Duncan walked to the front of the desk, pondering. Then he asked."How's that possible? What do you mean his presentation was offensive, Babette?""I had Xia go there to stunt his presentation but at the end of it, she got to know that Peterson Rogers' presentation was rejected," Abigail explained."Instead of presenting something in connection with the project the dealers brought, he made a presentation of himself flirting with some girls at a karaoke," Karla added."Exactly. Peterson was surprised. I guess someone tampered with his presentation. He denied having any intention to present such a thing and claimed someone messed with his presentation. He wasn't given a chance to defend himself and he was kicked out of the venue," Babette stated."You know who was behind this, Duncan?" Abigail asked.Duncan slowly shook his head. "I have no idea.""So, I guess it's one of your well-wishers. Duncan," Karla said, managing to smile despite still burning inside with anger for Abigail.Dunca
"You're a fool, Zinnia. A big FOOL." Those words had stung Zinnia's heart so deeply and she felt like the ground should open and swallow her. The stinging sensation lingering where her grandmother's slap had landed, made tears almost swell in her eyes, but she clenched her hands, fighting back her tears. The room suddenly felt suffocatingly large, each pair of eyes fixed upon her, magnifying her humiliation. The disappointment etched across her grandmother's face cut deep, a painful reminder of her transgression. As Zinnia glanced around, she could see the shock reflected in the eyes of her family members. They stared at her, their expressions were a mix of disbelief and discomfort, witnessing the unexpected that happened. It was a huge shock because Ma'am Luna had never raised her hands to slap Zinnia before. But what infuriated her, even more, were the subtle smirks on the faces of Marcus, Lisa, and Aaron. Their silent laughter at her expense only fueled her frustration. She felt
The next morning, Duncan made breakfast with a pleasant smile that got everyone who caught a glimpse of him marveled. They wondered whether he had won a lottery ticket. Laila, after seeing Duncan set the dining table with a big smile on his face, wondered if Zinnia had given him a chance to take advantage of her last night because she was feeling angry. She rushed to Zinnia's room and after knocking three times, Zinnia opened the door, surfacing with a smile on her face. "Zinnia, you look happy," Laila observed as she walked into the room. Zinnia locked the door behind and inhaled the dress morning air that came in through the windows of the room she had opened a while ago. "Zinnia?" "What is it, Mother? Isn't the morning air so nice in your room?" "What?" "Are the windows of your room open?" "Well…whatever! You have not even greeted me, Zinnia." Laila frowned, rolling her eyes. "Oh. My bad." Zinnia chuckled and pulled her mother into a hug. "You smell so nice this morning. Did
After breakfast, Zinnia approached Lisa and asked, "How are you going to prepare the presentation In 3 hours?""Hm, my dear cousin-sister, does that bother you?" Lisa asked in a sarcastic manner, making Zinnia roll her eyes as she hung her bag on her shoulder."I'm the least bothered one, you know. Now, tell me how you're going to go about preparing a top-notch presentation within just 3 hours?""It's none of your business. I know you want me to tell you so you can get some great ideas to come up with your own presentation. Come to think of it, is this what you and Marcus do?""Excuse me…?""I mean, you all are just irresponsible. You don't want to do anything with your brains but you want to take unmerited credits.""I beg your pardon, don't you dare say that about me or I will-""You'll do nothing because you're capable of nothing and that's why you used your body to get what you want instead of your brain, or wasn't that why you started an extramarital affair with Peterson Rogers?"
Bella rolled her eyes as she exchanged glances with Aaron, saying, "Could he possibly know that you were the one who swapped the flash drives?" Having a second thought about it, Bella gulped with Aaron as they stared inquisitively at Lisa whose brows furrowed."Ah, no, Mother. He didn't," Lena said, shaking her head."Oh, Lisa, are you sure…?""Yes, Aaron, you fool. I'm not a dunce like you, you know.""Okay." Aaron let out a bitter chuckle before sitting back on the bed."Lisa?""Mother, I am a hundred percent sure about that," Lisa said and gave a certain nod. "You know, Duncan is a fool. He came to clean the office that morning and I can bet my fortune that he doesn't even suspect me."Feeling assured by her daughter's words, Bella smiled broadly. "You are really my daughter, Lisa. I am proud of you."Lisa smirked and lifted an eyebrow. "And?""And, dear, I believe in you. I am sure you will topple Zinnia and Marcus. You will win your grandmother's heart with your presentation and
The following morning, Lisa was checking her wristwatch as she headed down the hallway to join the waiting family members for breakfast, a smile plastered on her face. Then she stopped when Marcus came out of his room and walked up to her."Good morning, Lisa," he greeted with a half grin, showing his awful set of teeth.Lisa was a bit surprised that he greeted her first because Marcus usually commands to be greeted first most times. With puffing shoulders, she nodded, acknowledging his greeting before responding, "Good morning, Marcus.""You look happy this beautiful morning.""It's indeed a beautiful morning for me. I am going to blow everyone's mind away at the dining table by announcing the readiness of my presentation and I am going to rub it in on Zinnia."Marcus nodded, unbuttoning one of his vest's buttons, saying, "Hm, good. I can't wait. But, first, let me see." He stretched out his hand, making Lisa narrow her eyes at him."What do you mean?""I am talking about your presen
Everyone's eyes grew bigger as Ma'am Luna glared at Lisa who couldn't stand up straight and stared at her. Lisa's emotions swirled inside her, a tumultuous storm of shame, humiliation, and confusion. The stinging sensation on her cheek served as a constant reminder of the physical and emotional impact of her grandmother's slap. As her family members arose, her parents' expressions were a mix of concern and disbelief, Lisa felt the weight of their collective judgment pressing down on her. Feeling exposed and vulnerable, Lisa's eyes darted from one family member to another, briefly making eye contact before dropping her gaze to the laptop screen in front of her. The screen, once a source of comfort and escape, now seemed like a portal into her own darkness. She couldn't help but question herself, wondering if the person in the video was truly her. Doubt gnawed at her, but deep down, she knew it wasn't her. It was a relief to have that clarity, but it also intensified her need to find
Back in the office, the tension was building with each passing second. After Marcus told them how he got the video, he started wondering who dropped the flash drive in his office. For him, he could only think it was someone else who wished ill for Lisa and it baffled him the more of who could be Lisa's enemy. Whatever prompted the person to drop the flash drive in his office or whoever the person was, he didn't care. He was more happy that through the flash drive, he was able to get back at Lisa too for being insolent and pompous to him earlier that morning."I am so ashamed of you, Lisa," Ma'am Luna groaned. "You know I had hopes for you because you have never disappointed me, I wanted to give you a chance but you ruined it by stooping so low and committing such a shameful act. I regret ever believing in you.""Ah, grandmother, don't take this to heart, please," Bella uttered, intervening for her daughter's best interest. "I am sure Lisa didn't mean that. She only wanted to prove tha