Free Web NovelChapter 371: Take The Moral High Ground
Hanging up, Yonina shook her phone in Michael’s face.
She had lied when she told Wendy that Michael had sent her out of the room.
The truth was that she had taken the call with Michael sitting right in front of her.
Putting the phone on the desk, she gave a slight shrug and said resignedly, "See?
Did you get that?"
Michael nodded, looking as dejected as he was before.
"So, why are you still looking so depressed?"
Looking at him, she continued, "Going by what she had just said, Wendy is obviously still very much in love with you, which is why she hates you so much.
"And that is a good sign. You still stand a very good chance to win her back. As for what’s really happening between her and Todd, only you can decide what to make out of it."
"But Wendy is now in Rheinsville City, with Todd by her side, while I am here, in Lake City," Michael replied, his head hung low.
"I fear that she will eventually fall in love with him."
"Hey, what’s with this defeatist attitude? That’s not the Michael Lucas I know! What’s happened to that cocky egoist in you?" Yonina demanded to know.
"When we first met, you were so arrogant and self-centered. In fact, that arrogance was what attracted me to you in the first place. But look at you now. Even I would want nothing to do with you, much less Wendy."
Yonina was spot on with what she had just said.
Truth be told, she had a newfound respect for Wendy.
Love could really transform a person.
Before she met Michael, Wendy was a vivacious and confident young woman in her prime.
She was the prettiest girl in school, a talented designer and had everything good going for her.
But unfortunately, she met Michael.
From then on, all she ever did was follow behind him. It did not matter to her that he had never turned around to see her for who she was. In fact, he might have turned around, just to scorn her.
In spite of everything, Wendy never gave up on him.
It was like she was immune to pain and hurt of any kind.
Later, having suffered extreme hurt and humiliation, she made up her mind to put it all behind her and move on. Only then did she revert back to that smart and confident woman of old, a bright shining star.
However, destiny was not done with the two of them yet.
Ironically, just when Wendy had decided to call it quits with her love, it was now Michael’s turn to profess his deep love for her.
Michael was now in the exact position as Wendy back in the days when she had loved him deeply and hopelessly.
Like a moth flitting towards the burning flame, despite knowing that death was what awaited it.
He was sensitized to everything that Wendy did, and every word that she uttered.
Being a witness to their arduous, rocky journey of love, Yonina shook her head and sighed, "In the past, when I was very busy with work, I would occasionally sit back and dream about meeting my Prince Charming.
"But now, having seen what you guys are going through, I think I will pass. It’s physically and emotionally exhausting. And detrimental to the intellect."
In fact, she was thankful that she had pulled herself back midway, and had not fallen deeply and hopelessly for Michael.
Otherwise, she would be just as dejected and depressed as Michael now.
"Perhaps this is karma, payback for what I had done to her in the past," Michael said, obviously recalling all the hurt that he had caused Wendy in the past.
Indeed, he should get a taste of what Wendy had gone through back then.
"Oh, don’t be such a pessimist. Maybe you should get a ticket and go out to Rheinsville City," Yonina suggested, "And have a face to face talk with her?"
"I...," Michael did not have the courage to do so.
He feared that he would see Wendy showering Todd with dazzling smiles.
That image would be even more unbearable and would break him.
"Oh, whatever, I give up," Yonina had done all that she could to help him. She added, "I wash my hands off your relationship woes but please don’t let this affect our bigger picture."
Picking up her phone from the desk, she walked over to the sofa and picked up her bag.
Holding the chained strap of her bag, she swung it nonchalantly behind her back and said, "OK, I’m off. We’re just one week away from the bidding exercise so please stay on top of it."
....
On the following day, Wendy and Todd went to work as usual.
Timothy had sent Todd’s fingerprints for analysis and found nothing conclusive.
Having reviewed the surveillance tapes from that day multiple times, he had found no new discoveries either.
This whole incident had really rattled him.
Not many people knew about the safe deposit box.
Except for Timothy, no one else in the company but Todd, who was no longer an employee, knew about it.
However, Todd’s fingerprints did not match the prints they found at the scene.
The prints that they had collected the day before clearly indicated that they belonged to the security team leader, Rosa and Timothy himself.
The security team leader had left his prints on the switch pad by the door when he was instructed by Rosa to enter the room to pick up her jacket.
Timothy did not suspect Rosa at all. She was his wife of many years and he knew her too well.
Also, Rosa had not been privy to the internal operations at HG.
Besides, Timothy did not want her embroiled in any of the stuff that he himself was involved in.
So, in the end, Timothy’s suspicions could not be confirmed.
Timothy was happy yet, at the same time, worried about his suspicions being left unconfirmed. freewebnøvel.com
He was happy that there was a probability that Todd had no part to play in this incident.
Of course, that was just a probability because Todd remained his number one suspect.
What he was worried about was, if Todd was really not involved, then who else knew about his secret?
That person of interest was operating covertly while he, Timothy, was none the wiser, despite his investigation. .
That made him extremely concerned indeed.
He spent a long and arduous time thinking through everything in detail but found nothing, not a single clue.
