“Understood, Miss Scott.”
Isabella’s heels echoed sharply across the polished marble of the Blackwood Enterprises lobby. Dressed in a tailored beige pantsuit, she moved with an air of unshakable confidence, her posture straight and gaze forward.
She stepped into the elevator. As it ascended, a sudden, uneasy feeling tightened in her chest. Something was off. Today would not be peaceful.
The doors slid open with a soft chime. She walked toward her office, bracing herself.
A sharp, mocking laugh cut through the air the moment she entered.
“Look who decided to show up! The disgraced designer herself. How brave.” Vanessa was draped over a chair, legs crossed, eyes raking over Isabella with open contempt.
Isabella paused, meeting her stare coldly. She didn’t flinch. After a tense moment, she turned away and headed to her desk. She set down her purse and sat, deliberately ignoring the provocation.
“What? Nothing to say? Did all those nasty comments finally shut you up?” Vanessa’s voice grew louder, more aggressive.
Isabella looked up, her expression calm but eyes icy. “If you’re here to offer genuine concern, Ms. Croft, I appreciate it. If not, I have work to do.”
“Work? You think you still belong here? Taking bribes, using your connections… You’ve dragged this company’s name through the mud!”
Isabella offered a tight, dismissive smile. “The investigation isn’t over. Yet you’ve already convicted me. How interesting. Almost as if you’re nervous about what they might find. Are you pulling the strings behind this?”
Vanessa’s face flickered with panic, but she quickly masked it. “Don’t try to twist this! I’m stating facts!”
“We’ll see what the facts are when the investigation concludes.” Isabella’s tone was final. She turned back to her files.
“Isabella Scott,” Vanessa seethed, eyes burning with hatred. “Give up now. You can’t win.”
“The game isn’t over yet,” Isabella replied flatly, not bothering to look up.
Vanessa shot to her feet, jabbing a finger in her direction. “You’ll regret this! Just wait!”
She stormed out, slamming the door shut behind her.
Silence finally settled over the office. Isabella put down the documents and rubbed her temples, exhaustion weighing on her.
At that same moment, in the CEO’s office on the top floor, Benjamin stood before Ethan’s desk, handing him a file. “All the information you requested, sir.”
Ethan took it, his eyes scanning the contents quickly. His frown deepened with each page. “What’s the status of the bribery allegations against Isabella? Have they been resolved?”
Benjamin hesitated. “There’s no concrete evidence yet. But public opinion is heavily against Miss Scott.”
Ethan slammed the file onto his desk. “I want the truth. Now. No more delays. I won’t tolerate these baseless rumors any longer.”
“Yes, sir,” Benjamin replied with a slight bow, though confusion clouded his thoughts. He couldn’t decipher his boss’s true stance. Ethan seemed detached, yet he was investing significant resources into clearing Isabella’s name. It left Benjamin uncertain of how to proceed.