117 — JULIAN ADAMS (POV)
I glance at the watch on my wrist, the slender pointers ticking as the seconds pass by. I tilt my head, now staring at the ceiling, the bright light mixing with the moonlight coming through the window. Outside, night has fallen, and there is no one else in the building except for the security guards and other employees who work the night shift.
Honestly, I’d like to be at home in Angelee’s warmth, but here I am, in my office, three hours after the end of work time, waiting to finish what I’ve let go on longer than it should.
*“I can’t let that Tyler guy take all the credit, huh?”* I mutter to myself, taking a deep breath...
Suddenly, I hear the sound of the elevator, which is too loud in the silence of the night on this empty floor, and I watch the boy finally walk towards my office through the window, and I don’t let him waste time to knock on the door — I just nod as our eyes meet.
And just like that, he opens the door.
“Sorry, boss, I’m a bit late.” I notice him scratch his red eye as he walks in and closes the door behind him. He still has the same clothes but is more crumpled, and his hair is messier. “Things have been difficult lately...”
“I guess so, Jackson.” I point to the chair, telling him that he should sit down, and he obeys without hesitation. “Considering the trouble that you had to erase all the evidence.”
Jackson shudders, freezing immediately. Surprise and confusion take over his face, and I take my time admiring this mix of expressions that quickly change until they turn to pure despair.
“W-What?” He stutters and wriggles restlessly in his chair.
“All right, I understand... The things we do when we’re in love, right?” I scratch my beard and slowly take my phone out of my pocket. “You see, I let things get to this point just because my girl seemed so determined to sort it out herself, with her plan... It was kind of cute, actually.” I give a low laugh, remembering how she really was trying her best.
“I don’t understand...”
“Let’s be honest, shall we?” I raise my cold eyes to him, my voice now deep and serious. “I always knew there was something strange about it. After all, who else could possibly know about a grotesque mistake caused by the I.T. if not yourselves?”
Jackson swallows dryly, and I can see his distress growing even more.
“Of course, I didn’t know who, but it was obvious that the person responsible had some inside help.”
“Mr. Adams, I swear, it wasn’t me!” Jackson raises his voice, sounding thinner than usual. “I would never-”
I interrupted him with a wave of my hands, and the boy swallowed all the words he was about to say.
“Jackson, your words don’t mean anything right now. All the evidence has been erased, and the problem with the logins has been solved. Even if Grace isn’t the real culprit behind this — or the only one, we’ll never find out...”
He sighs, swallowing hard again, and I notice a slight relief on his face.
*“... That’s what you thought, isn’t it?”* My voice causes his eyes to widen slightly and his breathing to become short and huff. “I’m not a fool, and that’s the mistake you made.”
“Mr. Adams, I really didn’t do anything... I just followed your orders and looked for the culprit! I didn’t sell myself out. I’ve been working for this company for three years. I grew up here, and I rely on this job... I would never waste the chance I’ve been given!”
“Oh really? But I offered your annual salary as an extra just to find out who did it and get the photos off the internet. The more photos spread, the better you would get paid, right?”
Jackson looks shocked by my words — genuinely shocked, which unsettles me for a moment.
“I wouldn’t do that...” He mutters, wilting, “I would never sell myself for money.”
*Hmm... I see.*
*Now I finally understand.*
“Not you, but maybe someone else,” I say, noticing that Jackson shudders and looks away, staring at the floor.
He’s silent for a long moment before my voice sounds loud again, “The truth is, Jackson, I was one step ahead from the start.”
Finally, the boy’s fearful eyes come back to me.
“I knew someone on the inside was involved, so I got someone *on the outside.”* I pause for a moment, noticing how Jackson gradually pales. “Of course, I couldn’t use what I have by the means I obtained it... because even if the person legally accessed the company’s systems, I can’t say the same about the device they used, let alone those who sent the photos to it.”
Jackson understands my words slowly, growing paler, his lips trembling and half-open...
“I have everything, Jackson.” I give a discreet smile, looking directly into the frightened eyes of the boy before me. “That evidence you showed me of Grace is true, and I praise you for that... It would be worse if you had faked evidence, but blaming a single person when they only represent the tip of the iceberg is really too low.”
“Mr. Adams...”
I raise my hand again, this time holding up my phone. Jackson is silent again, but this time, he’s impatient and scared, looking around as if he’s looking for an escape route.
“You can walk out this door and leave, but I assure you, that’s not the best option,” I say slowly, my eyes fixed on my phone. “Contrary to what you think, I’m not here to make you take the blame for something that isn’t entirely your fault.”
“Pardon?” He stutters again, gasping.
“You’re more to blame than Grace Miller, of course. The girl just took a photo and sent it to a phone she was told to, but you... Can you deny that it was your idea?”
“No!” Jackson shouts and regrets it at the same moment, saying in a lower tone, “I’m telling you, Mr. Adams, I have no idea what you’re saying...”
“Do you think I’m bluffing?” I look up at him, “I don’t need your confession. My evidence may not be used in a court, but is that the only way to resolve an impasse?”
Jackson swallows dryly.
“You made a mistake by making Michael’s daughter your target,” I say coldly, still looking him straight in the eye. “And now, you don’t have to watch your back *just because of him.”*
“I wouldn’t dare make her a target!” He gets agitated, waving his hands around desperately. “Believe me!”
“How could I?” I raise my eyebrows, pretending to be surprised, even though my voice is so cold that it makes him shudder. “You took advantage of a glitch caused by the I.T., and not only that — but you used it to tarnish my girlfriend’s honor.”
Jackson’s eyes widen in surprise, “I didn’t know, Mr. Adams!”
“I have enough evidence to blame you for that; after all, as an expert in the field, you know that private messages can be easily found if the right tool is used.”
Jackson stands up abruptly, but I don’t move a muscle; my warning has been given, and it would be wise of him to follow it. But even if he does walk out of this door, my private security guards are waiting for him to give a *warm welcome...* I just hope I don’t have to use questionable methods to get what I want.
“It wasn’t my idea!” He mutters, walking in circles, his voice shaky and low. “I just say it once. I didn’t mean to give any idea...”
“If it wasn’t your idea, whose was it?” I ask slowly, and this makes him suddenly stop and look at me fearfully. Of course, he knows I’m aware of everything at this point. But what’s at stake now is his ability to snitch the woman he loves.
However, Jackson seals his lips tightly, swallowing his words.
“I really don’t judge you, Jackson.” I go back to tapping on my phone, looking for a specific video. “Men in love are fools at the feet of the women they love, and I’m no different.”
I finally find the recording I’ve been holding as a trump card for a long time...
“I love Angelee more than anything in the world, and I want to impress her too.” I give a little smile and finally press PLAY, making the audio cut through my office, attracting Jackson’s eyes and ears.
[......] *“I want you to break up with Eric…”*
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