The Dark Side of the Heir

Part 8

"So, the mastermind of all this is Erick?"

Michel seemed to emphasize his question. His gaze also looked so sharp at the two humans in front of him.

Both Manager Rio and James seemed to gulp down their saliva with difficulty, and it even felt like their breath was really choking as if they wanted to die.

With slow but steady movements, Manager Rio, Erick's best friend, nodded his head.

"How much did he pay you guys?" asked Michel in a dismissive tone of voice.

A lopsided smile appeared perfectly on Michel's face at this time. He didn't think that all this had been planned so carefully.

One thing that made Michel unable to think anymore was where Erick, who was clearly new to him when he was caught in the apartment with his wife, in fact the man had known Michel long before that.

If the man did not know Michel, of course nothing like this would happen.

"2000 dollars shared with two people."

Michel chuckled even more when he heard the amount of money. To be honest, if asked whether Michel thought the amount was big or not, Michel's heart would say it was more than big.

However, considering his current position. Michel certainly had to emphasize that the amount of money was not more than he thought.

"I'm really sorry about all that. Please, forgive me. I promise not to repeat the same thing."

Rio's manager seemed to apologize to the man in front of him. Michel, who saw this, chose to remain silent without giving any response.

Manager Rio and James' heartbeats were now beating faster than ever, they really didn't know what to do now.

Their future seemed to have been guessed by both of them.

"Mr. Michel, I am also really sorry for what I have done. I shouldn't have darkened my eyes just because I saw money. Please, give me one more chance to prove that I can change."

Now, it is James who is trying to persuade his friend or rather his former friend. Because since the betrayal incident, Michel has not wanted to recognize the man as her best friend.

Their friendship really ended right when a deep sense of disappointment was inscribed by James right in Michel's heart.

The man also seemed to be smacking his lips. Michel seemed to bite his lower lip deliberately, not letting a single sentence come out of his mouth.

The man's mind now began to wander everywhere trying to find the most appropriate solution to the problem they were facing at that time.

"I'm not going to fire you from this job. I will give you both one more chance to stay in this office. As long as you fulfill one condition that I want."

A sigh of relief escaped the mouths of both Manager Rio and James, but their breath was taken away when the man's words left them hanging.

James was sure that there would be conditions that would have a negative impact on both of them. And, indeed, it should happen and be accepted gracefully by both of them.

"Whatever conditions Mr. Michel asks for, James and I promise to do all of that. As long as both of us are not fired from this office. Only the income from this office can support our lives."

Manager Rio immediately raised his voice to reply to Michel's sentence without any hesitation. Apparently, Manager Rio didn't think about the negative impact of his decision.

James initially wanted to appeal to Manager Rio, but James' memory of his life if fired from the office made the man immediately undo his intentions.

It would be better for James to bear all the burdens than to have to live in misery because he doesn't have enough salary to fulfill his survival.

A satisfied, lopsided smile also seemed to rise perfectly on Michel's face at this moment. Seeing the miserable faces of the two really made Michel feel the other side of his heart.

And, here they are today.

Everyone seemed to be flocking back, crowding in the center of the ordinary employee-only workplace to get the information that was said to be delivered by their partner.

"Listen up everyone! I'm asking for a moment of your time. In less than 15 minutes, there are only a few things that these two friends of yours will tell you. There's already Manager Rio and James here who will have something to say."

Michel, who had been able to make sure that all the employees were gathered in one place together with them, went straight to the point with his sentence.

"Please. Time and place, please give the floor to Manager Rio and Mr. James."

Michel smiled wryly with that smile line on his face that appeared only faintly.

Manager Rio and Mr. James looked at each other, nudging each other as to who would deliver their lines first.

"Ekhem! Don't waste time or I'll change the decision again."

Michel said in a stern tone making the two humans immediately silent. Rio's manager, who felt higher in position than James, then spoke up to clear things up.

"I am Rio, working as a manager in this office. With all humility, I apologize to everyone, especially Mr. Michel because I have defamed him."

Manager Rio lowered his face trying to avoid all the looks of ill-feeling and ambiguity on the faces of all the employees who worked there.

They wondered what Manager Rio's apology meant.

"Actually, Mr. Michel at that time was completely innocent. Mr. Michel did not commit corruption or cut the company's financial funds. It was all just part of my and Mr. Rio's plan. The two of us deliberately framed Mr. Michel so that he could be believed to have committed corruption and then be fired from this company. It was all our fault."

This additional explanation by James made everyone there immediately whisper about them.

There was not a single one of them who did not look down on the two humans who had slandered someone as good as Michel.

There was a sense of relief in Michel's heart after hearing everything. The gaze after gaze that was originally cynical with him has now turned more shady.

"We're really sorry for everything we've done. We apologize for everything."

Rio's manager drew a conclusion on the classification they had done at that time.

"Uuu... what a slanderer! If you're jealous, it's better not to put you down like that! Fire Mr. Michel anyway! Fire!"

Many of the employees there voiced for the two to be fired. Their gazes immediately turned cynical and condescending towards the two humans who were now bowing their faces deeply.

Wisely and firmly, Michel asked everyone to remain calm.

"That's all right. Everyone has the right to change. Not everything is their fault because there are those who are far more responsible for all this. Like the decision I promised, you can still work here with the condition that if there is a repetition of mistakes again then you are ready to be fired."

Praise also seemed to be expressed for Michel who had the heart to forgive the person who had slandered him.

Michel then asked everyone to disperse.

***

The time to go home had now arrived. Michel, who was looking straight ahead, was still sitting in his oversized chair.

"Is everything alright, Young Master?" asked Daniel approaching the Young Master.

Michel, who looked dreamily still thinking about the incident this morning, now turned his gaze towards Daniel.

A small nod with a smile appeared on Michel's face, indicating that the man seemed to be much better now.

"What about my work, Daniel?"

"Hmm... for everything I can help you with. You don't need to worry because if there's anything you don't understand then I'll be by your side to teach you."

"Let's just say that today is the adaptation period for you as the Ceo of this office," Daniel continued.

Michel nodded his head in understanding.

Tring! A message arrived on Daniel's cell phone.

"One moment, Young Master."

Daniel said checking his phone. "Just now, I received a message from Mr. Alberto. He asked me to take Young Master to buy some clothes for Young Master. Shall we go now, Young Master?"

Michel looked at the man intently. It seemed like there was no harm if Michel had to go shopping.

It's been a long time since Michel felt the moment when shopping, the last time he only went to the boutique together with Elera, even then he only got shorts. The rest, he only bought to satisfy his wife's wishes.

"What an asshole moment."

Michel then said yes to the assistant's words. The two of them immediately headed towards the parking lot lobby to board their four-wheeled vehicles.

"Please take us to the boutique that Mr. Alberto usually goes to, Mr. Arshad!"

Daniel ordered the driver who had long been a confidant of the Alberto family, no wonder Daniel had memorized his name.

The vehicle immediately drove to the requested place. It didn't take long for them to arrive.

"We have arrived, Young Master."

Daniel said immediately making Michel get out of his car.

Just as Michel got out with the door opened by the assistant, the man's eyes met with a woman who was also looking at him.

"Michel.." murmured the woman looking incredulously at Michel.

Michel was certainly surprised, but he was very good at playing his face. He raised his face haughtily and then deliberately said, "Hi, ex-wife. How are you?"