Chapter 123

My return to the office was met with a sense of trepidation. The scandal had created an invisible barrier between me and my coworkers, and I couldn’t help but feel like an outsider in the place that had once been my second home. But I had a mission, a task given to me by Penny, and I was determined to see it through.

As I walked through the office, I tried to approach my coworkers discreetly, hoping to glean some information about Erickson’s behavior. I needed something concrete to help Penny in her quest to clear my name and salvage my reputation.

But my attempts to engage my colleagues were met with icy silence. They averted their eyes, busying themselves with their work as if I were invisible. The jealousy and resentment that had simmered beneath the surface were now palpable, and I couldn’t help but feel their hostility.

“Hey,” I began tentatively, approaching one of my coworkers, “have you ever noticed if Mr. Erickson singles anyone out for special attention?”

The coworker’s response was a curt shake of the head, and they turned away from me without saying a word. It was clear that they wanted nothing to do with me or my questions.

I continued my attempts, moving from desk to desk, but the result was the same. No one was willing to talk to me, let alone offer any information about Erickson’s behavior. The sense of isolation and frustration grew with each interaction.

I was about to give up and head back to my own desk when I spotted Erickson’s secretary, Sarah, sitting at her desk. She had always struck me as approachable, someone who might be willing to confide in me about her experiences with our boss.

Approaching her cautiously, I cleared my throat. “Sarah, can I talk to you for a moment?”

She looked at me, her expression guarded but curious. “What do you want, Evie?”

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “I’ve been going through a tough time lately, Sarah. I left the firm under difficult circumstances, and I’m trying to clear my name. I need to know if Mr. Erickson has ever singled out any other employees, treated them unfairly or inappropriately.”

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A Sarah hesitated, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. Then, with a sigh, she seemed to make a decision. “Let’s go somewhere more private,” she said, leading me to a small, empty conference room.

Once inside, Sarah finally opened up. Her voice was hushed, and her words carried a sense of unease. “Mr. Erickson can be…difficult at times. He has high expectations and isn’t always easy to work with.”

I pressed further, determined to uncover any information that could help Penny’s efforts. “Has anyone ever confided in you about their experiences with Mr. Erickson? Anything that might suggest a pattern of behavior?”

Sarah sighed, her guard slowly lowering. “Well, there was one incident a while. back, she admitted reluctantly. “One of the junior associates, Lisa, mentioned that Mr. Erickson had made some inappropriate comments during a meeting. She was uncomfortable, but she didn’t want to cause a scene, so she never reported it.”

My heart raced as I listened to Sarah’s revelation. It was a small but significant piece of information that could support Penny’s case. “Thank you, Sarah,” I said sincerely. “Your honesty means a lot. If you ever decide to share more about your experiences or if you hear anything else, please let me know.”

Sarah nodded, her expression a mix of relief and uncertainty. “I’ll think about it.”

Sarah hesitated, her brow furrowing as if she were considering whether to share her thoughts.

Before she could respond, however, a familiar voice interrupted our conversation.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

I turned to see Jasper standing nearby, a smug grin on his face. He had a talent for appearing at the most inconvenient times, and this was no exception.

“What’s going on, Evie?” Jasper continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Trying to stir the pot and get more attention for yourself?”

I felt a surge of anger and frustration at Jasper’s insinuations. “No, Jasper, I’m just here to work. Is that a crime?”

Jasper laughed mockingly, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Work, huh?”

My face flushed with anger, and I could feel the eyes of my coworkers on me, their curiosity piqued by the sudden confrontation.

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“Let me give you a reality check, Evie,” said Jasper, “You’re not fooling anyone. here. We all know what you’ve been up to with Mr. Erickson.”

“Jasper, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” I retorted, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and frustration.

But Jasper wasn’t finished. He leaned in closer, his words laced with venom. “Oh, I know exactly what I’m talking about, Evie. Everyone does.”

My blood boiled at his words, and I clenched my fists to keep from lashing out. I couldn’t let him provoke me, not in front of everyone. I took a deep breath and forced myself to maintain my composure.

Before I could respond, Mr. Erickson appeared, his presence commanding the attention of the entire office. His face was a mask of anger, and his voice held a dangerous edge as he addressed me.

“Evie, what are you doing here?” he demanded, his tone laced with accusation.

I swallowed hard, my anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “I’m here to work, Mr. Erickson,” I replied, my voice steady. “I won’t let false accusations keep me from doing my job.”

But my efforts to defend myself fell on deaf ears. The room seemed to close in around me as my colleagues joined in the berating, their accusations and skepticism cutting deep. I could feel their judgment, their belief in Jasper’s lies, and it fueled my anger.

“I won’t stand for this,” I shouted, my voice trembling with indignation. “I won’t let you all treat me like a pariah. I’m quitting!”

Mr. Erickson’s eyes narrowed, his anger palpable. “Fine,” he spat out, his voice cold and dismissive.

“Pack your things and leave already.”

I didn’t give it a second thought. The room seemed to close in around me as I collected my belongings, each item a reminder of the life I had built at the firm. I could feel the judgmental eyes of my former colleagues on my back, their scorn burning like a branding iron.

I could hear their whispers and murmurs, their disapproval like a chorus of condemnation. The room seemed to close in around me, suffocating me with a sense of shame and defeat.

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With each item I placed into the box, I felt the unraveling of the life I had built at the firm. The letters, the mementos, the pictures–each one a painful reminder of the person I had once been, before the storm of betrayal had torn through my world.

A crowd had formed around me by the time I finished. I bumped shoulders with several people as I made my way to the exit. It was a bitter farewell, a stark contrast to the warm helloes I had once gotten.

Stepping out of the office into the bitter cold, I felt a surge of frustration and anger that had been building within me for far too long. The wind cut through my coat, and I shivered, but it was the storm of emotions inside me that threatened to consume me.

I stood there on the sidewalk, the world around me bustling with life, unaware of the turmoil that raged within me. And then, unable to contain the rage and sorrow any longer, I let out a scream–a raw, primal cry of anguish that pierced the air.

As the echoes of my scream faded into the cold, unforgiving air, the world around me seemed to melt away.

No job. A bad reputation…

What was I supposed to do now?

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