Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
For Timothy, the removal of a trending topic held little significance.
After all, being in Bern City, what revelations could Linden, who resided in Nord City, possibly uncover?
Following the call, Mia returned to the office area, only to be greeted by discontented expressions from her colleagues.
As she approached her desk, Wilhelmina voiced her frustration. “Mia, you’ve got some nerve showing up to work today.
“We h had to put in overtime this weekend because of your actions, and your reputation has dragged us into this mess! Don’t you think an apology is in order?”
Mia looked up, meeting the eyes of both Wilhelmina and her other colleagues. “I extend my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused by this situation.
“Nonetheless, it’s due to someone spreading malicious rumors about me. I am determined to conduct a thorough investigation to unveil the truth behind this matter.”
Wilhelmina felt a slight unease, but with Shelly’s recent reassurance in mind, she regained her confidence.
Even if Mia were to reveal the truth, it appeared there was little she could do to cause harm.
After all, Wilhelmina had Shelly firmly supporting her¨Ca formidable member of the esteemed Barrett family. What chance did a mere nobody like Mia have against such influence?
With a contemptuous sneer, Wilhelmina remarked, “Words can be deceptive. Who’s to say you’re not crying.
wolf?
“Mia, if you fail to handle this matter appropriately, the women in our studio won’t let you off lightly.”
Grace Fallon, a designer who typically shared a good rapport with Wilhelmina, chimed in, “Exactly!
Because of your actions, my potential suitor caught wind of it and immediately distanced himself from me.
You must take full responsibility for this!”
“Yeah, the news was spreading like wildfire on social media, probably with millions of views and shares by now, right?”
As Wilhelmina opened her phone and started searching the headlines, she exclaimed, “Wha, why is the Tweet no longer available? It was the top trending just a moment ago. How could it suddenly vanish?”
Simultaneously, the other female colleagues unlocked their phones, echoing the sentiment. “Indeed, it’s gone. It’s no longer on the trending list!”
Instinctively. Wilhelmina blurted out. “How is that possible?”
She quickly realized she had let something slip and added, “I mean, just a moment ago, it was trending at number one. How did it suddenly change? It seems very strange!”
Mia gazed at her with a cunning smile and remarked, “Are you implying that the post being taken down isn’t a relief, or do you secretly wish for this situation to spiral even more out of control?”
Observing Wilhelmina’s response, Mia became increasingly convinced of Wilhelmina’s involvement in the situation.
Wilhelmina swiftly composed herself and retorted, “Mia, don’t speak nonsense. Why would I want this situation to escalate?”
Just then, Wilhelmina’s phone rang, and she quickly glanced at the caller ID, her eyes anxiously scanning the surroundings.
Observing Wilhelmina’s phone, Mia asked, “Who’s calling you? Why aren’t you answering?”
“Why does it matter to you who I speak with?” Wilhelmina retorted.
Dismissing Mia, she hastily stepped outside to take the call. “Ms. Barrett, is there something wrong?”
“Why did the trending Tweet lose traction? What happened with your strategy? Weren’t you bragging about having a well¨Cconnected friend in the media?
“If you can’t handle this minor issue, you might as well forget about the Chanel bag you were eyeing yesterday.
**Shelly retorted.
“I apologize, Ms. Barrett. I’ll make a call right away to gather more information.” After ending the call, Wilhelmina hastily dialed her friend’s number, but there was no answer.
Impatience welled up within her. “Why isn’t anyone answering? Have they all decided to ignore me out of the blue?” She wondered.
“So, you’re the one behind this,” Mia exclaimed abruptly, standing close and attentively listening to every word from Wilhelmina.
With a cold expression, Mia locked eyes with Wilhelmina and asserted, “Let’s be honest, Wilhelmina. You were the one who administered the drugs to Keegan, weren’t you?
“And now, you’re shifting all the blame onto me!”
As Mia concluded her words, Wilhelmina’s face paled with fear. “Mia, when did you get here? And why were you eavesdropping on my phone call?”