Noting that it was already past eleven, Timothy decided after some consideration, that he should apologize to Wendy.
After all, they were in a critical phase of the Moonlight project and he did not want to risk upsetting Wendy, who might just act up and adversely affect the progress of the project.
Pressing the intercom, he instructed his assistant, "Get me a bouquet of lilies, as soon as possible."
Shortly after that, the lilies were delivered into Timothy’s hands.
With the flowers in his arms, Timothy walked over to Wendy’s office.
At that moment, Wendy had just returned to her office after a meeting. She deposited her folder of documents on her desk and had not had the chance to sit down when there was a oud rap on her door.
Raising her head, she saw only a huge bouquet of lilies but could not see the face behind it.
However, based on her quick assessment of the figure standing before her, Wendy deduced that it was Timothy.
Pretending not to know that it was Timothy, she called out calmly, "Come..."
Holding the huge bunch of flowers in front of him, Timothy asked with a laugh, "Guess who?"
"Mr. Woods, This is our workplace. I don’t think this behavior is appropriate, do you?"
Wendy asked sternly.
Putting the lilies to one side, Timothy continued smiling, "Well, it’s almost lunchtime.
And what’s inappropriate about a mentor buying his student flowers?"
That side, he began looking around for a vase, asking, "Where’s the vase? I’ll put these flowers in a vase for you."
"That’s not necessary," Wendy replied flatly, deliberately making it appear as though she was still upset.
Now, if Wendy was upset, Timothy would have to try a lot harder to appease her anger.
After all, she was the golden goose that would rake in the millions for their company.
And the one person that he could not afford to cross.
"Why don’t you get your assistant to put the flowers in a vase then? They need to be put in water before they wilt," Timothy said.
Then, looking around her office, he suggested," We could probably split the flowers into three vases, one here, another on the coffee table, and another over there..."
Visibly impatient, Wendy looked up at Timothy’s smiling face and said curtly, "Mr.
Woods, as you said, it’s almost lunchtime. I will not impose on my assistant’s lunch break.
"After all, putting in the extra effort will not be appreciated anyways. Best to just clock in and out on time, and avoid being demoralized if she ends up being blamed for something that she had not done."
Obviously, Wendy had made that remark for Timothy’s ears. frёewebηovel.cѳm
She had done so because it would be the expected, indignant reaction from someone who used to be deemed trustworthy but was now being unfairly accused.
It was therefore necessary for Wendy to appear even more indignant and upset because that would imply that she and Todd were innocent.
And so, she made the most of Timothy’s contriteness and dove her point home.
"Now, now, Corinne. Please don’t take it so badly...," Timothy’s smile had turned a little awkward as he tried desperately to appease her.
"I admit that I did wrong yesterday. But I did not suspect you, really. All I wanted was to find out the specifics from you. Really, I did not have any ulterior motive, nor did I try to trip you up.
"See? I know I did wrong. That’s why I’m here to apologize."
Glancing at the lilies, Wendy smiled. However, her smile seemed cold and distant as she replied, "I just feel very wronged. I had worked my guts out for the company, spending excessively long hours in the office. Had I done it all for my own benefit?
"And yes, because I am now one of HG’s shareholders, I will indeed benefit monetarily from the profits.
"Dig deep into your conscience and ask yourself. Did I not work overtime frequently even before I became a shareholder? In fact, there were many occasions in the past when I used to work through the night.
"But now, because of my spending excessively long hours in the office, you questioned my motive yesterday.
"So, let me ask you. What would you think if you were in my shoes?"
"Yes, I get it. I was wrong to doubt you," Timothy nodded, adding, "But I want to stress again that I never suspected you. And, you have my word that there will be no next time."
"Well, I’m not sure if you suspect me but I know that you do suspect Todd," Wendy said, adding, "I’m sure you are aware of the present status of my relationship with Todd. By suspecting him, you are also suspecting me, no?"
Wendy knew that since Timothy had come to her on his own accord, he must not have gathered any proof of her and Todd being in that room two nights ago.
Once again, she used the situation to take the moral high ground.
"Erm...," Timothy stammered. Noticing that Wendy looked grim and obviously still upset, he controlled his emotions and asked through gritted teeth, "So tell me, Corinne, What must I do in order for you to forgive me?"
"Well, since you’ve apologized to me for wrongly accusing me, you should do the same with Todd," Wendy responded.
"If Todd forgives you then, naturally, I will not have an opinion."
"Erm...," Timothy pondered, obviously unwilling to do so.
Because Todd was his number one suspect.
However, he noted that Wendy was serious and not about to let the matter rest.
"It would appear that you are still suspicious of us," Wendy smiled wryly, looking a little disappointed as she added, "So be it then."
"Oh no, it’s not that. I don’t suspect either of you...," Timothy hastily replied.
Immediately, he continued, "I will apologize to Todd. I will do it right now."
While talking, he pulled out his phone to call Todd.
To prove his sincerity, once the call was accepted, he switched to speaker mode for Wendy o listen in.
"Hi, what’s the matter?" Todd asked coldly.
Obviously, he was also upset about what had happened the day before as he added, "Are you summoning me to your office again for another interrogation?"
