The Truth

The Truth
Karen couldn't have been more furious than she already is, all of her plans to make Jack become hers had been futile till now. She paced around her room seeking desperately for another way. She almost went crazy when Elizabeth informed her that she had moved in with Jack some days ago. She tried to talk her out of it, making her see the reason why it is so wrong. Giving her excuses that it is too soon but Elizabeth paid no heed to her manipulations.

Why does she think it is not a good thing to do, especially since her parents were against it. Her phone chimed and she rushed to check who had called her. She has been expecting a call.

"Have you shared the fliers?" She asked as soon as she accepted the call.

"Yes, ma'am" The person on the other end of the call answered. It has a deep and masculine voice.

"Good. I'll forward the rest of the payment to you" She said before ending the call.

She smiled to herself as if she won an award. "Now I want to see how she'll get out of this."

She picked up her phone once again and texted Liz.

Karen: Have you heard the rumors?
It took some minutes before Elizabeth texted back

Liz: What rumors?

Karen replied back almost immediately.

Karen: Everyone is talking about you at work. I don't know the details but I should ask someone.

Liz: About me? Why?? Omg!

Karen: Don't freak out. Where are you?

Liz: I'm getting gas. I'll be there in five minutes.

Karen: Drive safe. Text me when you get here.

Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder what rumor they could be saying about her. Ever since she joined the organization, she never had an issue. She gets to work early and leaves when due. She doesn't have any interpersonal relationship with anyone except Karen and Charlotte, her boss.

She muttered a quick word of prayer when she pulled into the company's driveway and turned off the ignition. She noticed the lady at the reception office who had always smiled at her everytime she came in gave her a strange look. Something like disgust and a forced smile but she struggled it off.

Her suspicion of what Karen had told her about was confirmed when she got into the elevator with three other ladies that worked on the same floor as her.

"I can't believe she is capable of that," One of them said in a whisper.

"Me too but you know the saying about the evilest person had the most innocent look" Another person confirmed while the rest laughed.

"If it were me, I wouldn't even have the guts to show up today," the first girl spoke again.

"If she can spread her legs for him, she has no shame, trust me. "

"I wouldn't have thought Smith could have a daughter like her. What a disgrace"

When she heard her name, Elizabeth didn't need any proof to believe they were talking about her. She fought with all she could not to break down and cry at the presence of the ladies giving them the satisfaction they were looking for. As soon as the elevator stopped on the fifth floor and the door opened, she rushed out not missing the mockery laughter that followed her.

Her face was wet with tears by the time she reached Karen's office. She didn't open the door before she entered. When Karen saw her tear filled face, she didn't need to ask what was wrong. She knew she would have heard all the shits she spread about her. Karen pulled Elizabeth into her arms as she sobbed against her chest, wetting her clothes with her tears.

"I can't stay here, Karen," Elizabeth sobbed.

"Shh, it's okay. It's just a rumor. With time they'll stop" Karen patted her back as her tears subside.

"You don't need to show them their words to get to you," she added.

"I don't care, I can't take it"

"What exactly did you hear?"

"They were saying things about me, my family and jack. Things that weren't true"

"I'm sorry you have to hear all of that. I tried to gather all the fliers but it was everywhere and they all read it before I could gather everything"

For her first time since she entered, Elizabeth looked surprised.

"Fliers?" She asked. "What fliers?"

"You don't need to worry. Whoever shared it says some horrible things, you don't need to see it"

"I need to see. If someone is going to say something about me, I deserve to see if they're doing their job right" Elizabeth was very determined to see what the flier is and what rumor the person had been sharing about her.

Karen went to her drawer and pulled out one of the fliers. "It was everywhere this morning" She said, handing one to Elizabeth who went through its contents immediately.

November 13th, 1981

From Miss Busybody.
TRUTH ABOUT ELIZABETH SMITH

I know you will all wonder why I chose Elizabeth today. Seeing that she is an upright and potential young lady, I am sorry to disappoint you that it is all but a facade. Lies. That was an act to fool all of you. I know who the real Elizabeth smith is and what she is capable of doing. She had manipulated her way into the best of the charming handsome billionaire named Jake Walters. She got into his bed and lied about being pregnant for him to stay with her. That is not all,she manipulated her best friend, David whom she had a long affair with …

Elizabeth dropped the flier as she got to that part. She couldn't read any further as tears started to blind her eyes once again.

"I shouldn't have made you read, I'm sorry" Karen moved to her side to console her. She smiled when Elizabeth wasn't looking.

"We'll find whoever did this and pay them back" Karen vowed, faking empathy.

The rumor that Elizabeth was faking pregnancy and lied to get the favors of Jack Walters, the young, handsome and hardworking Billionaire was soon to fill New York. When Mr Smith heard about it,he was quick to believe it without questioning his daughter. To him, that was the reason behind Elizabeth's prudent and insolent behavior lately. She dares to go against his wishes and still be with Jack.

"I will not disgrace our family name. All that I've tried to build over the years, I will watch and let her ruin it" Mr Smith vowed, slamming his fist hard against the table in the middle of his office.

"I will have her summoned, we need to confirm if all these is true." Mrs Smith's voice was calm. She tried to show how affected she was by the news especially when her husband was like this. One of them needs to keep their calm and think before they act.

She believed Elizabeth would never bed a man before marriage but her recent behavior has left room for doubt. Ever since the Tulliver's ball party, she wasn't sure who her daughter was anymore.

"Summon her? What for? I will not have her in my house anymore, not until she breaks up with Jack and has her name cleared" Mr Smith charged.

"You can't tell me you don't trust your daughter, Richard. You know she will never do something like this!" Mrs Smith retorted in the same pitch.

"A daughter I trust would never dare to go against my wish" Mr Smith left the room in anger. He saw no use in involving in verbal lashes with his wife.

Mrs Smith breaks down, not knowing who to support and what side and whose side she should be on. Her daughter or her husband?

"Mother, are you okay?" Sarah rushed in after witnessing her father rush out of his study in anger.

"Yes, Sarah. Your father and I were just having a little disagreement" Mrs Smith replied.

"Is it about Elizabeth and the baby?"

"What baby? Elizabeth isn't pregnant. I know my daughter better than anyone else. She will never bring shame to this family or involve in something to impair the family's image"

"I know but her behavior lately…"

"No buts. She isn't pregnant until I confirm myself. "

Since Mrs Smith was hell bent on vouching on her eldest daughter's integrity, Sarah believed it was time to step in and take matters in her hands. She wants to believe Elizabeth, in fact, she almost did but she remembers Elizabeth told her about moving in with him recently which makes it difficult for her to figure out if she indeed is pregnant or it is just a rumor.

Since her mother had been handicapped by her father, it remains only her to get to the root of the matter and prove Elizabeth's innocence to her father.

"I know what to do" She muttered more to herself than her mother before she left the study. According to her, the only possible way to get to this is to have a word with Jack himself without Elizabeth's knowing.

She has been skeptical about him from the very start and if
his relationship with her sister is going to bring apart her family, she needs to know so as to take the appropriate steps.