Chapter 16 Clear Her Name
“Thief?” Maggie scoffed, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. “Miss, who exactly is the thief here? Only a proper investigation can tell. Your company’s new products are so laughably insignificant; my boss doesn’t even give them a second thought.”
Latoya’s gaze shifted to Maggie, taking in her striking beauty, which eclipsed her own. “And who might you be?”
Maggie laughed, a sound filled with undisguised confidence that made Latoya’s eyes narrow suspiciously.
“Who I am is irrelevant. But if you dare falsely accuse my boss, I dare make you kneel and apologize for it.“/
Latoya hadn’t anticipated such blatant rudeness.
After all, Cristofer was currently the most formidable power broker in Summerville.
In just a few short years, he had wrested control over both the legitimate and criminal spheres, a name that struck fear into many hearts even upon hearing it.
As his girlfriend, being addressed so insolently was a direct affront, stirring a potent sense of embarrassment.
Latoya couldn’t suppress a mocking sneer, “Maryanne, have you been consorting with some street thugs since our separation? They calling you ‘Boss‘ just like those unruly kids from the wrong side of town.”
Maggie and Maryanne had indeed been “unruly kids,” growing up alongside Theron in the same orphanage.
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Chapter 16 Clear Her Name
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But they were also fortunate, beneficiaries of immense care and support from countless individuals who believed in them.
“How dreadfully frightening to be so utterly clueless,” Maggie said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she regarded Latoya.
“Enough,” Cristofer’s deep, resonant voice cut through the tense silence.
His sharp gaze pierced through Maryanne’s calm face. “Maryanne, the surveillance footage clearly shows Mariana handing you documents, including our new product information. Do you still intend to deny it?”
She didn’t just betray him; she actually stole the company’s new products from under his nose.
He couldn’t believe that she had underestimated him so completely and tricked him like that.
Finally, Maryanne lifted her head, meeting Cristofer’s gaze directly. The revulsion she saw there sent a chill deep into her heart. “So, you believe it was me who took those documents?”
“No, it was stolen.” The harshness in his tone struck Maryanne like a physical blow.
Why did it still hurt? After all the times she’d been wounded by him, why hadn’t her heart grown numb? Why did the pain still feel so raw?
“Keep your filthy mouth shut! You present yourself decently enough, yet your words are so vile! What garbage is this ‘stolen“?” Maggie exploded, her temper finally snapping.
Maryanne was the boss they had revered since childhood, and no one had ever dared speak to her with such utter disrespect.
Latoya gave a subtle nod to Mariana, who stood hesitantly nearby.
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Chapter 16 Clear Her Name
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Mariana stepped forward, a forced arrogance masking her nervousness. “Maryanne, here is the chat history between us. You explicitly told me to steal the new product information. And the 200 thousand dollars you wired into my account is proof enough. I was with the Jimenez Group for two years… to do something so disloyal… it makes me sick. That’s why I came forward voluntarily to Mr. Jimenez and confessed everything.”
The moment the words left her lips, a palpable tension crackled in the air.
Mariana felt it instantly–the source wasn’t Cristofer, but Maryanne.
Maryanne met her gaze, a cold sneer twisting her lips. “So, you’re quite the actress, aren’t you? You claim I instructed you, but my phone’s been off for a month. How exactly did I give you those instructions? And how can you be so certain that money in your account came from me?”
“It was you who sent the money! You were forced out, and you wanted revenge, so you stole the new product information!” Mariana shot back, finding renewed courage under Latoya’s supportive glance.
Maryanne’s eyes flickered towards Maggie.
Maggie gave a curt nod. “Let’s review the entire sequence of events, shall we? You stole the new product information from the company. But here’s the twist: you never gave it to Ms. Nelson. Instead, you sold it to a man named Hulse. And we have proof–the entire transaction is caught on film.
“Mr. Jimenez, you are truly pathetic. You couldn’t even find this
evidence.”
She held out a tablet, displaying a video to Cristofer.
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Chapter 16 Clear Her Name
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Mariana gasped, her face draining of color.
Cristofer’s gaze sharpened instantly as he recognized the footage. This video captured every detail of Hulse and Mariana’s transaction.
Latoya’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How?” she thought frantically. Where did they get this video?
“The video is fake. Ms. Nielsen is simply resorting to desperate measures to cast doubt and clear her name. While understandable, such tactics are rather low,” Latoya declared quickly, trying to regain control of the situation.
She needed to distance herself from this scandal immediately.
“A fake video?” Maggie laughed, the sound sharp and devoid of any humor. She shot Latoya a contemptuous glance. “Miss, are you blind? If you’re going to be a moron, at least stay out of the way. If this video is fake, why don’t you produce a real one to counter it?”
Latoya sputtered, stunned into silence. How dare she! Such insolence was unthinkable.
“What kind of manners do you think you have, speaking to me like that?” Offensive retorts warred on the tip of Latoya’s tongue, but Cristofer’s presence prevented her from uttering a single one.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.