Chapter 7: The announcement.

Tom’s Pov

Sarah's announcement of our relationship at the office was as dramatic as I feared it would be. She did it during a company meeting, her voice clear and unwavering.

“I want everyone to know that Tom and I are now officially together,” she said, smiling at me. “We’ve decided to give our relationship a real chance.”A murmur ran through the room. Some people looked genuinely happy for us, while others seemed shocked or intrigued. I caught Vincent’s eyes across the table, and they were burning with rage. After the meeting, I was bombarded with congratulations and questions. But the one encounter I was dreading came swiftly. Vincent cornered me in the hallway, his face a mask of barely controlled fury.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Tom?” he hissed, grabbing my arm. “You think you can just waltz in here, take the project, and now take Sarah too?” I pulled my arm free, standing my ground.

“Vincent, Sarah and I care about each other. This isn’t about you.” He laughed, but there was no humor in it.

“You really think you’re something, don’t you? But you’re still nothing, Tom. Just because you got lucky a couple of times doesn’t mean you belong here or with her.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it,” I replied, my voice steady despite my pounding heart. “I worked hard for this job, and Sarah chose to be with me. You need to accept that.” Vincent’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Accept it? No, Tom. This isn’t over. I’ll make sure you regret ever crossing me. You’ll wish you never set foot in this company.”

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving me with a sense of foreboding. I knew Vincent was serious about his threats, and I had to be prepared for whatever he had in store. Later that day, I met Sarah in her office. She could see the worry on my face immediately.

“What’s wrong, Tom?” she asked, concern etched in her eyes.

“Vincent,” I said simply. “He threatened me. He’s furious about us.” Sarah sighed, rubbing her temples.

“I knew he wouldn’t take it well, but we can’t let him intimidate us. We’ll handle this together.” I nodded, feeling a bit reassured by her confidence.

“I know. I just don’t want this to affect our work or our relationship.” She stepped closer, taking my hand.

“We’re stronger together, Tom. Don’t forget that. Vincent’s just trying to scare you because he’s jealous. We won’t let him win.” Her words gave me strength. Despite Vincent’s threats, I was determined to protect what Sarah and I had built together. The road ahead might be challenging, but with Sarah by my side, I felt ready to face whatever came our way. As the days passed, Vincent’s attempts to undermine me became more subtle but persistent. He spread rumors, questioned my decisions in meetings, and tried to sabotage my projects. But with Sarah’s support and my resolve to prove myself, I managed to stay on course. Each victory, no matter how small, felt like a step towards solidifying my place both in the company and in Sarah’s life. And even though the shadow of Vincent’s animosity loomed large, it only strengthened my determination to succeed and protect the future I was building.

The day started like any other, but I had a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. Vincent had been unusually quiet lately, which only heightened my anxiety. Little did I know, he was preparing his most devastating move yet. I was called into the CEO’s office along with several other executives. Vincent was there, a smug look plastered on his face. My heart sank as I noticed a stack of documents on the table.

“Tom, we have some serious allegations against you,” the CEO began, his voice stern.

“Vincent has brought forward evidence that you’ve been embezzling funds and that you weren't actually the one who completed the recent project.”

“What?” I stammered, taken aback. “That’s absurd! I would never do that. I worked hard on that project.” Vincent stepped forward, holding up the documents.

“These financial records show discrepancies linked directly to your accounts, Tom. And these emails,” he said, waving a printout, “prove that someone else was doing the work you took credit for.” I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead.

“This is a setup! You have to believe me. I’ve been honest and dedicated to this company.” The CEO’s expression was unreadable.

“The evidence is quite compelling, Tom. We’ve decided to terminate your employment effective immediately. Security will escort you to collect your belongings.

"As I stood there, stunned and speechless, Vincent’s smirk grew wider. He had finally succeeded in ruining me, and the worst part was, I had no way to prove my innocence. After being escorted out of the building, I headed back to the stranger’s house where I had been staying. As soon as I walked through the door, he was waiting for me, a grim expression on his face.

“Tom, I heard what happened,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t have someone with your kind of trouble staying here. I’m sorry, but you need to leave.”

“But I didn’t do it!” I protested. “I’m innocent, I swear!” He sighed, his eyes filled with disappointment. “I wish I could believe you, but I can’t take the risk. You need to go.” With nowhere else to turn, I packed my few belongings and left, feeling utterly defeated. The world seemed to close in around me as I wandered the streets, aimless and desolate. The injustice of it all burned deep within me. I had worked tirelessly to rebuild my life, and now it was all crumbling down because of Vincent’s malicious schemes. My thoughts kept circling back to Sarah. How could I face her now, with my reputation in tatters?I wondered if our relationship will continue or she would just reject me just like everyone else had done to me.