FRAMED

LAURA

“I didn't do it.”

I stared desperately from one face to another, hoping that someone in this room would believe me.

But these people didn't know me, so why would they believe me?

They didn't know me like Tristan did…yet he sat there, staring at me like I was a complete stranger.

“I really didn't do it.” I repeated, shaking my head. 

“But the evidence we have here says otherwise, Ms. Hayes,” one of the mean-faced shareholders countered. He bore a striking resemblance to Madison, I wondered if they were related. “And you know as well as we do, how serious and delicate of a crime this is.”

Madison had just walked in here with obviously forged evidence of a crime I knew nothing about. Just how far was she willing to take this meanness?

The said evidence was a number of forged texts that showed that I leaked information to a competitor. Information concerning Pierce Holdings' latest Merger and Acquisition plans. 

Apparently, I'd sold the information for a million bucks. 

That never even happened in my dream, so I quickly realized that I was being framed. I understood that it was a carefully planned catastrophe, when Madison opened her mouth again.

“You can't deny it. Investigations were carried out, and we were able to gather that you have a stack of unsettled bills threatening to leave you bankrupt, from rent bills to a whole lot, utility and whatnot. So, it's not a surprise that you resorted to selling out the firm’s information for a few measly bucks.”

“That's not true! I know nothing about the M&A plans you speak of!”

“Then how do you explain the leak? No one else in the firm knew of the Merger, except the CEO. I mean he wouldn't shoot himself in the leg by leaking this, would he? Who else works close to him every other day? Who else could have access to that information?”

My tongue hung heavy against the roof of my mouth as everyone looked in my direction again, their stares accusing. 

“That's right,” Madison continued with a smug smile. “It's you.”

Tristan sat back in his chair and watched without saying a word, throughout the query. 

“What do you have to say about this, Ms. Hayes?” The man that bore a resemblance to Madison chipped in. “You have a chance to explain yourself before an immediate decision is reached by the board.”

I clasped my hands together in a silent plea, my eyes stinging with tears. “Believe me, I know nothing about this—”

Someone slammed their hand on the table. “This is not a pity party. Explain to us why we have messages from your email address!”

“Maintain some order,” Tristan’s voice rang out, cold blue eyes never leaving my face.

“If you have nothing to say to prove that you didn't leak this information,” the man continued in a calmer voice, “then you'll have to step outside while the board quickly makes a decision.”

I shook my head slowly, the tears burning my eyes now. I tried all I could to make sure they didn't fall. 

“No, please. You have to listen to me. I never sent those messages.” I looked to Tristan for help, but he just sat there staring at me without saying a word.

“I think a thorough investigation should be carried out,” a voice rang out, immediately filling me with hope. I looked to see Karen McCaw speaking into her mic with a drawn expression. “I believe she wouldn't keep insisting she knew nothing about it if she was truly guilty.” She paused, looking around at the faces. “There are always two sides to a story. Even more, in some cases. Why don't we hear her out?”

A pindrop silence dominated the room, tension thick in the air.

Finally, someone spoke. “Are you saying you can vouch for her, Ms. McCaw?”

“I'm only saying—”

“If you can't vouch without flinching, that she's as innocent as you both claim, then I'd advise that you keep quiet. Unless you'd like to join her outside.”

Karen looked angry, and that anger melted to pity when she looked over at me. Her eyes held a deep apology that moved my broken heart.

“Please step outside, Ms. Hayes. We won't have to ask again. The security guards are right outside.”

Trembling, I did as I was asked. I left the boardroom.

When I was called back in minutes later, I could tell what to expect, from the look on their faces.

“We've reached a final conclusion, and we've made a decision. The investigations were thorough, and every substantial evidence points to you as the culprit. So, with immediate effect, you're stripped of your position as an intern of Pierce Holdings. Please pack your stuff and exit the premises in twenty minutes.”

The world crashed around me. Dots appeared in my vision, blurring it. I felt dizzy on my feet, and I didn't have an iota of strength to catch myself when I stumbled and fell backwards.

They all sat there, Tristan included, staring at me seated on the floor, like I just lost my world. 

What was to become of me, now? Finally, Madison had succeeded in ruining my life with her toxic, unexplainable hatred for me.

What did I do to deserve this?

I remained on the floor as everyone filed out of the boardroom, including Tristan. He was the last to leave, and when he walked past, he didn't say a word to me. Neither did he look my way.

I had been abandoned.

The tears rushed forward, threatening to overwhelm me in a flood. But I held back, bit my lip to endure the pain, bit my fingers into my skin to make it go away.

The world was such an unfair place, and I had just been kicked out of it.

Minutes later, I dragged myself to my feet and out of the office, down to my desk, where I packed every single personal belonging I had brought to this godforsaken place with me.

Gossip had already spread, and it was all everyone spoke of as I left with my tiny box of belongings.

“She got smart and sold out information. She thought the boss would go easy on her because she shagged him. Isn't that pretty stupid?”

I tuned out their voices, holding my shoulders high as I walked through the hallways, until I was outside the building. 

Tears filled my vision again, and they finally spilled down my face in endless pain. 

I walked for a long time, taking the time to absorb all that had happened, what was left of my life…and what direction it would take, henceforth.

My eyes caught a fashion store across the street, and I stopped, staring at the dresses in the window for a long moment.

Maybe it was because I walked for so long. I felt a sudden wave of dizziness that forced me to squat in the middle of that sidewalk and cry even harder. 

I never took my eyes off the dresses as I cried. For some reason, I felt like this would become a very important moment I would look back on, in the future.

A promise was burned into my mind at that moment. I'll rise so high, to a place no one could touch me.