105As tension simmered between Michael and Ryan, Michael found it increasingly difficult to focus on his work. His mind kept drifting to the incident with Ryan and the restaurant they were seen at together. Toby, noticing Michael's preoccupation, approached him with curiosity."Hey, Michael, what did Jimmy say to you earlier? You seemed really bothered by it," Toby asked.Michael let out a sigh, still unable to shake off the thoughts of what had transpired."He was talking about that restaurant where he saw both of us having lunch. He couldn't believe we would be caught in that kind of environment," Michael explained.Toby raised an eyebrow, perplexed by the situation."But won't this just create envy and gossip among our colleagues? If they see us frequenting the same restaurant, won't they think we're trying to worm our way into favoritism too?" Toby questioned.Michael sighed again, his determination unwavering."Jimmy's a cool guy, and I trust his explanation. I'm not going to le
106Once there, Michael was asked by a police officer to remove all valuable personal belongings. He took off the few things he had on him, including his watch and some bracelets, and put them on the table. The police officer then asked him to remove his ring as well."I can't part with my ring," Michael protested. "It's sentimental to me."The officer, indifferent to his plea, remarked, "I don't care. Take it off and put it in the bag."Reluctantly, Michael removed his ring and placed it in a plastic bag. The officer then swiftly tossed the bag into a nearby cell, leaving Michael feeling completely violated.Feeling the need to reach out for help, Michael politely asked, "Can I make a phone call, please?"The officer dismissively replied, "Later."Frustrated by the officer's lack of concern, Michael exclaimed, "This is an abuse of my rights!"In response, the officer simply chuckled and disregarded his statement. A few minutes later, another officer arrived and introduced himself as
107The next morning, as the sun rose over the town, Officer Johnson arrived at the doorstep of Michael's cell. Michael, still groggy from sleep, opened his eyes find the officer standing there, a serious look on his face."Good morning, Michael Ventura," Officer Johnson greeted, tipping his hat. "I'm here to inform you that you'll be tried this afternoon."Michael's eyes widened in shock. "Tried? What for? And why was I held without anyone knowing where I was?"The officer sighed, his expression hardening. "You've rubbed shoulders with the wrong person, Michael. Ryan Smith. And now you must face the consequences."Confusion clouded Michael's face." So Ryan Smith is a Big shot now? "Officer Johnson shook his head. "Doesn't matter, Michael. The judge has allowed you to have a lawyer, luckily. But, unfortunately, all the lawyers who are likely to be appointed are busy. Judging by your appearance, I highly doubt you have the means to pay for one yourself."Michael's heart sank. "So, wha
108As they stepped out of the Commissioner's office, Samantha arrived, her eyes welling up with tears. "Michael," she breathed, rushing to him. The sight of him, free, suprised her, and she broke down, tears streaming down her face, she was playing her victim card.Ryan quickly approached her, his expression filled with concern. He gently held her, trying to comfort her. "Don't cry, Sam. It won't happen like that. He will be punished for what he's done."Michael, still reeling from the recent events, began sorting through his returned belongings. His heart sank when he couldn't find his ring. Perplexed, he wondered aloud, "Where could it be? I had put it here."He immediately turned to Douglas, who was standing nearby. "Douglas, I can't find my ring. It's gone," he explained, a hint of worry in his voice.Douglas's brow furrowed. "Are you sure you didn't misplace it somewhere? We can look again.""No, I had it with me before I was arrested. It's a family heirloom, I've had it since i
109The commissioner was now visibly frightened and uncertain. He stammered, "I... I don't know what to do. Give me a moment, please."Just then, Douglas calmly assessed the situation before addressing Commissioner Cook. "Sir, this is no longer your responsibility. I'll take it from here."Commissioner Cook nodded, relieved to hand over the burden. "Thank you!"Douglas turned to Ryan and Samantha, his tone stern. "You both need to cooperate fully. This situation has gone far enough." He walked away to make a call.Douglas dialed John Smith's number, Ryan's father, to explain the situation. "John, it's Douglas. Your son has done something unforgivable, and we have evidence against him."John Smith's voice trembled over the phone. "Not again! This is getting out of hand. What happened this time?"Douglas took a deep breath before recounting the events. "Your son stole Mr. Ventura's ring and plotted to have him illegally arrested. This is the second time he has bothered Mr. Ventura, and
110Michael collapsed onto the familiar sofa, his body aching from the ordeal he had just endured. The weight of the world seemed to lift from his shoulders as he finally found solace in the comfort of his own home. Emily burst through the front door with a mixture of relief and worry etched across her face. Without a moment's hesitation, she enveloped him in a tight embrace, nearly knocking him off balance."Oh Mike, I was so worried!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with genuine concern. "Where have you been? What happened?"Leaning back into the sofa, Michael let out a heavy sigh before recounting the harrowing events that had unfolded over the past few days. "It's a long story, Em," he began, his voice filled with weariness. "Ryan, out of spite, had me falsely arrested based on a complaint from Samantha. They confiscated my belongings, and I had no way of reaching out to let you know."Emily's eyes widened in disbelief, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. She had always k
111Brad's face twisted in disbelief. "I don't believe you, Michael," he spat out, "We're going to Jimmy Turner about this."Michael merely shrugged, his smirk never leaving his face. "Fine by me."Venturing into Jimmy's office, Brad greeted him angrily. "Jimmy, Boss, we need to discuss something important." Jimmy returned the greeting and said, "Ooh, it is good timing, to see you both here guys. As i had just received a phone call concerning both of you." "Jimmy, what the hell is going on? I just heard that I'm being demoted and Michael is taking my place!" Brad said his face red with anger.Jimmy sighed and motioned for Brad to calm down. "Yes, Brad, it's true. The decision came from higher up in the company. There's nothing I can do about it."In the office of Jimmy Turner, a heavy silence descended after the news was delivered. Brad's face paled, his eyes wide in shock. "You're joking, right? This has to be some sort of sick joke."Jimmy Turner, a man who seemed to wear a perpet
112Darren, unable to contain his skepticism, spoke up. "And what if someone doesn't follow your rules? What are you going to do about it?"Michael locked eyes with Darren, his gaze filled with determination. "If anyone chooses to challenge my authority or disrupt the harmony of this team, there will be consequences. I will not tolerate any behavior that hinders our progress. This is a fresh start for all of us, and it's up to each and every one of you to make it work."Brad, feeling a mix of frustration and disappointment, couldn't hold back his emotions any longer. "This is ridiculous! You come in here out of nowhere and act like you can just boss us around? Who do you think you are?"Michael remained calm, his composure unwavering. "Brad, I understand your concerns, but I assure you that my intention is not to boss anyone around. I am here to lead this team towards success, and that requires a certain level of discipline and order. We need to work together, trust each other, and re