Fired

Chapter 6

Fired.

Elara Winterfell.

I wore my flat shoes today, in contrast to the stilettos I always wear to work. But even with the flat shoes which barely ever made any noise, all eyes were on me the moment I stepped into the building of my workplace.

“That's her…” The first whisper reached my ears.

“She still dared to show her face at work? She really doesn't have any shame…"

“To think she could slither her way into the life of Connor Watson that way, she's despicable!”

People did not try to hide their disgust for me, as they stared at me openly and pointed brazenly.

“She used to carry her shoulders up anytime, right? It serves her right! I wonder how long she will continue to work here…"

I could only bow my head in shame and walk into the nearest elevator, my heart was heavy, and I breathed a deep sigh of relief as the elevator doors closed. I steeled myself not to cry. I couldn't cry! I had to be strong! One way or the other, I had to still move forward.

And I could not lose my job at this point, it was the only thing I had left. If I lost it, it meant that I was losing my entire life as well.

The elevator pinged, and its doors opened to reveal a crowd of people that stood in front of it, as if waiting for my arrival.

“Miss Winterfell, are the rumors about your betrayal true?”

“Is it true you cheated on Connor Watson and pinned the pregnancy on him?”

“How do you feel about what you did?”

“How do you feel about your ex-boyfriend getting married to your best friend?”

“Was the man you cheated with much better than our former most eligible bachelor in the country?”

“Who did you cheat on Connor Watson with?”

The flashes of the cameras almost blinded me instantly as I was covered by a swarm of journalists. How had they gotten to my workplace without getting stopped by the security? Did Isabel have a hand in this?

I was at a loss for words as I tried to push past them into my office. I couldn't deal with this at this point. My emotions would get the better of me, and it would only send the wrong information to the press.

But the press was resistant and pushed against me. They made sure they had me pinned to the elevator doors, so I would not escape, and they continued hurtling questions at me, each more piercing than the other.

“We heard that you gave yourself out and slept with the bartenders and the bouncers of the party you attended the last time… Can you confirm that?”

My heart sank, and my eyebrows furrowed as I shook my head furiously at that. “No! No! That is not true! I didn't do any of that! They are all lies! I'm innocent…"

But the press didn't care as they went on attacking me with their words.

“We have video proof of that, Miss Elara Winterfell. You can kindly tell us the truth, and we will end it there, or don't blame us if we release the video to the public to see how disgusting and shameless you have always been…”

“Is it true that you also paraded yourself as a virgin when you've just been a prostitute all these while?”

“And even if you were to sell yourself to different people, why couldn't it be people bigger or richer than Connor Watson? Why did it have to be lowlifes? Is that what you're into? You can't handle fame or riches? Is that why you settle for things like that?”

“Is it true that Connor Watson put you through school and gave you a spot to work for in his best friend's company?”

“Is it true that you sleep with your clients to secure all the deals and contracts you've had so far?”

“Miss Winterfell, can you describe your relationship with your sales head and all the men that you work with? Are they truly professional, or is it true you try to seduce them at any chance you get?”

“Is it true you treat your colleagues like trash even if you come from a lowly background?”

“Is it true you are rude to everyone you work with?”

The questions kept pouring in torrents like it would never stop, and my shoulders sagged, and my head hung low. I didn't know what to do next. I felt like giving up on life already.

“What is going on here?”

The atmosphere changed almost instantly, and I felt him before I even saw him. The chaos instantly quieted as Rowan Nightshade's frame stepped into view. His eyes found mine, and they darkened instantly on seeing my downcast expression against the elevator doors.

The press was suddenly thrown into a frenzy as the elusive billionaire CEO of the Nightshade's group of companies showed his face. It was rare to see New York's number one most eligible bachelor who came second to none.

In a twinkle of an eye, all the people that comprised the press were effectively rounded off by his security guards and Rowan smartly walked past me, not without issuing a command.

“My office. Immediately!”

*

“Here…” He handed me a thick brown envelope. “That's thirty thousand dollars.”

My hands shook as I stretched them out to take the envelope, confused and in shock at the sum of money mentioned. My heart dropped, and my pulse began to race as I thought of the different possibilities that were about to happen with this money I was being given.

“W-we-what is this for… sir?” I struggled to ask as my hands began shaking even more violently.

“Isn't it obvious?” Rowan tilted his head to the side and watched me carefully with his deep brown eyes, his face devoid of any form of emotion. “I'm relieving you of your job, Miss Winterfell.”

“You're terminating my employment?” I asked in shock.

“If that's the way you want to put it.” He said calmly with no traces of emotions in his voice. His cold aura seeped through his pristine office and I shivered from it.

“But… I can't lose my job.” I tried to explain, rushing my voice. “It's my only chance. Please… You can't do this to me! I have made a lot of sales and gotten countless big clients for this company, I am like the face of this company…"

“Now, you're worse… You're the center of hatred for this company, and you'll just be a liability to this company if we continue to have you around. And like I've always told you, I'm a businessman. My profits come first.”

“But…”

“No buts…" His voice hardened, brooking no chance for a further argument. “You have to leave immediately, or you will be escorted forcefully out of the premises. That's a six-month salary as compensation for your good work in this company, and that is all we can offer.”

“What about…”

“And that salary is conditional, Elara.” He said and locked gazes with me. “You will have to return everything if the children in your tummy don't belong to Connor. If not… life would just get worse for you.”

The threat in his voice was clear, and I gulped in fear.