CHAPTER 42
LILY’S POV
Upon arriving at the company building, I headed straight to Noah’s office. The suspense and anticipation that came with finding out about what he wanted to talk to me about gnawed at me, leaving me panicked and restless throughout the ride to this place.
He had called severally again while I was showering and getting ready. Due to the rush, I had picked something quick to wear, not taking my time to dress the way I wanted a simple blouse and jeans, with my hair hastily tied in a messy bun.
I also had to call Nana Mae to come look after the kids for me. Even though she wasn’t supposed to work at this time of the day as she was a part-time nanny, she agreed out of the kindness of her heart. I couldn’t leave Liam and Lila alone in that house. It will be a chaotic mess by the time I get back.
I tapped on Noah’s office door and at the sound of a muffled voice that said, “Come in,” I entered and gently closed the door behind me.
Noah didn’t bother looking at me to acknowledge my presence. He was facing the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, observing the bustling but breathtaking view of the city. His expression was cold and unreadable as he was looking out like a God observing his creation, fully aware of their iniquities and thinking of how best to impose his judgment.
I had to pretend to clear my throat to get his attention otherwise I was sure we would have stayed for more than an hour in silence.
“You sent for me, Boss.”
“I trusted you,” he finally said, his voice low but sharp. “You had every chance to tell me. I could considered overlooking it. But instead, I find out from someone else.”
“I…I don’t understand…” I fought the urge to stammer as my brows knitted in confusion. “What are you talking about? What did you find out about?”
He turned to face me, shooting me a stare laced with anger and deep disappointment as if I were a trusted friend who just betrayed him. My pulse raced, a sharp tension building inside me I watched him strode furiously to the back of his table.
He grabbed a sheet of document from the top of the table and shoved it at me, urging me to come and take it. As if afraid, I cautiously came closer to him and reluctantly collected it. Staring into it, my jaw dropped and a cold wave of fear crept into me on seeing it was my prison records indicating my criminal history.
“You were an ex-convict, convicted of first-degree murder,” he said in utter bewilderment. “You served seven years in prison after narrowly escaping the death penalty. Just tell me how you could have kept such important information from me?”
My heart skipped several beats as I closed my eyes, breathing out heavily, wishing this wasn’t happening. For the past two years that I have been working here, I have done my best to keep him and everyone else who knew me in this city from finding out about this ugly history. It’s been going smoothly until now. How had he managed to uncover this dark chapter of my life? He mentioned finding out from someone, who was it? Who wanted to destroy me like this?
My heart clenched painfully in my chest, causing tears to smear the corners of my eyes. But then, like a lightning strike, it suddenly dawned on me that this could be Scarlett’s doing. She’s hell-bent on destroying me and after seeing what she was capable of, no one else I knew could mastermind such an evil plot. Or it could be Robert. He did say he’ll take everything from me and make sure I suffer severely. This could be one of his ways of carrying out that promise. He must be monitoring me, aware I moved to this city and working in this company. If that is the case, then it means he knows about kids. He knows I didn’t abort the pregnancy when he asked me to.
This can’t be happening. No….
“This is the real reason you left New York for this place,” Noah jolted my thoughts, his words soaked in disbelief, betrayal and worst of all, disgust. “You were running away yet you kept beating around the bush whenever I asked you why you chose to come to LA. When I gave you this job, I didn’t bother conducting a proper background check on you because after I met you years back at that bar, I immediately knew I could trust you. Never have I trusted anyone like that in years only for me to find out now that you’re a cold-blooded murderer…”
The way he said that word made me shudder, a cold sensation running down my spine. He must think of me as a cold-blooded and heartless murderer now. The last thing I want is for anyone to think of me that way or say it out loud, especially with how hard I have struggled to forget all about that cruel past.
The way he revealed all this made my heart race with worry. I couldn’t shake off the fear of how much he truly knew of the past I was trying to hide from him. Was he aware I was entangled with Robert, a businessman and CEO of an ad agency just like him who came from a very wealthy, influential family? Was he aware his grandpa was the murder victim? What about my kids, did he know they were Robert’s? I just hope he didn’t dig deep enough to know all that.
“How could you have killed that innocent elderly man in cold blood? You must be sick in the head and a professional killer to do something like that. Yet you come to this place every morning and smile and mingle with us like nothing happened…”
“I didn’t do it,” I managed to say through the ocean of tears that built up in my throat and threatened to choke me. I didn’t want to shed even a drop of tears in front of him. I didn’t want to cry ever again. All those days and nights of sorrow, and despair, crying my eyes out were over. He can’t have me reliving them.
“But the evidence says otherwise,” he looked at me expectantly.
“That’s because I was framed,” I said in defence.
He scoffed incredulously, looking at me like I had just told him the biggest lie of the year. I just didn’t get why people find it so hard to believe I’m innocent. That I didn’t have the mind and heart to carry out such gruesome acts. First, it was Robert, Martin, every member of their family, and now, Noah of all people. Moving into this city to start my life afresh, I never imagined a day like this would happen.
“That is such a clever way to cover up.”
“I’m not lying Noah…” I tried to say when he brought his hand forward, cutting me off.
“I don’t want to hear it. In this company, we have certain protocols we must follow. One of which forbids the hiring of candidates with criminal records to protect our public image and ensure the safety of our workers. I’m sorry Lily, but I will have to fire you. Effective immediately.”