THE LIE: DECEPTION TO THE CEO

-Ok, as you wish! I’m not going to be the one who makes you fall into another mistake, so serious – Joshua declared – Go to legal, where the commission is and collaborate in everything they want. You have always been a man attached to the law,” assured his friend.

-No, always,” he answered a little worried and ran a hand through his hair.

-How so? -asked Joshua, lowering his voice.

-In some things, I have had to bribe some public official to help me in what I want. And this commission is investigating precisely that. How do you know where to look? That’s why I distrust Michelle, she is capable of this.

-Or someone who betrayed you, or someone who spoke out of turn,” Joshua reflected, with a thoughtful air.

-That’s what I think,” Christopher confessed.

-Then all the more reason! And don’t even think about offering them something to drink or eat, because they’ll think you’re bribing them! -Joshua asked.

-No, not at all! I keep that in the safe in my room,” he answered.

In the afternoon, at the end of the working day, the committee left, leaving a summons to Christopher for alleged irregularities with the tax authorities. He was worried and immediately met with his lawyers, who would accompany him to this appointment.

The law firm, which worked for Christopher, was one of the best in Santiago de Leon, therefore he felt sure that he would get out of this without any setback. They managed to find out that it had been an anonymous complaint, which led the commission directly to the department that presented the legal problem.

He suddenly thought it might be Amber, because of his thirst for revenge, but then he reflected, coming to the conclusion that this was not his style. So he decided to discard those doubts against her and focus, for now, on getting out of this situation, as the company is not financially fit to face another crisis.

(***)

On the day of the summons, Amber was at the same location attending to a client’s case, when she suddenly noticed Christopher sitting in the courtroom of that institution. Approaching to greet him, she asked him:

-What are you doing here? -showing a totally relaxed smile.

-I was summoned for irregularities,” he answered, with an enigmatic look on his face.

-What kind of irregularities? -she insisted, with an understanding and tolerant attitude.

-Follow me, please! -he answered, to her question.

Christopher took her to where his lawyers were, because in spite of everything, he trusted her and something in his heart told him that she was not the one who denounced him.

When he got to his lawyers, he simply gave them the order to explain to Amber the situation of the company and the faults in which she supposedly incurred. They, a bit distrustful, were initially reluctant to explain the situation to him, but at his insistence, they did.

Once they shared information, Amber was very emphatic.

-This was intentionally betrayed, it is a very difficult action to be perceived in an inspection -she asserted- I will be given a few minutes to find out something while I briefly attend to my client’s case -she asked, withdrawing and walking towards him, with whom she entered to be attended.

At her request, Christopher asked his lawyers to wait. After about fifteen minutes, Amber returned and gave them all the information they needed to defend Christopher, besides informing them the name of the complainant.

-Who made the accusation was Hildegart Fontain, if I am not mistaken he is your partner and father of your friend Michelle Fontain -she assured her, with a scrutinizing look and without lowering the look of Christopher’s face.

-You bastards! I suspected it,” he commented, “Thank you Amber!

“You look, very beautiful! -He had not been so close to her since the day she hit him, more than three months ago.

-Thank you, I know,” she replied haughtily.

-Ha ha ha! -he guffawed, with a loud laugh that was imitated by her.

-I hope you solve your problem, now I’m leaving because I have to go with my client to a court hearing,” she commented, turning to leave, when he stopped her by the arm.

-I need to talk to you, can we meet at the usual place? -she asked, with a pleading look.

-No! We have nothing to talk about,” she replied sternly.

-If you want, take it as a farewell! I promise not to bother you anymore, I just want to thank you for this favor,” added the submissive.

-What time? -she asked, intrigued.

-At seven o’clock, do you think so?

-Ok, I’ll be there! -she answered.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

(***)

At six o’clock in the evening, when Amber finished her day, she decided not to go home, but to go to the place where she had the appointment with Christopher, to know how it went. Even though she was taking legal action against him and his company, she would not allow anyone to take away the satisfaction of being the one to destroy him.

She made time, buying some things she needed in the apartment, until she took the road that led her to the country place she liked to go when she was his girlfriend. She had not been there since then. When she arrived, he was already waiting for her.

-Hello,” he greeted her when she arrived. Apparently there were only the two of them and the staff of the place, Amber recognized some of them, greeted them and walked next to Christopher, to the table she had reserved.

-How did it go? -she asked curiously.

-Excellent! I appreciate what you did for me today,” he replied with an attractive smile, pulling a chair for her to sit down.

-Christopher, are you in trouble, Don Pedro? I think that was the owner’s name, because it’s lonely here. At this hour, it was always crowded,” she recalled, averting her gaze to all sides.

-No, no problem, I reserved the place just for the two of us,” replied the proud man.

-Oh, gee! -she commented, raising an eyebrow.

He had ordered her favorite dish to be prepared, as well as her favorite drink. The waiter, as he served them, recognized her:

-Good evening, Miss Amber! It is a real pleasure to see you and to serve you again! -said the waiter, very attentive and courteous.

-Thank you, Jorge! -She remembered that he was the same person who served them when they went to the place.

-You are unbearably beautiful! -Manifested Christopher, looking her in the eyes and adding- -I ordered your favorite dish and drink. I hope you haven’t changed your taste, over the course of time…