Chapter 20: Let Me Explain

Initially, everyone believed Hilda and Jared were romantically involved. No one suspected Jared and the company director were a couple.

Hilda lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes. Jared glanced around the sales department; everyone instantly averted their gaze. Zayne's head was bowed the lowest; he wished he could disappear.

"Zayne," Jared teased, "do you think I'm unworthy of this position? Weren't you just trying to fire me?"

Zayne was stunned. "Mr. Chance, you are worthy. This position is perfect for you…"

"On the contrary," Jared countered, "I believe your position as manager is unsuitable, Mr. Carlson."

Zayne looked pitiful. "Mr. Chance, I was wrong to underestimate you. I was a fool. Please give me another chance. I've worked hard to become manager…"

Jared sneered. "A chance? When you were about to fire me, did you consider giving me a chance?"

Zayne trembled, speechless.

Jared declared loudly, "I hereby announce that Mr. Zayne Carlson is removed from his position as Sales Department Manager. Effective immediately, you are no longer employed by this company."

"Mr. Chance, please! No!" Zayne cried, then turned to Josephine. "Josephine, please help me! I don't want to be fired…"

Josephine, seeing Zayne's distress, bit her lip. She turned to Jared. "Jared, could you—"

Jared cut her off. "Let me show you something. If you still want to plead for him afterward, I'll promise you…"

He turned on the slide projector. Everyone focused on the screen, anticipating what he would reveal. [Remove the website advertisement]

The slides showed Zayne with several other women, along with explicit chat messages. Maria was stunned. Zayne, dumbfounded, tried to smash the projector in a frenzy, shouting, "This is all fake!"

Jared kicked Zayne to the floor, pinning him while the projector continued. The final slides showed Zayne being intimate with Lydia. Maria nearly fainted; Hilda caught her. Even Lydia blushed.

Gasps rippled through the room.

"Goodness gracious! I thought Lydia was Maria's best friend! How shameless!"

"Appearances can be deceiving. No wonder Lydia spent so much time with Maria—ulterior motives…"

"I despise such people! Shameless!"

Lydia was devastated by the onslaught of criticism.

After turning off the projector, Jared asked Maria, "Do you still want to plead for Zayne? I told you he's not suitable for you…"

Maria, blazing with anger, approached Lydia.

Lydia, desperate, shifted blame. "Maria, listen! Zayne seduced me! He offered me money…"