Chapter 104: Shambles
Third Person POV.
Desperate, Estelle clung to the slimmest thread of denial she had left. "No, no, this is all a mistake! The necklace is a gift from my mother. I'm innocent, you can't arrest me for something I didn't do!" she protested, her words carrying a sense of desperation as she struggled to escape the tightening noose of her stumble lies.
As if by some cruel twist of fate, the sound of camera shutters and hushed whispers filtered into the room, heralding the arrival of a sea of paparazzi.
The paparazzi, eager to capture every nuance of the unfolding scandal, swarmed around Estelle like a pack of ravenous hyenas, their camera flashes illuminating the scene before them.
Estelle, her knees touching the cold, hard floor, begged her captor for mercy as she clutched her hands together in a silent plea.
The guilt of her actions washed over her, mingling with the humiliation of being exposed in such a public manner.
Her once carefully curated persona crumbled as she became nothing more than a spectacle, trapped within a maelstrom of her own making.
Mavis lingered, trying to implore the security personnel. "Please, you have to do something to stop the media frenzy. What can we do to calm this situation?"
The man responded calmly. "I suggest you go home, sir. We're awaiting further instruction from the CEO, but until then, Ms Estelle will remain detained. If you stay any longer, the media will connect you to this incident, and you'll be implicated as well.
As Estelle was led away, Mavis found himself unable to shake the feeling of being trapped in a tangled web of his own design.
The repercussions of Estelle's theft and his connection to her were already being woven into the fabric of his reputation, threatening to destroy everything he had built for himself.
With a heavy heart, Mavis weighed the options before him, knowing that revealing Estelle's arrest to his father would only add fuel to the fire of his father's distrust and disappointment.
Yet, he was too shameless to think that it mattered. As he unlocked his phone, his eyes widened in shock as he beheld a notification that revealed the full extent of his downfall.
The theft at the mall was a trending topic accompanied by a picture of him and Estelle, captured during the scene of her arrest. It had the hashtag: #Zillionaire'ssoninthemud. The sight struck him like a punch to the gut, his fingers trembling as they grazed over the screen.
His shame was now on full display, his name dragged through the mud and broadcasted to the world.
He heaved, knowing that somehow, the news would get to his father. He was a social media person and so definitely, he was going to stumble on his mess.
Estelle's mess had put their plan in jeopardy. Their bribe was now useless and the account manager's office was out of reach. He still wondered what really came over her to have caused her to steal a necklace.
With Estelle detained, he knew that kidnapping her new boyfriend was no longer an option. Yet, leaving her in the hands of the authorities did not sit well with him.
As he pondered his options, his phone rang. "Hello," he answered. "Who's calling?"
"You should be ashamed of yourself! What are you even doing in San Francisco? Stealing a common necklace for Estelle from a Mall? How could you bring such disgrace upon yourself and the family? I've done nothing to deserve this!"
It was his father, he used one of his private numbers to call him. His words were like daggers, slicing through his composure and forcing him to stutter out an explanation. "I-I didn't mean to bring you shame, Dad. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. It was Estelle who stole from the mall, not me," he stammered,
"You may not have physically taken anything, but you're certainly guilty by association. When the media reports this, they won't care about who stole what - all they'll see is that you were part of a team that stole from a mall. You should know better than to be friends with people like Estelle. You've brought nothing but embarrassment to our family," his father scolded.
"Dad, please," he pleaded. "It was a mistake."
The line had gone dead, and his efforts to appease his father had fallen on deaf ears. Frustrated, he let out a low hiss. But as he looked up, his frustration was immediately replaced by intrigue as he spotted three men escorting a woman towards a luxurious Rolls Royce. The sight of such a high-end car and the men's confidence in their stride were enough to pique his interest, despite his predicament. He narrowed his eyes and watched as they led the woman towards the car, curiosity tugging at him like a magnet.
His attempts to catch Mr. Cruz's attention proved futile. "I'm sorry, Mr Mavis." The manager said, avoiding eye contact as he brushed past, "I'm extremely busy at the moment. We close in two hours, and I have a lot to attend to. Perhaps we could talk another time."
His words, though polite, were a clear dismissal, leaving him feeling both ignored and frustrated. It seemed that the chaotic events of the day had left little room for addressing his concerns.
Mavis’ words carried a hint of resignation. "It seems our meeting will have to wait until the dust settles," he said with a sigh.
Mr. Cruz met Mavis's eyes for a brief moment before darting off. "You need to understand that no one will want to do business with a suspected thief. Estelle is not worth the trouble she's caused you. She's simply using you for her own selfish interest. The CEO is stepping in to handle her case, but I suggest you stay out of it. Come back tomorrow when things have calmed down." His tone was firm, but not unkind, making it clear that his advice was well-intentioned.
Mavis’ frustration rose to the surface. "But you promised we would meet today!"
Cruz's expression remained stoic as he replied. "I understand your frustration, but the circumstances have changed. She was escorted out of here just moments ago, and she's not in any condition to talk business today."
Cruz’s choice of words was deliberate. Throughout the conversation, he had refrained from using Isabel’s name, even though he knew very well who Mavis was there to see.
His caution stemmed from Isabel’s previous instructions. She wanted to maintain a low profile until the time was right to make her presence known.