73

73
Rachel arrived back at the office after a long and tiring day. She was still feeling the sting of Leo’s actions, but was determined to keep her head held high and move forward with her life. As she made her way to her desk, she noticed that Leo was giving her a respectful distance, not attempting to speak with her as he usually did. Despite this, Rachel couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief knowing that Roseline had been fired from her role as secretary.
As she settled into her work, Rachel’s mind started to wander. She couldn’t help but think about the false accusations that Roseline had been making about Leo and his supposed love for her. She couldn’t believe that someone could be so malicious and hurtful. The thought of it made her blood boil and she felt a wave of anger wash over her.
As Rachel stepped out of the office building for lunch, she was immediately swarmed by a group of reporters and cameras. They shouted out questions at her, trying to get her attention. She felt overwhelmed and caught off guard. The reporters were determined to get answers about Roseline’s allegations and seemed relentless in their pursuit of information.
One reporter stepped forward, thrusting a microphone in her face. “Mrs. Dante, how do you respond to the allegations that the CEO of Dante company is in love with Roseline and his wife can’t deal with it?” The reporter’s voice was loud and demanding, making Rachel feel pressured to respond.
Rachel tried to stay calm and composed, “I can assure you that these allegations are completely false. There is no truth to them.”
Another reporter stepped forward, “But what about the rumors that you and your husband have been having problems in your marriage?” The reporter was relentless, not giving her a chance to catch her breath.
Rachel felt her patience beginning to wear thin. She was about to respond when she heard a deep voice interject,
The media was all over the story, with reporters from every news outlet camping outside the building, trying to get a statement from Rachel.
“Okay, that’s enough,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind. “My wife has nothing to say about these false allegations. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have things to attend to.”
With that, Leo took Rachel by the hand and led her past the reporters and to their car. The reporters continued to shout questions after them, but Leo didn’t let go of Rachel’s hand until they were safely inside the car.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking at her with concern.
Rachel nodded, still feeling a bit rattled by the encounter with the reporters. “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for stepping in.”
Leo smiled at her, reaching across the car to take her hand.
As Leo leads Rachel out of the scene, the reporters tried to close in, shouting questions and shoving microphones in their faces. But the guards at the entrance of the building were quick to react, pushing the reporters back and creating a barrier between them and the couple. Leo’s arm was firmly around Rachel’s waist as he guided her through the throngs of reporters, shielding her from the barrage of questions and flashes of cameras.
Leo and Rachel retreated back to his office, away from the prying eyes and microphones of the reporters. Rachel was still feeling overwhelmed and shaken from the ordeal outside. Leo took her by the hand and led her to a couch in his office, where they sat down next to each other.
“Rachel, I know things have been rough between us lately,” Leo said, taking her hand in his own. “But I want you to know that I’m here for you and I love you.”
Rachel shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. “It’s not that simple, Leo. You were the one who caused this whole mess. You were the one who put us in this position in the first place.”
Leo sighed, understanding the frustration and hurt in her voice.
Leo takes a deep breath and begins to explain his side of the story. “Rachel, Roseline was just a staff member who thought she could benefit from me in some way. I know that it may have looked suspicious, but I promise you, I have never been interested in her. I am committed to you and our relationship.”
Rachel nods and listens intently. She knows deep down that Leo is telling the truth, but the thought of him being close to another woman still gnaws at her. Leo notices the hesitation in her eyes and continues, “I understand that it is hard for you to trust me after what has happened, but I am asking for a chance to show you that I am trustworthy. I promise that I will do everything in my power to make things right between us.”
****
Rachel stepped out of the car and walked up the driveway of her childhood home. She inhaled deeply, savoring the familiar scents and sounds of her neighborhood. As she approached the front door, she could hear her mother’s voice calling out to her, warm and welcoming.
“Rachel, is that you, darling?” her mother’s voice echoed through the house.
Rachel pushed open the door and stepped inside, greeted by the warm embrace of her mother. They hugged each other tightly, and her mother led her to the living room, inviting her to sit down on the couch.
“How was your day at work?” her mother asked, settling herself in an armchair across from Rachel.
“It was fine,” Rachel replied, “Just a lot of paperwork and meetings.”
Her mother nodded, understanding. “Well, why don’t you take a moment to catch your breath? I’m going to make us some tea.”
Rachel went to the fan and turned it on, feeling the cool breeze wash over her. She took a deep breath, trying to relax. When her mother returned with two steaming cups of tea, Rachel sipped hers gratefully, savoring the comforting warmth of the liquid.
“Mom, I noticed you have some classes to go to today,” Rachel said, setting down her cup. “Do you need any help with anything before you go?”
Her mother smiled. “Actually, I was hoping you could clear out the garage for me. I want to make some space for the new car I just bought.”
Rachel nodded, eager to help. She made her way to the garage,
The garden was in dire need of some care and attention, and Rachel knew just what to do. She started by tidying up the flower beds, pulling out any dead or yellowing leaves and making room for the new blooms to come through.
Next, she grabbed the mower and began cutting the grass, taking care to maneuver around the flower beds and trees. The mower made a steady hum as it glided across the grass, and Rachel felt a sense of satisfaction as she watched the neat rows of cut grass form behind her.
The garden was a sprawling expanse of green, dotted with clusters of colorful flowers and shaded by tall trees. The sun was shining down, casting dappled shadows on the ground, and a soft breeze was blowing, rustling the leaves on the trees.
As Rachel worked, she thought about her father and the many memories they had shared in this very garden. He had been a keen gardener and had spent countless hours tending to the plants and flowers, ensuring that they were always in top condition.
Rachel felt a sense of sadness as she remembered her father, but she also felt a sense of peace knowing that his spirit was still here, in the garden that he had loved so much.
As soon as she was down, she started sorting through the items, she came across a file from the police. She remembered her father’s death and her heart sank as she realized that there was a discrepancy in the file. She couldn’t understand why the police would have made a mistake like that. She decided she needed to find out what was going on and to get to the bottom of this discrepancy.
As Rachel rushed upstairs, her heart was pounding in her chest. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. She burst into her mother’s room, determined to find the answers she needed.
She quickly opened the wardrobe and began to rummage through the piles of clothes, searching for her father’s death certificate and old news papers. She felt a lump form in her throat as she came across a photo of her father, smiling warmly in the sunshine. Despite her sadness, she pushed on with her search.
Finally, she found what she was looking for. She pulled out the death certificate and began to study it closely. She could feel her frustration growing as she noticed discrepancies in the report. She couldn’t believe what she was reading. She quickly picked up her phone and began to call the police department, her hands shaking with anger and worry.
The phone rang several times, but it just kept going to voicemail. She was left tired and frustrated, her mind racing with questions. What was going on? Why were the police not picking up the phone?
Deflated, Rachel went outside to return the mower. She was exhausted from the day’s work and just wanted to take a bath and relax. When she returned to her room, she ran a hot bath and let the steam envelop her, hoping it would soothe her nerves. After her bath, she made herself something to eat and settled in for the night.
Her mother returned home and noticed the look of concern on Rachel’s face. She approached her daughter and asked, “Is everything OK?” Rachel hesitated for a moment before responding, “Yes, everything is fine.” She didn’t want to burden her mother with her worries just yet. She needed to find out more information and make sense of what was happening before she shared it with anyone.