Chapter 81
A cold smirk curled Abigail’s lips. “Misunderstanding? You don’t know what R&D’s capable of? Ask your dear Ms. Harper.”
Daniella had thought her scheme flawless, but she was playing with a department of code-wielding techies.
Claudia, still dripping coffee, finally processed the situation. She turned to Daniella and asked sharply, “You asked me for Timothy’s details just to spread rumors about Abigail and him?”
Daniella said, “No! I was worried about Abby…”
“Worried enough to frame her as a mistress?” Timothy cut in. “We recovered the cafe surveillance audio. Every word you two bitched about is timestamped. One copy is for you, and the other?” He paused and sneered, “Humph, I’ve already sent it straight to upper management. Enjoy.”
He loomed over Daniella. “Halden Group fires you today, or I leak this to every industry group. Try getting hired anywhere in Cobridge after that.” With that, he shoved her away.
A shove sent Daniella stumbling into Claudia, who immediately pushed her away. That was their shaky friendship.
Daniella collapsed to the floor, her designer-clad grace shattered. The department’s darling was a sobbing mess now. “Abby, someone framed me! They hacked my phone and smeared…”
“Are you calling R&D staff incompetent?” Abigail crouched, gripping Daniella’s chin. “Metadata matches your latest model exactly. Did Stephen know you only sent him half the video?”
Tears streaked Daniella’s makeup as she clutched Abigail’s wrist. “D–Don’t do this. Mom and Dad will be furious. Stevie will hate you. You can’t bully me.”
“I’m bullying you? It’s always been you tormenting me,” Abigail retorted.
She shook off Daniella’s grip as she stood up. “This is just within Halden Group, but you spread rumors that got me publicly humiliated as a mistress—drenched in juice, video viral online. Who was supposed to give me justice?”
The onlookers whispered, “I never realized Daniella was this vicious.”
“Yeah. Even Ms. Harper got played.”
Seizing the momentum, Claudia quickly turned to Timothy. “Daniella did pump me for intel, but I just gossiped idly. How was I supposed to know she would weaponize it? I’ll fire her and issue an apology. Is that enough?”
The scandal was already explosive, and Timothy had just escalated the situation. R&D’s tech talent was indispensable. Claudia had worked hard to get where she was. She couldn’t let Daniella ruin her career.
“Let corporate handle it,” Timothy snapped, shooting Abigail a look.
Back in the office with Abigail and Leon, Timothy collapsed into his chair, fuming. “Those two vipers! I was just doing my job when this shitstorm landed on me.”
Abigail approached, saying apologetically. “This is my fault. Daniella targeted me.”
“What are you apologizing for? Daniella is just messed up in the head. You’re not even in the same department, and she’s jealous of you!” Timothy interjected. “You and Leon get back to work. I’ll wait for the company’s final decision.”
Timothy leaned back, clearly still furious. He remembered how Daniella had tried to act all sweet and innocent today. It made him want to throw up.
Curly wanted to settle things quietly? No way. I went there to make a scene and expose those twee’s true colors to the entire Design Department, he thought.
Abigail and Leon left Timothy’s office together. When Abigail sat down at her desk, Leon handed her a cup of coffee. They exchanged a glance, and Abigail gave him a grateful look.
By four in the afternoon, Abigail received an internal email from the company.
Daniella had been terminated from Halden Group. Given the severity of her misconduct, the company would issue an industry-wide notice regarding her actions.
Abigail had assumed termination was the worst outcome, but with an official warning sent across the industry, there was no way the Gibson family wouldn’t find out.