The grand event center sparkled with elegance, every detail meticulously arranged for Mr. and Mrs. Jones's 20th-anniversary celebration. They both dressed in matching outfits that screamed wealth and taste.The elegantly attired guests' chatter, the sound of clinking glasses, and the gentle strains of a live orchestra filled the air as the venue came alive. Family and guests gathered around them to hand them their luxurious gifts, and other fancy tokens of the guests' appreciation.“I know you two love jewels so much. Here, this is an imported jewel from Colombia, the Rockefeller Emerald. It is worth six million dollars.”“This is for you and your wife my friend, a cheque of two million dollars.”“Dad, Mom, I bought you guys favorite Chinese tea, Pu’erh Tea. It was rare to find though. This is worth two hundred thousand dollars.”The Joneses were, after all, not just celebrating an anniversary but a life of success and prosperity. Happiness filled their eyes as they were given lots o
There was still a lot of excitement and curiosity surrounding Fence Emerald Company's grand presentation. Investors whispered to one another about Rowland's outstanding presentation. It was difficult to ignore his poise and confidence, even the most cynical skeptics had to concede.However, the atmosphere was completely different at the Jones table. Amaya, Clinton, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones were visibly nervous, their earlier belief in Rowland's failure shattered."This is not how it is supposed to go," Amaya complained angrily. "We must find a way to turn things around before it is too late."Clinton leaned in close to her, his voice low and frustrated. "Patience. His downfall will arrive. Just wait.”Before they could say anything else, a commotion broke out at the entrance to the hall.“Let me in! I need to see my son!” A man's voice yelled, loud and desperate.All eyes were drawn to the disturbance as security guards struggled to restrain an elderly man who had forced his way past t
The Fence Emerald Company's grand hall was alive with excitement as guests arrived, their footsteps resonating off the polished floors.The presentation space was beautifully set up, with a big stage taking up most of the front of the room.Investors, stakeholders, and company representatives were seated in rows, their voices blending into low murmurs. There was tension in the air, a lingering mix of skepticism and curiosity.Amaya and Clinton joined Mr. and Mrs. Jones at one of the main tables. Their faces were a mixture of annoyance and contempt, their eyes darting now and then to the stage where Rowland would soon be seen."I still can not believe they let him lead this presentation," Amaya said, her voice low and venomous. "It is a slap in the face!""Disgraceful," Mrs. Jones said, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "That man has no right to be in the spotlight after all he is done."Mr. Jones leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightened. "Let us see how long he can last. Hi
Amaya slammed the phone down on the nightstand, her face twisted with frustration and resolve. Clinton, seated across the room in a sleek armchair, looked up from his tablet, intrigued."Who was that?" he inquired, his tone tinged with mild irritation at the interruption."It was my mother," Amaya responded sharply, her voice still brimming with rage. She stood up and started pacing the room, the sharp click of her heels echoing on the marble floor. "She just told me about what happened at the company today. Rowland humiliated my parents in front of everybody."Clinton raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Humiliated them? How?"Amaya paused her pacing and looked at him, her face filled with rage and contempt."Shard confessed. He admitted to stealing and revealed everything. Rowland must have managed to persuade him to tell the truth. My parents were humiliated, and the investors agreed with Rowland."As she continued, her tone became sharper. "Can you believe that man has that much nerve?
