“Ms. Stephanie do you recognize the voice?” Jade asked innocently. Jade’s question made the others look at Stephanie with curious gazes. Her abrupt reaction made her look suspicious. Majority of the people sitting there already had an inkling about what was going on.
Stephanie realized she might have just unnecessarily revealed herself. So she tried to Savage the damage she had caused. She toughened her gaze and glared at Jade.
“Of course not! What do you mean? I do not recognize that voice, it’s not mine” She stupidly blurted out.
Jade cocked her brows to the side and calmly asked again, “Are you sure?” a sly playing on her lips.
“Yes of course” Stephanie reaffirmed, making Jade scoff in her head. She was digging a pit for her and she was willfully jumping in. She could tell those who were familiar with Stephanie already knew who the voice belonged to. And Stephanie’s foolish reaction had just confirmed their suspicion and her present denial of her voice had just painted a stupid image of her. Jade shook her head in her mind and sighed resignedly. Stephanie was making things too easy for her. She must indeed be lacking a brain. She couldn’t even pretend for long.
Jade hardened her gaze and looked at Stephanie.
“Ms. Stephanie, if you don’t recognize the voice speaking then I’d advise you to behave accordingly. I didn’t call your name except you know the voice from the recorder is yours. If it isn’t then I’d advise you to sit back on your seat” Jade drawled, her eyes staring intently and angrily at her.
Stephanie gritted her teeth in anger as she glared at Jade. She was about to say something when the president spoke up first.
“Ms. Stephanie please be seated,” He said in a curt tone. Stephanie snapped her head towards him but the dour expression on his face made her shudder.
“I’m sorry sir” She apologized and sat back in her seat. She surreptitiously glared at Jade while her hands under the table quivered with trepidation. She couldn’t believe Jade had tricked her! Stupid bitch! She cussed in her heart.
‘But what was she going to do now? How does she get out of this?’ She thought in her mind.
After listening to the whole recording, the majority of the people in the room had their eyes fixed on the very nervous lady who was trying to keep a calm look on her face but was shaking inside because she knew she was done for.
While Jade was playing the recording from her phone, Simon helps her to project a laptop to the canvas on the wall.
Jade brought out Mr. Alan’s flash from her pocket and held it up.
“This flash was returned to our department this morning by one of the securities on night patrol. In it lies the same video which was planted in my flash” She intentionally used the word ‘planted’ to send her point home. Her eyes traveled to Mr. Alan who uncomfortably shifted on his chair as he looked very surprised to see his flash drive with her.
Jade tore her gaze from him and connected the flash to the laptop. Jade navigated through the documents saved to flash and it was clear to all who owned it. She opened to the pornographic video which had been planted in her flash but she didn’t play it as it is very disturbing.
“Isn’t that Alan’s picture?” Someone in the room asked the person sitting by his side in a whisper.
“I’m afraid it is. What had this got to do with him? Is he involved in this too?” The other replied as they turned to glance at Mr. Alan who looked like he was about to faint. Beads of nervous sweat forming around his head.
Stephanie turned to look at Mr. Alan, but the man had his head lowered in fear, her face had turned black as she gazed at the man who was trying to avoid her gaze. Jade noticed the way the president and Mrs. Tracy looked at Mr. Alan and she immediately spoke up before things got out of hand. Stephanie was meant to suffer alone and the plan remains the same.
“Sir, I know what might be going through your mind but you should know there’s more to it,” She said making the president turn to look at her questioningly.
“What do you mean, Ms. Peterson?” The man inquired.
“Mr. Alan had been missing his flash for days, apparently someone took it to implicate him, but they had also forgotten this on my desk,” Jade said looking at Mr. Alan who looked at her with a confused expression on his face. Jade looked away from him and reached out for what was lying in the pocket of her trousers, and she pulled out a well-polished pressed nail which someone was missing from her fingers.
Jade turned to Stephanie who looked like she was about to explode any moment from now with the nails in her hand. She looked at her with a fiery look in her eyes. “Ms. Stephanie does this look familiar?” Jade tauntingly asked, her brows perfectly tilted at her.
Stephanie’s eyes widened to their fullest when she saw the nail in Jade’s hand. Her heart skipped and the rhythm of her heart changed as it began to race frantically.
