Nora's standpoint.
I sat in the hospital's waiting room, though the scent of blood, drugs, and antiseptic filled the air, my nose almost didn't sniff it. My head was buried in my hands and with a deep huff, I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment.
“What are you still doing here?” A familiar voice cut through my thoughts and I lifted my head to see my mom.
Though we weren't rich, we lived comfortably. But seeing her in this ragged gown, her messy hair tied up in a bun and her face wrinkled over the few weeks, though she tried to mask it behind her beautiful smile, made my heart ache.
Tiny tears lurked in my eyes and I blinked quickly to fight them off. I can't be weak in her presence. I'm the only hope she has left.
“Where would I be?” I teased softly with pouted lips as I rose to my feet, my eyes landing on the nylon she held.
“You should go rest, your shift starts in a few hours. You shouldn't look tired from work.” Her soft voice, which once warmed my heart, almost didn't have an effect anymore.
Seeing how broken she is and how helpless I am was just too much for me to bear.
“Of course, I'm not tired.” I grabbed the bag from her and headed toward the ward where my dad was being treated.
Since he was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago, we had almost spent everything we had. All that was left was my inheritance, which I was already processing for his treatment.
Once I get the money, he will be fine and everything will be back to normal. I thought, forcing a smile on my face as I held his hand, patting it gently.
My mom walked in, grabbed the bag from me and with her posterior faced at me, she said, “You should go home now if you would rather not be scolded again. I don't want you to lose your job because of us.” Her voice cracked as she spoke, which was an obvious reason she couldn't look at me.
“Hmm,” I nodded, moved closer to her and placed a kiss on her cheek before leaving the ward.
I hurried out of the hospital, down to my small apartment. Apart from the inheritance, it was the only thing I had in my name.
A few minutes later, I stood in front of Elysian Capital Group, where I work as the Financial Analyst. Taking a deep breath with a forced smile smeared on my face, I walked into the company, heading to my desk when a voice called me.
“Nora…” It sounded worrisome, causing me to swiftly turn, and I saw Vivianne, my best friend.
“Hi. Is something wrong?” I asked, trying to keep the smile on my face. It was the only thing blocking off the worries that clouded my mind.
“The manager wants to see you.” Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes flickered as though she was trying to tell me something.
I nodded, dropped my bag on the table and made my way to Mr. Liam's office.
As I stepped into the immaculate office, furnished with luxury chairs and the color of the blind matching the office, my eyes settled on him. His face was void of a smile, but it was normal for him.
“What the hell did you do, Nora? Are you trying to get me fired?” His voice roared with rage as he slammed his fist against the table, causing me to blink and stumble slightly, startled as fear clutched at my heart.
He rose to his feet, his face marred with rage, while my eyes flickered in confusion at what he said.
“W-What do you mean, sir?” I stuttered while I stood straight again.
“Meet me in the conference room,” he barked and walked out of the office.
I hurriedly followed behind him. When I saw the whole staff in the conference room, along with a stranger, I instantly knew something was wrong.
I got a glimpse of Vivianne, whose smile didn't reach her face. I was about to sit when the strange lady came at me and slapped me hard across the face.
“You have the guts to look this calm? After all you've done?” She uttered, her voice raised.
Holding my hand up to my cheek, I looked at her, confused.
“Who are you, ma'am? And what are you talking about?” I asked, my voice steady and firm despite the rage stirring in me.
If this were an opportunity, I would have vented my frustration on her.
“Oh,” she scoffed, taking a step away and flung her long hair behind her shoulder before looking at me. “How dare you talk to me as if you don't know me? You promised I would get the loan if I gave you a 'considerable token'. You took the bribe yet, my loan request was cancelled.” She ranted, about to throw another fit of rage, which I dodged.
My lips spread to speak but as I looked over the faces that laughed with me every day, their looks betraying all we ever shared, the words caught in my throat. The lady landed another slap on my cheek, shaking me out of my thoughts.
“I-I don't even know this lady. I've never seen her before.” My lips trembled when I found my voice.
Liam, without uttering a word, pressed on a recorder tape on the table.
“… a considerable token can speed things up and get you the loan…” The voice grinned.
No… It was my voice. My ears listened to words I never uttered.
“No, that's not me. I would never take a bribe, I've been with this company for five years, and you know I would never do that.” My voice came as a desperate plea with my gaze locked with Liam's, but there was nothing, just coldness in his eyes.
He turned to Vivianne.
“You're her Junior Financial Analyst. What do you know about this?” Liam questioned, and a deep breath of relief surged through my lips, knowing she would come through for me.
It wasn't like I committed a crime.
Vivianne's eyes flickered with pity for a moment before flashing with a serious look.
“Despite my warnings to her to stop the embezzlement, Nora was just too greedy.” She said with her voice steady and her face cold.
I looked at her with my chin dropped in disbelief. It was as though I misheard.
“That mean she really did take a bribe from this lady?” Liam questioned again, which Vivianne nodded to.
“She has been exchanging email messages with the client also.” She added, not sparing a glance.
“Do you have proof?”
She grabbed a file in front of her and handed it to Liam, who swiftly went through it. His face turned red with each page he flipped.
He turned to me with a line between his brows.
“You're dismissed for embezzlement, Nora. If you're found within the company in the next ten minutes, the consequence is yours to bear.” The way he spat my name like a curse made my brows twitch.
“You can't fire me.” I stood my ground, though I felt the tears creeping into my voice.
He rose, “I just did!” He snapped, throwing the papers at me.
I fell to the floor and grabbed the paper, my eyes blurred with tears as I looked through it.
The staff, including the client, walked out one after the other while Vivianne hesitated. With my eyes on her red-hot heels, I looked up and rose to my feet, wiping off the tears with the back of my hand.
“Why did you say that? You know I didn't do any of it.”
I wanted to yell at her, but I was too weak… No, too angry.
She leaned in with a sly smile that never left her face.
“Financial Analyst Vivianne… That would suit me well.”
