Bella arrived at the office swiftly, her skin still tingling from the residual shock of the morning’s events. Theodore’s naked form seemed to be imprinted in her mind, a persistent image she couldn’t shake.
As she approached her desk, she noticed Olivia rummaging through her drawers, her muttered complaints growing increasingly audible. The deep frown etched into Olivia’s brow made it clear she was upset.
’What could have happened to her so early in the morning?’ Bella wondered to herself, but she decided to ignore the commotion and settled at her desk, turning on her computer.
"I kept it right here. Where could it vanish?" Olivia’s mumbles grew louder, her frustration attracting the attention of everyone in the office. Colleagues glanced over curiously, their interest piqued by the growing drama.
Bella glanced at Olivia, trying to decipher what she might be looking for. She debated whether she should offer to help but quickly dismissed the idea.
Olivia’s hostility towards her was no secret, and Bella doubted her assistance would not be appreciated. In fact, she feared that offering help might provoke an even harsher reaction or lead Olivia to blame her for whatever was missing.
Resolving to stay out of the fray, Bella kept her head down, focusing intently on her work. The office buzzed with subdued whispers and side glances, but Bella remained determined not to get involved.
"Hey, have you seen my pen drive?" Olivia asked, looking at her colleagues. "I remember keeping it inside the drawer. But I can’t find it now."
"Maybe you misplaced it," someone suggested. "Check it properly."
"I’m looking everywhere, but I can’t find it," Olivia whined, her voice growing more desperate. "I suspect someone stole it."
Gasps rippled through the office, and murmurs filled the air. Bella’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with astonishment. An ominous feeling settled in her stomach. It didn’t seem like Olivia had simply misplaced the pen drive. Bella suspected Olivia had hidden it deliberately, setting the stage for a twisted game.
Bella was curious as to what Olivia was going to do next.
"You’re all jealous of me," Olivia accused, her voice rising. "You stole it to trouble me. You know the boss is presenting the tender list today. How could you mess with me at such a crucial moment? This isn’t just about me; it’s about the company’s secrets and reputation."
"Olivia, this is too much. Why are you accusing us?" One of her coworkers snapped back. "If you have so many doubts, search our desks."
Olivia sneered inwardly. This was what she wanted to do.
Bella watched the scene unfold, her curiosity piqued and her sense of foreboding growing. What was Olivia’s endgame this time?
Olivia’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she began rifling through her coworkers’ desks, her movements exaggerated for dramatic effect. Each drawer she opened and slammed shut seemed to increase the tension in the room.
Her colleagues exchanged worried glances, the atmosphere growing more charged with each passing second. As the tension escalated, Bella couldn’t help but feel a knot tightening in her stomach. This situation had the potential to spiral out of control. Bella’s heart pounded in her chest as she waited to see what would happen next.
The tension in the room was shattered by the sharp cut of Amy’s voice. "What is this ruckus about?"
"Amy, thank goodness you’re here," Olivia cried, rushing towards her like a damsel in distress. "There’s a big problem. It’s my pen drive," she sniffled. "I swear I kept it safe in my drawer, but it’s vanished!"
A frown creased Amy’s brow. "Check thoroughly, Olivia," she advised. "Perhaps you misplaced it. And what exactly is on this pen drive that warrants such a commotion? Did you store anything important in it?"
Olivia dabbed at her eyes with a theatrical flourish. "It’s not just any pen drive, Amy. It’s the one you gave me to check the tender list. I made the necessary changes and was about to return it to you this morning. But I can’t find it anywhere."
Amy’s voice hardened. "Olivia, how could you be so careless? A pen drive containing such sensitive information deserves utmost care!"
Olivia’s lower lip trembled, but a cunning glint flickered in her eyes. "I kept it safely, Amy, I truly did! But someone seems to be deliberately targeting me." Her gaze swept across the room, lingering pointedly on Bella. "One of them might have taken it."
"Why would anyone do that?" Bella scoffed, unable to contain her growing frustration. "We weren’t even aware that Amy had given you a pen drive you had a pen drive, let alone its contents."
"Yes, we don’t know anything." Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, bolstering Bella’s point.
Olivia, however, remained unconvinced. "Maybe not everyone," she snorted. "But you, Bella, you knew exactly what I was talking about." She stepped toward her with stormy momentum. "I showed you the pen drive and told you about the crucial task Amy entrusted me with. Don’t deny it, Bella. This is your doing. You’re jealous and want to sabotage me."
"What a ridiculous accusation!" Bella shot back. "You’re the one who thrives on creating problems, Olivia."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Bella hissed, rising to her feet. "It’s you who always looks for a fight with me."
"If you have nothing to hide, then why not let me search your desk? Let’s settle this once and for all." Olivia challenged. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
The office fell silent, all eyes on Bella and Olivia. Bella’s heart raced as she glared back at Olivia, her mind whirring with indignation.
It was clear as day – Olivia was playing a game. Accusing Bella in front of everyone was a calculated move to smear her reputation. But refusing a search would only fuel suspicion. With a deep, frustrated breath, Bella stepped aside.
"Fine, search my desk. I have nothing to hide."
Olivia wasted no time, practically lunging toward Bella’s desk. She rummaged through the drawers with an almost frenzied energy, her actions theatrical and exaggerated. Bella stood by, her arms crossed over her chest, watching with a mix of irritation and defiance.
Amy observed the scene with a furrowed brow, her frustration evident. The tension in the room was palpable, everyone holding their breath as Olivia continued her search.
Olivia’s eyes gleamed with a predatory glint. With a flourish, she pulled out the pen drive from beneath a file.
"Aha!" she crowed, brandishing the evidence like a trophy. "See, I knew it! This is it, the missing pen drive. You stole it, Bella, I knew you couldn’t resist!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
