Chapter 13
Mariana
I said nothing as I left Aiden outside. I stared at the USB he had given me; I wasn’t convinced of his reasoning behind helping me, but if what he was saying was true about what was on this USB, then this could be the proof that I needed.
I went straight towards my office; passing Emily in the halls as I neared my door. She brushed her shoulder against mine and flipped her auburn hair out of her face with her fingers.
“Out of my way,” Emily muttered as she continued down the hall.
I pursed my lips together and glared at her back as she disappeared down the hall.
“It should be you that gets out of my way,” I muttered back as I turned toward my office.
I was astonished by what I found on the USB. Aiden was an absolute genius and I adored him for bringing this to me.
The 3 days passed quickly, and I had everything I needed to prove my innocence. I was also almost done calling all the important customers and being sure we don’t lose their business.
The shareholders sat around the table in the meeting room, and I had some bank employees in the room as well.
“Thank you for returning,” I began the meeting.
“This better be worth our time,” Cher said, sounding bored already.
“I assure you, it is,” I told him, keeping my eyes locked on his. “I spent the last few days on the phone with most of our major customers. I was able to make amends with them and they agreed to return to our branch.”
There were surprised murmurs across the meeting room.
“That’s nice and all but that doesn’t excuse your actions,” Cher said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Actually, I have proof that it wasn’t me at all,” I told him firmly as I walked over to the company laptop; it was attached to a big projecting screen for everyone in the room to see.
“Give me that USB,” Cher ordered, standing up. “I’m sure there’s nothing on there that can prove your innocence.”
I said nothing as I inserted the USB into the computer
On the USB there were two separate videos. Before I pressed ‘play‘, I caught the eyes of Emily. She was standing towards the back, and she looked uncomfortable.
I turned away from her and began playing the first video.
Emily was breaking into my office; the clip stops as soon as she enters my office, but then another clip from my office view of her messing with my computer.
I looked at Cher who was sitting tensely in his seat; his eyes going back and forth from Emily’s pale features to the projector.
Without saying anything, I paused the video and clicked the next one on the USB. It was another clip of Emily, but this time she was in the breakroom. She wasn’t alone. She was with Cher. They were having sex on the meeting table.
Everyone watched the clip in shock, and they all backed away from the table quickly with disgust on their faces.
“What is the meaning of this?!” One of the shareholders asked, staring between Cher and Emily.
Neither of them said anything; both were too stunned to speak. Obviously, Emily didn’t think I had a camera in my office. I had to admit though that I was uncomfortable that Aiden was able to access my cameras so easily. But I was grateful that he basically did my work for me and made my job that much easier.
“It seems we have made a mistake in our initial ruling,” another shareholder said looking around at the others who nodded in agreement. “Anna’s job will remain as it is with our sincerest apologies.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said with a small bow in his direction.