“Since you mentioned Ms. Barrett, I’ve been here all along. So, tell me¨Cdid you and Shelly hatch this scheme together?”
bly wasn’t
Mia’s suspicions from the start seemed to be on point. If Shelly was implicated, Maya probably innocent either.
Initially disconcerted, Wilhelmina swiftly regained her composure upon noticing the absence of people around.
“Mia, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I did speak with Ms. Barrett just now, but it was regarding design matters. Could there be a misunderstanding?”
As long as there was no evidence, Wilhelmina wasn’t about to confess to anything.
“Wilhelmina, perhaps you should take a look in the mirror; the guilt on your face is unmistakable.
“I’m on the verge of contacting the police, and there’s a possibility you could face imprisonment for spreading false rumors. I won’t hesitate to pursue legal action against you.”
Mia maintained a firm grip on her phone, her gaze unwavering as she confronted the visibly uneasy
Wilhelmina.
“Unless you want the police involved, you must publicly clarify this situation and offer an apology immediately!
“Mia exclaimed.
The mention of the police intensified Wilhelmina’s unease, and she felt a lump in her throat.
Sensing Wilhelmina’s hesitation, Mia spoke up. “Just tell me who’s behind all this, and I won’t hold you accountable.”
With Shelly and Maya pushing the boundaries, Mia wasn’t going to turn a blind eye to their actions.
Nonetheless, Mia needed Wilhelmina’s cooperation to navigate the situation.
Just then, Felix walked over.
Upon spotting him, Wilhelmina hastily defended herself, saying, “Why should I apologize? This has nothing to do with me. I’m not the one responsible for this mess.”
“Wilhelmina, this is your last chance to come clean,” Mia retorted.
“What do you mean by ¡®last chance¡®? I’m not the one who orchestrated any of this Mia, your inappropriate actions have led us to this point!
“Perhaps it would be wise for you to publicly clarify that this is a personal matter, entirely unrelated to our studio, and extend a sincere apology to all the women on our team!”
A subtle chill flickered in Mia’s eyes. She decided to refrain from pushing further, sensing Wilhelmina’s uncooperative stance.
At that moment, Felix intervened. “Alright, enough of the quarreling. I’ve already reported the incident to the police, and they will take care of it.
“Let’s exercise some patience in the coming days. I’m confident the truth will be revealed soon.”
Wilhelmina couldn’t shake off the anxiety triggered by the mention of the police.
Unbeknownst to her, Mia had recently received information from Nathan, exposing the true identity behind the false accusations.
Armed with this newfound knowledge, Mia felt compelled to approach Wilhelmina and offer her a second chance, acknowledging that Wilhelmina had unwittingly been manipulated as a pawn in the situation.
However, Wilhelmina’s brazen attitude compelled Mia to rethink the idea of extending that opportunity.
Mia locked eyes with Felix, declaring. “Felix, I’ve identified the person responsible for the smear campaign against me.”
Surprised, Felix asked. “Who is it?”
Upon hearing this, Wilhelmina appeared uneasy. “Mia, without concrete evidence, it’s best to refrain from making baseless accusations,” she cautioned.
Mia’s lips curled into a wry smile. “Don’t worry, Felix. I’ll personally clarify everything this afternoon, ensuring it won’t bring any negative repercussions to the studio.”
Felix hesitated for a moment before saying, “Mia, if you’re aware of who’s responsible, you can trust me with the information. I’ll assist you in resolving the matter.”
“It’s alright. You’ll find out later this afternoon,” Mia replied before returning to her workstation.
Taking out her phone, she messaged Nathan, “Nathan, could you do me a favor?”
Nathan responded promptly. “Go on.”
“Could you please send these videos and photos to Keegan’s children for me?”
Mia’s gaze briefly swept over Wilhelmina, who had just entered the room with Felix.
With Wilhelmina having missed the chance to mend things with Mia, Mia felt no obligation to extend politeness toward her.
As noon approached, Mia found herself alone at her desk, enjoying her lunch. It was evident that her colleagues, with Wilhelmina leading the charge, were intentionally excluding her.
Nonetheless, Mia paid little attention to the petty behavior of her colleagues. After all, an intriguing drama was set to unfold in the afternoon.