Chapter 44


    EveryonewasstunnedandturnedtoseeAvelinewalkin.Herface.waspale,buthereyeswerecoldasshelookedaroundtheroom.”It’shingtobadmouthmebehindmybackwhenIcan’thear,butifIcatchyou,shouldn’tyouapologize?”


    Shemadeapointoflookingatthepeoplewhohadjustinsultedher.


    Theireyesdartedaroundnervously,andamalecolleaguestoodupandsaid,“Whyshouldweapologizetoyou?Theprojectinformationyouwere responsibleforleaked,andnooneelsetouchedyourdesk.Wehaveeveryreasontosuspectitwasyou!”


    Avelinelookedathimcoldly.“So,youadmitit’sjustasuspicion,notconcreteevidence,right?”


    Themalecolleaguestammered,lookingembarrassed.


    Avelinecontinued,“Noapology?You’vegotnoshame!”


    Herwordsprovokedthemimmediately.


    “MissYoung,youmadeamistake.Whyshouldweapologize?”


    “Exactly,wedidn’tdoanythingwrong!”


    “Sinceyousaiditwasn’tyou,thenshowusthatyoutookcareofthematter.”


    “Smack!”


    Avelinemmedthefilefolderontothetable.“IregainedthepartnershipwithBrightonEnterprises.Isthatenough?”


    Everyonefrozeatherwords.


    “Shegotthepartnershipback?”


    “Didshereally?Howdidshedoit?”


    +15BONUS


    Thepeoplewhohadbeenshoutingearlierwerestunned.Themalecolleaguepickedupthecontractandcheckedit,confirmingitwasindeedthepartnershipwithBrightonEnterprises.


    Hisfaceturnedred.


    “Sorry,Iwastoohastyearlier.”


    Thoughembarrassed,he apologizedtoAveline.


    Avelinesmiled.“It’salright,Idon’tholdgrudges.Let’smoveon.”


    TheothersalsoapologizedtoAveline,andsherespondedtoeachoftheminthesameway.


    Atthatmoment,Williamreturned,hisfacebeamingwithjoy.“MissYoung,Iheardeverything!You’reamazing,gettingtheBrightonpartnershipback.Ourperformanceisdefinitelysecurenow!”


    Avelinesmiledlightly.“Whilethat’sresolved,there’sstillonemoreissuetodealwith.”


    Williamlookedpuzzled.“Whatissue?”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Aveline’ssmilevanished.“Naturally,weneedtofindthepersonwholeakedtheinformation.Suchacancercan’tbeleftuntreated.Arewenningtokeepthemoleuntilthefollowingyear?”


    Williamnodded.“You’reright,butwehavenoideawholeakedit.”


    Avelinesaid,“Ihaveawaytofindout.”


    Everyoneimmediatelylookedather,waitingforhernextmove.


    Avelinewalkedtoherworkstation,wherearowofcutecatfigurineswaslinedupinfrontofheputer,usuallyunnoticed.


    Atthismoment,shepickedupanorangecatandconnectedittoheputerwithadatacable.


    +15BONUS


    “I’macautiousperson.Whetherit’sathomeoratmyworkstation,evenifit’sjustasmarea,Iinstasurveincecameratopreventunexpectedsituations.Itturnedouttobeusefulthistime.”


    Sheworkedonheputeruntsurveincevideoappearedonthescreen.Shescrolledthroughitandfinallypausedataspecificmomentonthethirddayofherhospitalstay.Someonewasatherworkstation.


    Inthevideo,thesurroundingareawasdark,clearlyafterworkhours.Thepersonsatdown,lookedaroundforawhile,andthenturnedonheputer.Whilewaitingforittobootup,thepersonpickeduphercatfigurineandyedwithit,revealinghisfaceclearly.


    COMMENTS