Chapter 40: Chapter 40

At noon, two police cars parked before Citadel's with their sirens blaring in a loud echo. The jewelry company underwent public notice as a small crowd grew around to watch, both inside and outside tg building. Most of the employees ceased their work to follow through as well.

Mark's face was sour and lingered with disbelief as he was escorted out of Citadel's by the police, along with his company and accomplices.

Mr Porter showcased fear and embarrassment while Ollie was apprehensive and furious at Mark. The third person, who seemed to be an office janitor, only lowered his head; It was unsure what he was thinking.

After the footage was seen by the detective and every person alike, it was determined that the janitor had planted the Laguna teardrop in Val's office, and that Kaitlyn was right. However, Mark still denied knowing anything, and so did Mr porter.

Harry Caister said he knew this would happen, and thus he had saved his true evidence for last. He played another footage where Mark and Mr Porter were seen talking. The content of their meeting was clearly heard, but they denied it was fabricated.

Mr Dunn had called for the janitor and interrogated him. The latter was made to confess the truth of the matter, and it was established that Mark had been responsible for everything.

As Mark and his accomplices were being taken away, Mr Dunn shook his head pitifully. He had thought Mark was the victim, not knowing it was quite the contrary. The man was actually the culprit!

Mark's mind was restless as he approached the cop car parked right outside. The realization of what he'd done dawned on his face and he felt like a true criminal.

How have things come to be like this? What led me to this end?

He wouldn't say it was Maggie, even if he'd realized too late that he'd played right into her palms. He was such a fool to have believed her lies!

He looked behind at the scornful gazes that latched unto him as though he were an abomination that shouldn't have ever existed. Worst was how even Kaitlyn and Val looked at him with disgust, contempt and looks that spoke of a lifetime resentment for him. Although, Kaitlyn had a bit of remorse in her gaze.

' What have I done?' Mark was fearful for his future.

Mark felt remorseful as he was pushed into the police car when he stood lost in thought and wouldn't go in despite the warnings. He never thought he'd be in such position.

He who looked down on criminals, now being treated that way...

Maggie watched with the corner of her lips curved up as Mark and his crew were taken away by the police. She couldn't believe the level of influence Mark had to pull to get even the chief security officer in on his schemes. She couldn't believe it at first, and she took mental note to make certain this doesn't repeat itself.

Of course, she had realized at the first instance when Mr Porter had come to inform that he was unable to retrieve any footage that Mark had gotten to him. Thus, Maggie had tried as much as she could to not act as though she knew anything about Mark's plans, nor openly confessed that she was in on it. This was to avoid being drawn in the case as an accomplice, since she was the one who instigated Mark to do this.

Instead, she had discreetly sent a message to Harry Caister, the assistant chief security officer whom she knew very well to be passionate about his job to find evidence. Harry was quite efficient at retrieving footages second to none, that was why he was basically appointed to the position. Mr Porter only remained the chief security officer due to his experience.

Then it was determined that Mark had employed the help of Ollie, The chief security officer and a Janitor to carry out the plan in order to defame Valerie Hawkins and ultimately kick her out of the company. Only to end up in trouble.

' Up until the end, Mark hadn't realized he was playing right in the palm of my hands...' Maggie couldn't help but praise.

" Well, I guess that's about that." Investigator Dann turned to face Maggie after watching the cops drive off with the culprits. He'd played his part and was now ready to leave.

" Thanks alot Mr Dunn. Your help is very much appreciated" Maggie extended her hands for a handshake.

" It's a pleasure madam." Dunn gently shook her hand, smiling with the corner of his eyes. He left right after.

" Everyone, I understand that this might be quite an uproar. But please, Let us all diligently return to our respective duties to avoid public criticism!" Maggie bellowed out loud to inform everyone standing around idly murmuring and discussing about the incident. Her words caused everyone of them to slowly return to whatever they were doing before the police incident while still discussing. Of course, the murmurs slowly faded out.

" This is quite... unbelievable" Manager Ashley moved closer to Maggie and said. Manager Callie had also moved near to the group at this point and was now expressing her concern as well,

" Such a huge turn of event..." Callie thought out loud still in disbelief.

" Yeah it really is. Even as of now, I don't know what to do. In any case, I will need your helps to keep the place in check!" Maggie expressed with a tiresome sigh.

Understanding her plight, the managing directors nodded their respective heads. On the other hand, they looked towards Val with slight uncertainty in their gazes. They hadn't believed her when she said she knew nothing about the missing Laguna teardrop being found in her office. As her colleague, they felt embarrassed of themselves. However, they couldn't be blamed, all evidences were pointing right to her right at that moment.

It'd be even more suspicious to deny the evidence.

" And what about her?" Callie asked, being more compassionate towards Val. She could feel for her.

" I'll go talk to her" Maggie sighed yet once again.

Valerie had her whole face beet red from embarrassment, fear, apprehension, bereavement, evident trace of despair, and sort of lingering emotions. As she slowly moved away from the scene towards the elevator, her shoulders hung low and she stared fixated at the floor before her.

Val just wanted to be alone for now.

Maggie saw this and decided to not say anything, instead, she half-turned diagonally and approached Kaitlyn who still stared at a loss with uncertainty evident in her gaze.

Just as she sensed Maggie coming near her, Kaitlyn quickly shot her gaze up and asked, " Will he be fine?"

" You don't need to worry about him, rather, yourself?" Maggie cupped a side of her face with a palm, giving her an empathetic besoothe.

Kaitlyn was silent, she lowered her head in lost thought. She was sad, and felt bad. She felt a little uncertain about what she'd done. She truly loved Mark. didn't she?

Maggie saw this but held back the urge to scoff.

' No need feeling guilty now. Just take your reward and start a new life...' She thought.

" In any case, you should try to stay away for now. And... Thank you, really. Without your help Val would have been in trou--ble..." Maggie trailed off seeing how Kaitlyn frowned at her words. She did not do what she did for the sake of Val?

" --Of course, I will prepare your reward before you can even worry about it" She leaned over to add in a soft whisper.

Kaitlyn shot her gaze up once again and Maggie gave her a soft smile. She could tell from Kaitlyn's expression that she was now elated.

' What a vixen. Just now she was all regretful right?'

Kaitlyn felt slightly relieved hearing this. She let out a sigh before nodding her head and turning around to leave. She left the scene as well, still in a turmoil of emotion.

" Haah!" Maggie shook her head, looked around to see that the company was gradually integrating back into how it used to be, as though the Laguna teardrop incident never happened.