Following the initial uproar, the reception area had returned to an eerie calm. Employees returned to their desks, whispers about the incident still lingering in the air.The investors had left, their confident strides carrying them out the door, leaving Khalid behind with promises to keep Mr. Fence updated on the jewelry design project's progress.Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Jones stormed into their office, their expressions darkened with frustration. Their earlier victory had been fleeting, and now humiliation weighed heavily on them.As they entered the office, Mr. Jones slammed the door shut with such force that it echoed through the hallway. Mrs. Jones flopped onto the plush leather chair, her hands clenching the armrests, her face twisted in bitter anger."I cannot believe this!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. "That is Rowland! How dare he? How dare Khalid and Mr. Greyson side with him?”Mr. Jones paced the room with his hands balled into fists. "We have been humiliated. Shard'
The air in the reception area became almost suffocating as Khalid's icy glare met Mr. Jones' desperate defense.Mr. Greyson, standing tall among the other investors, exuded quiet authority. The employees whispered amongst themselves, torn between shock and curiosity."Surely, Mr. Greyson, you are not basing such serious accusations on Shard's alleged confession," Mrs. Jones interjected, her tone composed but tinged with desperation. "How can we believe his words in the absence of tangible proof?"Khalid folded his arms, his expression unreadable but his voice sharp. "The truth does not always wait for evidence to speak. Shard's words cannot be lies because the pieces fit together so well."Mr. Jones took a step forward, his voice raised this time, fueled by panic disguised as indignation. “This is slander! Shard is just a disgruntled employee who will say anything to save himself. You cannot tarnish our reputation because of his lies!"The murmurs in the room became louder as the empl
The tension in the reception area rose to a fever pitch as Mr. Jones pointed a furious finger at Mia, his voice thunderous."What exactly are you doing here?! You were suspended, and now you walk back in here as if you own the place?"Mrs. Jones raised her hand, signaling to the guards, before Mia could respond. "Take her out," she ordered sharply, leaving no room for argument.The guards paused briefly, looking at Rowland and the Joneses. They could not refuse, so they re-grabbed Mia's arms and dragged her toward the exit."Let me go!" Mia yelled, struggling against them. The employees in the reception area murmured among themselves, some clearly uncomfortable with what was happening in front of them, while others watched with morbid curiosity."Stop this madness right away!" Rowland barked, stepping forward to intervene, but Mrs. Jones interrupted him, her eyes blazing with authority."I would not dare it if I were you, Rowland, or you will be joining her out on the street," she hi
Rowland was standing outside the silent, imposing door of Mr. Jones's office. After inhaling deeply, he adjusted his tie and gave a firm knock. He pushed the door open and entered without waiting for a response.Mr. Jones and Mrs. Jones were seated comfortably in the large office, as was to be expected. When Rowland walked in, Mr. Jones leaned back in his chair and grinned smugly.Seated on the edge of the desk, Mrs. Jones folded her arms and wore a look of contemptuous laughter."Well, well," said Mr. Jones, his tone brimming with derision. "What a pleasant surprise to see the company's prestigious project manager. Tell me, Rowland, have you come to confess you stole the jewelry design after all?"Mrs. Jones chuckled and exchanged a knowing look with her husband. "Oh, I would love to hear this," she exclaimed, her laughter echoing throughout the room like a bell.Rowland tightened his jaw, but he refused to take the bait. "I am not here for your games," he stated coldly, his voice s
75"Wow, what has happened? What did she do?”"The notice projector did not say anything, but she has been very hardworking, you know.""That serves her right!"As Rowland entered the lobby, the morning sun bathed the Fence Company building in golden light, his usual brisk pace and commanding presence drawing attention. He assumed it would be another busy day.He exchanged a few standard greetings but ignored the unusual buzz of hushed conversations among employees. Groups huddled together, whispering urgently and fleetingly, with occasional glances directed his way.He dismissed the scene as typical office gossip, but a nagging unease persisted. Rowland went into his office, took a seat, and started going through his morning schedule. His first task was to reach out to Mia first.Rowland picked up the phone and dialed Mia's office number, waiting until the tone rang. There was no response. He frowned, glanced at the clock, and redialed, allowing it to ring longer this time. Again, th
Rowland, on the other hand, appeared unbothered in his office. He took his seat behind the large oak desk, leaning back and smiling slightly.Fatima entered a moment later, her expression a mix of confusion and frustration. She paused at the door, clutching a file to her chest and observing Rowland's relaxed demeanor. It was in stark contrast to the storm of accusations and denials that had just occurred."How can you be so calm after all of that?" she inquired, her voice a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "Why?" Rowland asked.She stepped forward and placed the file on his desk. “That man Nicholas being taken by the police… Clinton pretended he did not know him... This is all so sloppy. How did the cops even get Nicholas?”Rowland leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk, his fingers tense. As he spoke, a smile spread across his lips. "Ah, Fatima, you are asking the right questions. Let me explain. Khalid called me in the early morning. The bank detected the fraudulent transf