Chapter 37: Chapter 37

" So, Ms Valerie?"

" I- I know nothing about this Miss Margarette, I swear!" Val stuttered in her defense. She straight straight into Maggie's eyes in desperation for the slightest sign of belief in them. Val even became more honorific towards her.

However, the silence all around gave her enough of the answers she needed. No one trusted her. Not even her co-managers who had been her colleague for the past few days. She had no one to confide in, she was all alone against the whole company. Literally!

The pressure was tantamount!

" I- I..." Val didn't know what to say. Her heart raced both in fear and distress. She never wanted her name to go down this way, never!

" Believe me!" She sobbed in one last outcry of desperation. Her knees became weak and she slumped. " It wasn't me..." Val muttered feeling lost. It seemed even more like she was trying to convince herself that it wasn't her fault the way she stared fixedly at a spot.

" Honestly, I didn't expect this from her. Miss Margarette, what is the next step?" Manager Ashley stepped forward to ask. He didn't mind Val's actions and words, she had been caught red-handed, and nothing could prove otherwise now.

" Right. What's the next step" Manager Callie stepped up to ask as well.

Margarette switched her gaze towards Kaitlyn for a second before returning her gaze to Mark as she said.

" I guess we'll have her interrogated, and find her accomplices. Surely she couldn't do all of this alone" Maggie thoughtfully uttered.

Mark frowned hearing this but he soon shook his head and stepped back. He thought Maggie was dragging things too much, they should just end things here already.

' It must be a normal procedure, rushing things could cause a problem.' Mark left the matter in her hands. She'd previously told him to find a way to get Val out of Citadel's. This was it!

Since he had done his part, the rest was up to Margarette to handle. Mark sighed in triumph, feeling elated from the sequence of this thrilling event. It was such a rush for him!

" It wasn't her!" Suddenly, a feminine voice cried out from amidst the crowd of staff and employees in the room. Everyone turned their gazes towards the one who had just spoken. Even Val who struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to roll out of her eyes against her will couldn't help but raise her gaze towards this person.

Why would anyone believe her, not to speak of backing her?

However, Val's eyes widened in shock when she saw who it was. She couldn't believe her eyes!

...

Kaitlyn had watched since Val came to work late and was faced with suspicion from everyone.

She felt really bad for Val as the latter was being manipulated and played into something she had no idea about. Being Mark's ex-wife, Kaitlyn at first felt she had no reason to be compassionate towards her or feel sorry in the least. Though, she still felt it was unfair.

It wasn't until this moment that she started to see Mark as the true devil that he was. How could he do this to someone whom he'd spent 2-3 years with? In essence, Kaitlyn started to think;

' If he could do this to her... then... How about me?'

Kaitlyn was convinced that Mark would ruin her life without batting an eyelid if it would satisfy and benefit him regardless. She wondered why she, on the other hand, found it hard to expose him and let this jerk get away with everything he was doing without facing a consequence.

In the first instance, Kaitlyn knew very well how Mark had cheated on Val. He did so with her and some of the other ladies whom he hid from her after all.

Of course, Kaitlyn loved Mark, not that she didn't. He was her dream man, and he had that advantage over her. She'd do anything to keep him even if it meant being in an open relationship with him. As long as he wouldn't hurt her feelings. This was how Kaitlyn had thought of him all along.

So far, she'd thought he understood her. But lately, she's started to realize that he was only using her.

And it started to occur to her that sooner or later, he'd dump her and move on with the next lady. He was fucking around with lots of them already, and she knew it.

It hurt Kaitlyn to have to deal with all of this, but she knew it was the truth.

Maggie was right, after all, men like him were nothing but devils. They have so many options that it becomes difficult to commit themselves.

' Come to think of it, I wasn't any different. I threw myself at him after all... I had at first convinced myself that I was doing it for the benefit. But soon...' Kaitlyn reminisced on how she found herself hooked and maybe, even started willing to do anything for Mark. What was wrong with her? She feared she must have been mentally ill to have such thoughts towards a man like Mark.

This was a man who'd ruin her ex-wife's life just because she was doing better than him... She was watching everything unfold right before her!

She watched as the security personnel found the Laguna teardrop in Val's office whilst still thinking with conflicted emotions. It was the same jewelry piece she'd seen with Mark just last night. She wasn't stupid, she could tell what Mark was playing at.

Val's life would be ruined, her name would be tainted. Citadel's isn't a small industry, it's a renowned company with impressive popularity. People across the world will come to know of a manager who stole a jewelry piece where she works. The story matches up too considering the price of the Laguna tear drop. It was enough for her to start a new life.

This is so unfair!

Kaitlyn felt the need to help her out. However, something in her still made her hesitate.

Why? Why?

Despite the despicable smirk she could see on Mark's face at the moment, why was she still hesitating?

Despite how Val was utterly broken, Why was she still hesitating? Val could get tried for employee theft in the end, would she let that happen as well? knowing she could save her?

" Honestly, I respected her as my Boss. I didn't expect this from her" Mark said in a mocking tone.

Kaitlyn raised her gaze in incredulity at Mark's comment. Just how cruel and heartless could he be? Wasn't this woman someone who had been relevant to him in the past? Was he going to do this to her just to satisfy his ego?

This time, Kaitlyn was on the brink. She couldn't bear it anymore, and all it took her was when she started to see herself in Val's shoes. Val was probably in love with Mark at some point, just as Kaitlyn now. Although, Kaitlyn still didn't even know if she loved Mark. Perhaps she was only too comfortable around Mark and felt protected around him. Maybe that was why she didn't want to lose him and hesitated, or maybe there were other reasons?

In truth, what protection does she have in Citadel's other than Mark's? She was indeed nothing in the company without him. He brought her to her current position after all, she only used to be a marketer before Mark helped her climb up the ladder.

Perhaps this was her fate? To be used by the only person she felt a sort of romantic bond with?

But to be more honest, Kaitlyn was already past regretting being with Mark or truly pitying Val. After all, she was one of those who ruined her marriage. Val's life was of no concern to Kaitlyn as well.

But... But... was she going to let this happen?

Suddenly, Kaitlyn caught a glance of Maggie's gaze signaling her to do something. A thought occurred to,

' Right... That offer...'

With it, she could actually live her life without fear of protection...