CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR
Aria's POV

There was nothing that I was listening to that made sense to me. I thought I had many things under my control, and I was working with individuals who had wanted my growth for years. I couldn't believe someone in my company would take that much from me while we were struggling seriously to keep the company running.

“I don't understand what you're saying,” I said to Frank, who unfolded a chart on the whiteboard and began to point at different links they had made.

“We found the guy who put out the news. He's an old newscaster. He had promised us that if we kept his identity hidden, he would help us with whatever information it was that we might need from him. He gave us the information about the anonymous number he received the news. He also said the person sent him money from the company to show him that he/she was working on the inside of the company. And the money was still sent from that same logistics account.”

I shook my head. I didn't even know who to suspect as the person who hated me so much to do all of that for me. I would never have thought that anyone would do it to me anyway. 

“Who's the person?” I stood up and walked over to the chart to analyse how well they had traced the person and the number. Those were the only questions I really needed to know at that point. 

I didn't even know what I would do with such information when I realized who the person was. I was just hoping that it wouldn't be someone I gave much to.

“Ethan,” Kael said firmly. 

I paused for a moment, and then it became my turn to burst out laughing. 

I laughed so hard. 

For a moment, I really thought they were saying the truth, and they really knew who the person was. 

“Pftt! You really brought me here just to joke around? Is this supposed to be a joke, or is it more like a payback? This is not funny at all.” I said firmly, completely disappointed that Kael could pull up something as sensitive as that because he wanted to score a point or something.

“You think we will go through all this to joke around? Do you really think I have that much time to waste?” Kael said firmly. His voice rose more than usual.

“Why would you try pinning any of this down on Kael? He doesn't even have access to any account in my office but one…” My brain began to process that I had given him an account to run the movements of goods from a store to his company, and I gave him full access to the password, which indirectly gives him access to other accounts. 

I raised my head and looked at Kael in the eyes, hoping my thoughts wouldn't be true. 

I thought for a while, helping myself back to sit. 

“Ethan has been taking money from me all these years? That's not possible. He's not that kind of person. It can't be.” I tried to convince myself from assuming that my thoughts and the words of Frank and Kael made enough sense to agree that Ethan has been fraudulent with me.

“We need to take action immediately. I will get my men to get him from your house, and I will make sure he pays for all he has stolen.” Kael said, dialing a number on his landline immediately. 

“No, no. This has nothing to do with you. It's my business, and he stole from me. I can't just believe all this is true and make irrational decisions. He's not even home. I will ask him myself. I don't want any third-party meddling in my business for now.”

I stood up immediately.

“What are you going to do after speaking to him and finding out he really did that? Ethan is manipulative. He's a cheat and a chronic liar at that. You don't know what he's capable of and I'm sorry to say, you might never get to fully see it because you're blinded by your love for him and his lies.” Kael didn't miss the opportunity to spoil Ethan's name.

I didn't even know what to do, how to feel or worse, what to believe.

“I will take it up from here. I don't need any more help.” I held my bag tightly, turning to make my way out. “I'm grateful for this in-depth work, Frank. It was nice meeting you.”

“Wait, Aria. Don't just leave like that. Let me get you something to eat.” Kael ran after me and stopped me.

“How do you expect me to be able to eat after this large thing you've placed before me. I'm not interested in tasting anything; talk more about eating.” I turned and kept walking away. 

“Do you really love that fake boyfriend of yours that much?” Kael yelled.

I stopped and turned back to him. “First, I've told you several times to stop trying to belittle him or act so rudely. I don't like it and I won't be telling you not to do that again, next time. I'd take it as you don't respect me, and I will leave the company. Perhaps, my time to finally leave is drawing nearer.”

Kael shook his head and said, “I've never seen someone as genuinely naive as you are. I thought you'd be wiser than all of these that you're doing. For many reasons, you're too hard-headed to be the one who's so blinded to see the truth.”

The words from Kael hit me once more with the fear of it being true that Ethan has been taking from me.

I did not see the reason why he would ever do that to me. He's my perfect boyfriend. It's so wrong of Kael to just accuse him of such a crime just like that. 

I stormed out of Kael's building without saying goodbye.