“Wh.. why…are you… asking me that?” Stephanie stuttered, her eyes darting to and fro. Jade’s lips curled up to the side when Stephanie stuttered and the smug look on Jade’s face suddenly flicked a bulb in Stephanie’s head as she remembered Jade’s words to her minutes ago.
‘Don’t stutter and or say inappropriate things in there’
“You evil witch!” She fumed and cussed. “You’re trying to frame me up. How dare you? You’re nothing but a mere intern–”
“Ms. Stephanie I’d advise you to keep it down this very minute” The president drawled, but Stephanie was too stupid to listen. She snapped her head towards the man.
“Sir she’s trying to frame me” She cried out.
The person sitting next to Stephanie looked down at her hand which she was carefully hiding under the table.
“But Ms. Stephanie you indeed seem to be missing a nail” the man pointed out making the others look among themselves and a soft murmur filled the room
“I’m no…” Stephanie had wanted to impulsively reply but she refrained herself when she realized this was all Jade’s plan. Jade has been baiting her all along and she fell stupidly for it. How could she have been so stupid? Stephanie gazed at Jade with much animosity as she clamped her mouth shut.
The president turned to Mr. Alan and asked, “Alan are you indeed missing your flash drive?”
Mr. Alan was startled when the president asked him. He looked at the man and from the corner of his eyes, he looked at Jade who wasn’t looking at him. He knew Jade had found out the truth and she was still saving his ass. He felt embarrassed and disappointed in himself. He despised himself for lowering himself down to this level.
He lowered his head and answered, “Yes sire”
The president nodded his head and turned to look at Stephanie.
“Ms. Stephanie please show your hands to the whole room” He requested making Stephanie turn pale in an instant.
“Si…sir?”
“Do it now!” He ordered. Stephanie wanted to protest but with the piercing look from the man and from the several eyes of people sitting there she couldn’t. She slowly stood up to her feet and even more slowly revealed her hands. And to the eyes of the man, she was indeed missing a nail while the others were similar to the one in Jade’s hand.
The president bobbed his head up and down and asked again, “Do you deny that it wasn’t your voice we had heard from the sound recorder which we all had just listened to?” The man asked again, this time his voice was sterner than usual.
Stephanie looked at the man and her lips began to tremble.
“Sir you’re… not believing an intern over me right?” She asked with a shaky voice. “Sire she’s an intern and I’m a manager who has been working with this company for a long time”
“But yet you depict the attitude of a person who is not qualified to work here. Xenox is a reputable company and should not have a vicious staff like you. You say I’m an intern yet you acted like a criminal and tried to sabotage me, tried to frame a director, or does he seem like an intern to you? Ms. Stephanie as a manager you should lead by a good example so junior staff like myself will look up to you, but you have failed on every side” Jade stated. She intentionally lashed back at Stephanie so she could strategically highlight all of Stephanie’s wrongdoing in the presence of everyone, that way there would be no redemption for her.
“Shut up, you witch” She cussed and turned to look at the president.
“Sir they’re trying to frame me. Yes, she and Mr. Alan are in this together. Sir don’t believe this rubbish and give me justice for this defamation”
“That’s enough” The president roared angrily. He looked at Stephanie angrily, before gazing at the head of the disciplinary committee who also happened to be Mrs. Lin.
“This is yours,” He said before standing up to leave the room. He was disgusted by Stephanie’s shameless character so much he didn’t want to waste his energy on her. He paused and looked at Jade with admiration. Now he understood what the vice president has seen in her. She was a fighter and a tactical one at that. With her wit and brilliance, he didn’t think he’d want her to ever leave his company.
When Stephanie heard what he said to Mrs. Lin she suddenly felt like she had run out of breath. Because it was better to be at the mercy of the president than with Mrs. Lin.
“Sir I’m innocent. This is wrong, please sir” She desperately pleaded but the man simply Ignored her and walked out.
“Ms. Stephanie” Mrs. Tracy Lin called out coldly, making Stephanie look at her as she trembled from head to toes.
