Chapter 35: Chapter 35

The ambiance of the conference room was intense and grave. A long mahogany table served as the plateau of discussion, with chairs meant for respective members surrounding the table. Other than this, the room was decorated with glossy ceramic flower vases, and pieces of artwork were hung on the wall to spark a creative and uniquely artistic background style.

As more employees who were of relevant responsibilities in the company came into the room and sat around the long table in the middle of the dimly lit room, everyone anticipated in apprehension, what was to come. Although, they already had a notion as to what the emergency was...

Maggie walked into the room along with Mark and the chief security officer. Maggie took the seat at the end of the table, while the others took a vacant seat by the table. The room grew silent as everyone awaited the meeting to start.

Click! clack!

Three others walked in at the same time.

" What's the emergency miss Margarette!?" Ashley Dupuis, the productions Manager asked standing alarmed. Callie Pocket, the Managing director of Finance stood behind Ashley in a non-verbal stance to inquire the same, she had a questioning expression on her lovely face. The middle-aged Callie who is of short black hair had an obvious mature forbearance of an economist. She looked like she wouldn't spare a dime.

" Please" Maggie calmly gestured towards vacant chairs.

The two managers paused for a second. They exchanged glances first, and then stopped hesitating. They moved to take respective seats by the table for themselves to settle in.

" As you all must have realized by now, the Laguna teardrop is missing!" Maggie broke the ice to commence the emergency meeting. She did nothing to conceal the truth, as she blurted out the situation.

Of course, this wasn't news to every one. Talks about this were already passing around through all sectors of the company. What concerned everyone was the next step to be taken. The investigation process could be quite arduous, and a lot of secrets connected to everyone might be unveiled. Hence, the concern in everyone...

" Now, fortunately, After the security team made a reflection on the footages they have. There's concrete reason to believe the missing jewelry is still within the premise of the company..." Courtney conveniently lied.

" Huh!?"

"What?!"

Gasps and murmurs rose in the room as everyone expressed distress.

" Then, it can still be found?" Callie asked. As the managing director in the finance sector, she certainly was as responsible as the other directors and Maggie herself.

" Moreover, I don't know if anyone else noticed that some employees are not present. I don't think we should trust the footage alone." Lucille Perry, the assistant manager of productions, brought everyone's notice to this fact.

" That's true, Ms Valerie isn't here. That's strange..." Ashley echoed his assistant's word. Valerie had kindly informed everyone to not call her by her surname, and everyone understood the complications.

" In any case, I suggest we trust the footage for now and conduct a thorough search through offices." Maggie pressed as she swept a gaze across the table. Mark who had been silent all these while smiled hearing Maggie insist that a search should be conducted.

" If we still can't find it, then we conduct an investigation and involve the police. It would be stupid if we ignore clues to chase after premonitions now when we have the chance. Even if the footage has been altered, and someone has indeed made out from the company with the Laguna teardrop, I don't think they'll be coming back soon. So we have a chance of knowing who they are " Maggie openly expressed with a suggestive gesture.

" But... if in any case, they come back, then, they wouldn't be escaping the investigation don't you think?" She added.

Everyone exchanged glances and nodded their head finding Maggie's reasoning to be right.

" I believe this approach is only appropriate" Manager Ashley affirmed with a nod as he folded his arms across his chest.

Since Val didn't talk about it, the manager had no idea about the chief security officer's claim of his team being unable to find the culprit. What she'd said about footages confirming that the missing jewelry hadn't been taken away from the company was also a fabrication, and totally untrue. But it was believable, since you couldn't leave the vicinity without passing the detectors set by the exit.

' Besides, even if there has been an alteration in the footage, it didn't mean searching was not a good first step to take.' Callie pursed her lips and nodded in support as well.

" In that case, we should start the search from my office and then make our way down to the other offices." Maggie placed a palm on her chest to suggest.

It sat quite well with everyone considering she was the one calling the shots. They had no reason to disagree.

" Mr Porter, please take everyone's cell phone."

" Huh?" Everyone became confused.

" I hope you all understand why we're doing this. Please lock your cell phone, to avoid it being tampered with" She urged. Mark watched with genuine interest as Maggie made everything seem as real as possible. He loved all of this and couldn't help but imagine just how marvelous the results would be.

' Oh, she's is in so much trouble. Haha!' He thought about a certain person.

" Just to be sure, we're putting down our cell phones to nullify the idea of informing our inferiors of the decision regarding this meeting, since we'll be conducting a search on them as well. Am I being right?" Manager Ashley expressed to confirm and clear the doubts of everyone present at the table.

Maggie nodded her head in sincere appreciation of his help.

" Very well," He nodded his head, reached for his phone, and slid it towards Mr Porter.

Seeing this exemplary act, everyone else pulled out their phone and passed it to the chief security officer, including Mark.

" Another thing, we all must come along with each other and watch as the security team searches. I believe it's only fair that way. Is that fine by everyone?" Maggie asked.

Everyone at the table shared a glance before they all seemed to agree with the thought.

" Yes." Manager Callie voiced out in representation of everybody.

" Well, then. Let's begin the search!"

...