Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Maggie's office was silent for a moment,

" Mistress, I was just about calling to inform you of this" Maggie started to speak a while after having thought of what to say. She was excited to relay her success but was met with silence from Courtney, which Maggie knew meant for her to continue with what she was saying...

" Mark had tried to frame Val like I've instigated him to do. He stole the Laguna teardrop with the help of Ollie and convinced Mr Porter to erase the footage of this. Then he had a janitor plant it in Val's office...

" I used the opportunity to put effect to that plan of ours to get him laid off, as well as those corrupt employees in one clean swipe..." Maggie paused awaiting approval. However, realizing she wasn't getting any, she continued,

" I figured it'd be better we do so with valuable reason given. So I followed through with the protocols, while tasking Harry Caister, the assistant chief security, to find clues and retrieve footage to prove Mark and his company guilty. That too, I managed to convince Kaitlyn, Mark's lover, to be a witness against him" Maggie slowly recounted.

Hearing nothing from the other side still, the corner of Maggie's plumpy lips curved upwards. She knew she had made a good impression for her actions with her mistress, and might even get rewarded for it.

" In the end, we succeeded" Maggie would say, but she knew Courtney had already figured out the rest of the story.

" What of the Laguna teardrop, recovered?" Courtney asked.

" Yes, mistress. Without a scratch" Maggie nodded seriously as though Courtney were right before her.

" Good. You made a mess nevertheless, you put the company in the 'limelight' and the eyes of critics are now on us..." Maggie froze when she heard this. She never thought about this being a consequence.

" Haah! Anyway, serve Mark a letter of termination and refuse to take any legal action against him. Make certain that the police release him as well. I'll handle the spread of rumors from my side" Courtney informed, her intent obviously being to put the company in good view of the public and also to douse the burning flames of controversies around the issue.

It's quite absurd that a company as large as Citadel's had such a scandalous incident, with employees plotting against one another. It's definitely meant to rouse suspicion and doubt in future clients if news of this spreads.

' Effective as always!' Maggie grinned and thought in adoration.

" Got it, ma'am " She affirmed with a red face. She had been so proud of her achievement that she failed to realize these consequences. Even at that, her mistress wasn't blaming her. In fact, she could rely on Courtney to clear her mess.

" Good. About Val, keep an eye on her... I'll be back in San Francisco in a few days."

" You'll be back in San Francisco soon? What about the trial?" Maggie frowned.

" You just do as I say!" Was all she got in reply from Courtney.

" Y-yes, Mistress" Maggie almost barked. She got too comfortable with the conversation and had forgotten her role.

"M-mistress!" sensing that Courtney was about to end the call, Maggie quickly called out to her notice.

"What is it!?"

" A-about Kaitlyn?" Maggie asked in a meek tone.

" ..."

Of course, Courtney already understood Kaitlyn's role in the matter from what Maggie had said before. She deduced that Maggie was only able to convince Kaitlyn by promising the latter a tangible reward.

" Just offer her some money to shut her up" Courtney dismissed in a nonchalant tone the next second.

It was obvious that they wouldn't want

Kaitlyn going about revealing secrets about this very issue.

" B-but, wouldn't that bring about suspicion?" Maggie tried to reason.

" Then, make it seem like she couldn't withstand the emotion and she willingly resigned. Give her enough to compensate for that as well" Courtney said through gritted teeth,causing Maggie to give up on haggling. Courtney was clearly getting frustrated.

" But I already promised her Mark's position!" Maggie dared not say out loud. If she did, she'd be digging her own grave to say the least.

" Understood" Maggie stated instead, and Courtney ended the call.

Maggie sighed exasperatedly and reclined in her seat. She smiled bitterly realizing she didn't really get into trouble with her mistress.

Although, since she was responsible for getting Kaitlyn involved, she had to take responsibility for taking care of the sales representative reward as well. After all, Courtney had basically insinuated that it was Maggie's burden from the context of the call just now.

' She's right...' Margarette couldn't help but give thought to what Courtney had said. Kaitlyn knew too much already, putting her in place of Mark would only increase the danger of exposing the fact that Maggie had approached Kaitlyn and had offered her benefits to expose Mark.

' Guess I'll have to convince Kaitlyn to take some money... Also, I have to make her leave the company in a way or the other'

"Haaah!" Maggie sighed again as she felt tiresome already, burdened with all these responsibilities. For now, she could only think of ways to convince Kaitlyn to change her mind regarding her choice of reward. She needed to find a way to accomplish this someway very fast.

Maggie knows how impatient her mistress could get, and she didn't want to be a victim of this.

