Chapter 13
I don’t want to make a fuss, so I continue digging.
Pile after pile, and I still don’t find the document. I take out my list of documents I’d recorded, but again, I find no trace of the
Armond file.
“I’m sorry, but are you sure you brought it to me?”
Supervisor Chanler scoffs at my question and shakes his head dramatically.
“Maybe we should check the surveillance footage to see if you dropped it off at a different desk.”
Supervisor Chanler whirls on me, snarling, “Are you saying I lost it myself?”
Every ounce of independence and anger climbs up my throat, fighting to come out, but I hold it back. I can’t get in trouble. I need
this job, but the whispers popping up around us about this being my fault hit me right in the chest.
“He wouldn’t accuse her if it wasn’t true,” I hear someone say, and I bite my bottom lip. Of course they would believe the
supervisor over the new secretary. I have no standing here because it’s barely been a week.
Is this how it will always be?
Supervisor Chanler smirks, plants a hand on my desk, and leans in, muttering, “You’re messing with the wrong person.”
His nonsubtle threat triggers something in my mind, and I glance at Mr. Parson’s file. Right below Andy’s name, I find Roger Chanler, and it all makes sense. They’re in this together. He’s coming after me because I’ve been put in charge of the plagiarized proposal that they’ve both been working on.
“You won’t make it far in th—”
Suddenly, Supervisor Chanler’s shoulder has a hand on it as he’s jerked back. My eyes fly to the person behind him, surprisingly finding Nolan watching both of us, mainly the supervisor, coldly.
“Why are you blaming my secretary for your own lack of discipline?” Nolan questions, pulling the supervisor further away from
- me.
The man in question stands at attention, becoming stiff as he stumbles over an answer, “I–I was looking for a file that I thought I left with Ms. Davis here, b–but I guess I was mistaken.”
Nolan hums in response, his eyes flicking to me before narrowing again on the supervisor.
“Did he bring you a file, Ms. Davis?”
“No, sir. I never received anything from Mr. Chanler.”
Nolan hums again, and before anyone else can say anything, Mr. Chanler turns and leaves, taking his shame and embarrassment with him.
Chapter 13
***
+40 Bonus
“Thank you for meeting with me,” I tell Detective Sanchez. “I want to report someone for stealing and plagiarizing my professional work from three years ago. I didn’t know until recently that my research was stolen, which is why I’ve contacted
you.”
Detective Sanchez nods, listening as I describe the situation. I leave out the part of me going to prison, instead focusing on the fact that I spent two years of my college life researching and working on the experiment. I also let him know that I’ve been hired
at the company currently working on my own research.
“I would love to help,” he answers, jotting down some notes before looking at me again. “And who is this ex–boyfriend who stole
your work?”
“Andy Thorton.”
The detective freezes and lifts his eyes to mine.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Davis, but I don’t think I can help you.”
“What? Why?” I ask. The sudden change in his tone and the apprehensive look on his face don’t look good.
“You shouldn’t make moves against someone so close to the King,” he warns, closing his notebook. “As the King’s son–in–law,
Mr. Thorton has certain freedoms that others don’t get. If I were you, I’d forget about this and move on because no one can hide
from the King’s eyes, especially if they offend those close to him.”
Then, he leaves me alone.
Three more detectives come and go in the same manner, telling me I shouldn’t go after Andy because of his connection to the
King. They all explain that he has more standing and power than I do, than any of us do because of his marriage to the Princess.
Sighing, I lean against the bar and swirl the alcohol around in my glass. I don’t know what else to do, other than drown my anger
in wine, but as I look around, I feel a sense of familiarity.
The music, the bar, those booths… it all seems so familiar… because I’ve been her before. I can’t believe I didn’t recognize it at
first, but when my eyes land on the booth across from the bar, I remember it’s the booth Nolan had been in.
This was where I first met Nolan.
On instinct, I scan the room again, wondering if he’d be here as well.
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