Chapter 275
“Don’t worry, we’ll vouch for you when they start asking questions,” Benji says, his voice softer now. “You’re their best worker, and under your leadership, our team has won Team of the Year multiple times. Our research breakthroughs didn’t happen by accident.” He gives me a steady look. “That has to count for something p>
“Thank you, all,” I whisper, meaning it more than words can say. “I need to leave now—but keep up the good work, and don’t slack off p>
I leave before they can see the tears threatening to fall.
Hours later, I sit on my couch, staring at nothing. I tried to rest, but my mind is too wired, my body too tense to sleep.
It’s only after getting home that something Jocelyn said finally clicks. She mentioned Brook. Said she was in on this.
We haven’t crossed paths since the day I saw her with Jocelyn, and from what I’ve heard, she never went back to living with Noah.
Is this what she meant that day? When she told me to enjoy my victory while it lasted?
She went quiet after that and now I can’t help but wonder if she was just planning, waiting and biding her time.
Keys rattle in the lock and the door swings open, right before light fills the room
“Fuck, Sierra!” Lilly shrieks. “You scared the hell out of me p>
I don’t move. It almost feels like I’m stuck and honestly, I don’t even know how long I’ve been in the same position.
It’s quiet and then something drops and I hear hurried footsteps.
Lilly appears in front of me, blocking out the image of the blank TV screen, “ Why didn’t you show up for dinner p>
“I forgot,” I say dully.
Her brows pinch together. “You forgot p>
“Yes p>
She’s silent for a moment, her eyes searching my face before asking. “Are you okay p>
“No,” I admit. “I’m not p>
She sits beside me. “Talk to me, what happened p>
“I was suspended,” I say, my voice flat.
Her face darkens instantly. “What? What happened? Why did they suspend you p>
I tell her everything. By the time I finish, she’s vibrating with anger.
“Fuck,” she grits, “What the fuck is wrong with them p>
I just shrug because honestly, I’ve been asking myself the same question since I got home. How could they question my integrity like that after everything I’ve done for that company?
“Just say the word and I’ll bury that company so deep it’ll never recover,” she snaps.
“No,” I say firmly. “The company didn’t do this p>
“Then I’ll deal with the real culprit… Jocelyn p>
“No,” I cut in.
I’ll deal with Brook later. For now, my problem is Jocelyn. Brook may be the mastermind, but Jocelyn is the one who acted. She’s the one who filed the report and got me suspended, and for that, she’s the one I’ll deal with first
She studies me. “You’re sure p>
Jocelyn crossed a line, and I’m not willing to let that slide.
“Yes… This is my fight.” My voice is steady, even if my heart isn’t. “I’ll take Jocelyn down myself p>
“Good, I’ve got your back,” Lilly exhales slowly, then nods. “Just let me know what you need p>
Anonymous
I’ve been watching them for a while now. Brook is predictable, while Jocelyn, on the other hand, is desperate to prove something to the world and that desperation makes them perfect scapegoats.
I hired people to follow them and gather information. That’s how I knew the exact moment they planned to frame Sierra for a breach of confidentiality.
When they began putting the pieces in place, I gave them exactly what they needed: Access.
Sierra thinks this is something that will be resolved quickly, bu she has no idea what’s coming.
“What if this plan fails again?” she asks.
I laugh softly.
“Then it fails. I just want to see if those two idiots can pull this off,” I say.
“You secretly gave them incriminating information; what if it leads back to us p>
“It won’t,” I assure her. “If this plan fails, I’ve already planted the evidence. Everything will lead back to Jocelyn p>
I smile.
The game isn’t over.
It’s just getting interesting.