Chapter 33
Victoria entered the boardroom with her usual confident stride, the soft click of her heels echoing against the tense silence of the room. The employees were already seated, some whispering amongst themselves, while others shifted nervously in their seats. The air was heavy with unease—Gregory’s death and the mysterious disappearance of the HR manager had thrown the company into chaos.
Selena and Damian sat at the head of the table, side by side, projecting an image of unity that Victoria knew was nothing more than a façade. Selena was impeccably dressed as always, her sharp features etched with a look of feigned concern. Damian, on the other hand, looked distracted, his gaze flickering toward the door as though he were waiting for someone.
Victoria sat near the center of the table, deliberately choosing a spot that allowed her to observe everyone. As she settled in, the whispers grew louder.
“First Gregory, now the HR manager… what’s going on here?” one employee murmured.
“Do you think it’s connected?” another asked, glancing nervously at Selena.
Selena cleared her throat sharply, silencing the murmurs. She stood, placing her hands on the table, and addressed the room in a calm but commanding tone. “Thank you all for coming today. As you are all aware, we are dealing with a very challenging situation. Gregory’s death was a tragedy, and now, with the HR manager missing, it’s clear that we’re facing an unprecedented crisis.”
Damian nodded, his voice quieter but equally firm. “We’ve taken every step possible to address these issues. Private investigators are looking into the HR manager’s disappearance, and we’re cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
Victoria leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she studied the pair. Their performance was convincing, but she knew better. They were trying too hard to appear proactive, too eager to steer the narrative.
“Forgive me,” Victoria said, her voice cutting through the room like a blade, “but are we really doing everything we can? Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like a lot of damage control and not much progress.”
Selena’s head snapped toward her, her eyes narrowing. “What exactly are you insinuating, Victoria?”
Victoria shrugged, her expression calm. “I’m not insinuating anything. I’m merely pointing out that this company seems to be unraveling, and the leadership”—she gestured vaguely toward Selena and Damian—“doesn’t seem to have a firm grip on the situation.”
“Perhaps,” Selena replied, her tone sharp, “you’d like to enlighten us on what you would do differently.”
“Oh, I’m already working on that,” Victoria said smoothly. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Selena glared at her, but before she could retort, Damian interjected, his voice firm but strained. “Let’s not turn this into a blame game. We all want the same thing—to stabilize the company and find out what’s happening.”
Selena took a deep breath, regaining her composure. “He’s right. Now is not the time for division. But,” she added, her gaze sweeping the room before landing on Victoria, “it’s important to acknowledge that someone—someone—is trying to destroy this company from within.”
Victoria didn’t flinch. She met Selena’s pointed glare with an arched brow and an almost amused expression. “Oh, please,” she said, rolling her eyes. “If you’re going to accuse me, Selena, just say it outright. I don’t have time for cryptic dramatics.”
The employees exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in the room thick enough to choke on. Damian shifted uncomfortably, his jaw tightening as he looked between the two women.
“Victoria,” he said cautiously, “this isn’t an accusation. It’s simply a statement of concern.”
Victoria tilted her head, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, is that what we’re calling baseless insinuations now? Concern? How thoughtful.”
Selena’s composure cracked for a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Let me make one thing clear,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “Whoever is behind these attacks—whether it’s Gregory, the HR manager, or someone else—will be dealt with. And when the truth comes out, there will be consequences.”
Victoria leaned forward slightly, her smile icy. “I couldn’t agree more. Let’s just hope the truth isn’t too close to home for some.”
The room fell silent, the weight of Victoria’s words hanging in the air. Selena’s nostrils flared, but before she could respond, one of the employees at the far end of the table cleared his throat nervously.
“Um, excuse me,” he said, his voice hesitant, “but has there been any update on the HR manager’s whereabouts?”
Selena took a moment to regain her composure before addressing him. “We’ve contacted his family and checked all known locations where he might be. So far, we’ve found no leads. However, we’re confident that with the resources we’ve allocated, we’ll have answers soon.”
Another employee spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper. “Do you think it’s related to Gregory? I mean… it’s a little too coincidental, isn’t it?”
Victoria didn’t miss the flicker of unease that crossed Selena’s face at the question. Damian shifted in his seat, looking down at his hands.
“We don’t deal in speculation,” Selena said sharply. “The important thing is that we remain focused and united as a company.”
“United,” Victoria echoed under her breath, just loud enough for Selena to hear. The corner of her mouth twitched upward as Selena shot her a glare.
The meeting dragged on with more reassurances from Damian and Selena, but it was clear that the employees were growing increasingly skeptical. Victoria kept her observations to herself, letting Selena and Damian dig their own graves with their hollow promises.
As the meeting came to a close, Victoria gathered her things and stood to leave. But as she reached the door, she paused and turned back to face the room.
“You know,” she said, her voice calm but deliberate, “it’s funny how much effort is being put into looking for answers… when some people might already have them.”
Selena’s eyes blazed, but Victoria didn’t wait for a response. She walked out of the boardroom, her mind racing. Whatever Selena and Damian were hiding, she was going to find it—and when she did, there would be no escape for them.