' That assistant chief security as well...' Maggie sat straight with the thought to silence Harry Caister too. She thought to make him the hero of the event, and convince him to be confidential about the matter. Although, Maggie knew Courtney would most definitely find a way about this, she still felt the need to impress Courtney. Ans so she took this thought to heart.

Just then, the door knob to the office turned, making the locks unlock in a subtle click as the door to the office was pulled open.

Maggie raised her gaze with a deep frown, only to feign a sweet smile that seemed awkward when she saw who it was.

Seeing the unstable figure of Kaitlyn step into her office, Maggie didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

' Speak of the devil...' She was still thinking of how to convince the lady, and here she is already.

' I wouldn't be surprised if she has come to ask for the reward that I've promised her' Maggie thoughtfully lampooned.

" Are you okay?" Maggie asked in a feigned tone of concern, the wry smile on her face seemed glued.

" Ms Margarette, I-... I came to make a request" Though her voice shook and her whole bearing unsteadily tottered, Kaitlyn wasn't short of any confidence. She clenched her fists by her side as she stared intently into Maggie's glasses.

Maggie was silent. She straightened her back and crossed her legs before calmly stating. " Care to sit and discuss properly?"

Despite her calm demeanor, Maggie was worry-struck as to her reason for this sudden confrontation to make a request. Is she already planning to blackmail her?

Kaitlyn tensed and looked towards the chair in front of Maggie. She hesitated for a second as though the seat burned of fire but she eventually moved to take a seat.

" The request?" Maggie corked her head to the side to ask with creased gaze while rubbing her knuckles.

" W-well..." Kaitlyn paused to give thought to what she was about to say, her eyes were fixated on the miniature world globe on the table as she slowly built up her speech.

" After everything that has happened. I have to be honest and confess that I have this sense of guilt that haunts me, and that i don't think I can get rid of this nor keep up with it. I can't stay in San Francisco any longer. Besides, who knows what Mark could do? Or his accomplices?

" So please Ms Margarette, I wanna make a request regarding my reward. In place of what you've promised me prior to this, I wish that you'd pity my condition and let me take a lump sum and completely make an exit" Kaitlyn stated seriously, her almond shaped eyes that shook frivolously showed signs of redness and a glint of determination.

Maggie was slightly taken aback. Was this a joke or something? or can Kaitlyn actually read thoughts?

' Could she have listened in on my conversation with the Mistress?'

Myriads of thoughts crossed Maggie's mind as she thought to figure out the reason behind her words.

' A lump sum? Make an exit?'

Kaitlyn stared dead serious at Maggie nevertheless, she knew to not show any signs of indecision in the process of negotiating. Though, seeing how shocked Maggie was, she couldn't help but feel that perhaps she'd overstepped her boundaries.

" Are you sure about this?" Maggie asked to confirm it wasn't her mind playing tricks on her.

Kaitlyn slowly nodded with serious conviction.

Maggie placed a finger on her chin. She still hasn't gotten over the fact that Kaitlyn would come ask by herself to be paid off for an exit just as her mistress had informed her to do.

Is this due to Courtney's influence perhaps? Or could Kaitlyn have figured out she was a target who knew too much about this incident and sensing that she might be silenced for life, she opted for submission?

It was a complex thought but still plausible. However, Maggie had a feeling that wasn't all about it...

' No, the lady mentioned her emotions and fear of what's to come. To think of it, that's plausible...' It was obvious that Kaitlyn was in a state of instability at the moment.

Mark used to be her sole source of protection and her major backbone in the company. Now, after betraying such a person, she definitely would have to suffer some emotional backlash.

Fear that Mark or any of his accomplices would return to take revenge on her for having ruined their lives... The guilt of having exposed Mark and the others for a selfish reward... Moreso, Kaitlyn couldn't face Val without feeling like a two-faced liar. She didn't know how to stop being the whore homewrecker that she used to be to Val, now she had to relate with her and act all kind and lovely when she'd still fucked with Mark knowing he was married to Val.

Kaitlyn didn't know how to stand all of this... Not at all!

Maggie couldn't imagine herself in Kaitlyn's place, doing the same thing she'd done to Mark to Courtney. She definitely would have lost her whole mind by now.

" I understand, Kaitlyn. I will grant your request. Enough to start a new life as well..." Maggie responded reassuringly a while after.

Hearing this, Kaitlyn subconsciously heaved a soft sigh. She thanked Maggie with a bitter smile and rose to leave the office shortly after.

" And that... ends it all. Mark, today I win..." Maggie lampooned in a soft mutter.