellan could ruin him without breaking a sweat. He had already crossed the line, so why not make his last play by siding with Melany?
Allison, however, chuckled softly.
“Protecting? No, Marc. You’re just projecting your sins onto others.” Her eyes swept across the room, locking on every face present.
“In case you weren’t aware, there are hidden cameras in the ceiling that aren’t accessible to just anyone. This is about millions in stolen property. And when the footage is handed to the police, let’s see what price you’ll pay, Marc.”
Marc’s face turned ghostly pale. He had no idea about the hidden cameras, and for a moment, his confidence wavered. He thought he had covered his tracks well, that there was no evidence, but the truth was starting to sink in like poison.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.