“The evidence laid before you are concrete and there won’t be any need for further investigation on this matter. For your misconduct and unethical behavior, I hereby speak for the disciplinary committee, that your offenses are unforgivable and as such you’re relieved of your duty from this company with immediate effect. Please clear out your desk and leave the premises in half an hour” She fiercely gave her verdict while the other members of the committee nodded affirmatively.
“No!” Stephanie cried out. She couldn’t believe this was happening right now.
“No, she’s trying to incriminate me. They’re incriminating me. Don’t do this” She cried before pointing at Jade.
“Jade…Jade is the evil person here. She tricked me” She continued to beg but no one looked or listened to her.
She couldn’t believe what was happening. How had things turned out like this? How was she the one getting fired and not Jade?’ She asked herself. Her eyes fell on Mr. Alan who had his eyes lowered as he was too scared and ashamed to look at Jade.
“Alan, you bastard. You’re in on this too. You sold me out after I paid for your daughter’s fee. You snitch! How dare you?!” She demanded lividly as she stared at the man dangerously.
“Stephanie you’re creating a commotion. Stop accusing innocent people” Jade told her, but she ignored Jade and looked at the vice president.
“Ma, you can’t do this? At least not to me. Alan was the one who carried out this plan with his hands” She tried to explain.
“Ms. Stephanie please behave yourself or I’ll have security remove you from this premises” Mrs. Tracy warned coldly.
“This should serve as a warning to you all” She scanned her eyes through the faces of the people in the room before standing up to her feet and walked out of the room, while the others did the same as they shook their heads pitiably at Stephanie who had fallen to the ground and was begging for mercy.
“Please, have mercy on me” She cried but no one paid heed to her pleas.
Soon the room was empty leaving Jade who was sitting on one of the swiveling chairs as she stared at the fallen Stephanie.
“What a shame” Jade hissed as she stood up to her feet and stood before Stephanie.
“I don’t know if I should feel sympathetic for you but I think that would be a waste of sympathy because I know you’re unremorseful,” She said calmly as she watched Stephanie slowly rise to her feet.
“Jade–”
“Don’t” Jade calmly interjected her, but her eyes were spitting fire. “Don’t you dare take my name with your mouth! I warned you never to cross my path again but you refused to heed my warning, why? Because you think I’m gullible and a pushover?” She asked and sighed.
“This should be a warning to you. I hope you learn how to live an honest life here on out, but I also think I’m wasting my breath” She hissed as she closed the space between them so much that she was towering over her, and the cold icicles popping out of Jade’s eyes made her shudder.
“Don’t ever appear before my face again. Now it may be your job, the next might be your life” Jade warned. Her eyes still locked on Stephanie with a lot of fierce anger emanating out of it and Stephanie felt goosebumps crawling over her skin.
Jade gave her one last look before turning away to leave while Stephanie watched her back angsty. Her hands clenched into a ball as her nails drew blood from her palm.
“Jade I’ll make you pay” She swore ferociously.
***
Jade wasn’t surprised when she met Mr. Alan at the door, obviously waiting for her. She was certain he wanted to apologize to her for what he had done.
“Jade” He called out in a low and embarrassed tone making her stop in front of him.
“I’m sorry” He started. “I’m sorry for disappointing you” He apologized with his eyes lowered. He was too embarrassed to look at her. Jade was like a daughter to him who he had taken under his wings since the day she started working here but he had acted wrongly by her, and he felt so ashamed of himself.
Seeing him lowering his head ashamedly, Jade felt sad for him. Alan was a good man, but his predicament had made him commit an unscrupulous act. Though in her heart she was angry, she still knew she had to forgive him, after all, she had been able to save herself.
“Mr. Alan I understand. I just hope you don’t do this again. Things might be hard sometimes and we’re tempted to do things we might not be proud of, but always do the right thing. God will never give us more than we can bear” She told him.
“Thank you, Jade, thank you” He earnestly appreciated her before walking away. Jade looked at his back as he walked away, and she felt sorry. Sometimes people do make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean they should be condemned for it. For instance, she had cheaply given herself to a man but now she was selflessly been loved by the same man who had paid her for the bodily services she rendered.
She got her second chance at love, and as such she might as well give him a second chance.
Like they say to err is human, to forgive, divine.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 27
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