103He had expected harsher consequences, but Jimmy's explanation brought some clarity. "I understand, Jimmy. Thank you for giving us all a second chance."Jimmy's gaze shifted to Michael. "Michael, given the circumstances, I'm willing to offer you the opportunity to switch teams if you feel it would be better for your growth and development. It's important that you feel comfortable and supported."Michael shook his head, his voice filled with determination. "No, boss. I believe in this team and its potential. I want to work through the challenges and prove myself."As Jimmy turned to Darren, he couldn't hide the lingering animosity in his expression. "And what about you, Brad? Do you want Michael to leave the team?"Brad hesitated for a moment, his gaze locked with Michael's. Reluctantly, he shook his head. "No, boss. Despite our differences, I think Michael can contribute positively to the team. I'm willing to give him another chance."Jimmy nodded, satisfied with their responses. "
104Ryan's piercing gaze sent a shiver down Michael's spine. He had always known Ryan to be cunning and manipulative, making him a formidable foe. The collision felt almost intentional, like a deliberate attempt to unnerve him further."Ryan," Michael muttered under his breath, his voice laced with apprehension. "What a surprise."Ryan's smirk widened, clearly relishing in Michael's discomfort. His eyes scanned Michael with a mix of curiosity and suspicion."Well, well, well, look who we have here," Ryan drawled, his tone dripping with disdain. "Didn't expect to see you skulking around here, Michael."Mentally regaining his composure, Michael replied confidently, "I could say the same about you, Ryan. What brings you to this part of the office?"Ryan's smug expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he opened his mouth. But before he could utter a word, the sound of commotion and screams had caught Jimmy's attention. Jimmy emerged from his office, a smile on his face as he greeted Rya
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