Her Fake Lover

Chapter 54

The next day at Karfis & Vin office. Chloe Levine, walking with Justin Ford. All eyes are on them. As if accompanying them in every step they take. Inevitably, it all made Justin awkward. From one glance, Chloe could see how anxious Justin was. He wiped the sweat from his forehead several times, even though they were in an air-conditioned building.

Chloe didn't say much. The problem that Justin allegedly involved was a serious one. Chloe didn't dare to do anything about it, or to interfere in the matter. That attitude she showed to Emmeline since the beginning of the case.

"Please come in, Mr. Ford," said Chloe, when they reached Emmeline's room. Chloe opened the door to the room for Justin.

Justin was seen entering with shaky steps. His face looked even paler, especially after he saw the face of Emmeline who had been waiting for him.

"Mr. Justin Ford, Miss," Chloe said. Emmeline nodded. Chloe left after that.

Now Justin was only dealing with Emmy, alone in Emmy's room. Emmy opened their conversation by greeting and asking if Justin's condition was okay.

"I didn't think you would have a disaster at the same time, when the case against your name in the company rolled around," said Emmy. "You know, Mr. Ford, that the purpose of our conversation at this time is to clarify the matter at hand. I don't want anything to be covered up."

"I'm not lying about the accident that happened to me, Miss. Then if you want to ask if I was really involved in all the chaos that's going on then the answer is no. I won't admit what I didn't do."

Emmy hadn't reacted yet. She was still silent, as she looked at Justin closely.

"Does it make sense for me to do all this, Miss Karfis? For what? After all the trust you and Mr. Valsecchi have put in me, is it proper for me to do all those heinous things?"

"Don't ask me that. You know the answer yourself, Justin."

"Miss Karfis, I beg you to believe me. Do you remember, Vin himself accepted me here? It's because he believed in me. I'm not someone who would commit treason. Not for any reason."

Emmy was still looking at Justin closely. She then took a deep breath. "You're right. Vin knows who you are. And if he were here right now, I'd be sure to ask his opinion. Or maybe we could consider something else. Because everyone can change."

"Miss, please don't be like that."

"Justin Ford, the two persons we detained unanimously said they moved on your orders. Then when you should have come to defend yourself, why are you spending time overseas instead?"

"Miss," Justin's gaze was frantic and filled with pleading, "I really had an accident. It happened when I just arrived in Germany. Instead of taking care of my sick parents, I was treated myself. You can ask whoever was with me there. That's not a made-up story. I couldn't come to your summons earlier for that reason."

"Is that true?" Emmeline said. She then showed a jewelry design that had caused a commotion in the production department. "This is a design that was patented by Silas HA several years ago. You know that yourself. You were still at the company at the time. The details are exactly the same. Only people who know this design well will understand how to form a similar design in such a similar way. You're also someone who knows jewelry even though you're not a designer. And besides Vin, you're the only one from there. I myself know well about this design because I've studied it. Now explain how I must clear my own mind of suspicion."

"Ah, no way. You can't just believe it, Miss. For God's sake, you wouldn't believe those people and accuse me of guilt. Did I ever have a problem with you?"

"I don't know! Could it be that you secretly have a problem with me?"

"Miss—that's not true. Please, believe me."

Emmeline held back the rage in her chest. She was angry at the overall state of affairs, and she felt flustered by the unclear situation before her. Just at that moment, her cell phone rang. Emmeline forgot to put silent mode on her phone. But she couldn't refuse. It was a call from her mom. Emmeline moved from in front of Justin, to pick up the phone.

Seconds passed, and Emmeline still left Justin in his chair. Justin sat with sweaty hands. Anxiety completely dominated his face. He also rubbed his forehead many times and exhaled loudly many times as well.

He took out his cell phone, realizing that an email notification had come into his cell phone.

His hands were shaking after reading the contents of the email.

He then pocketed his phone with an even more worried face. His cell phone vibrated. Now he realized he had a call.

"Hello," he said quietly. He seemed to be listening intently to what the other person was saying, then he said frantically, "I don't care. Hang up the phone, and don't call me again! Don't send any more emails! You put me in danger!" Justin hung up the phone and put the phone rather hard on the table. He covered his face with his hands frantically. Before then opened it again and sighed anxiously.

A moment later Justin froze because someone grabbed his shoulder. He turned his head.

"Miss Chloe?"

"Why are you so worried?" Chloe placed a file on Emmeline's desk. She turned back to Justin Ford. "Who called you, just now?"

"Em—em—someone. Em—it's not important."

"Who put you in danger?"

Justin looked even paler. By then Emmeline had returned.

"What happened?" Emmeline asked.

"He just got a call, and I heard a little weird," said Chloe.

"Miss Chloe, you better not assume anything. N-nothing happened." Justin looked even paler.

Emmeline continued to walk to her chair, watching Justin closely. Emmeline noticed something suspicious.

"This matter will have a big impact on you if I report you to the police right now. You better remember that," said Emmeline. "I think I deserve to know who called you just now."

Justin, who had been looking down, stared at Emmeline swiftly. "No—Miss Karfis, believe me, there's nothing about me you need to suspect."

"It would be best if we had him show us his last email. I heard something about sending emails and such just now," Chloe said.

Emmeline furrowed her brows. "Is that so, Mr. Ford?" Emmeline raised her palm, "Show me your last few emails."

Justin rubbed his forehead frantically. But he had no other choice. He gave Emmeline what she asked for.

Emmeline read what was written in the email without a word, but Chloe sighed loudly, indicating that what she saw was not something she could tolerate.

The email was a job offer email from Silas HA. The sentences written there seem to show that Silas HA appreciated Justin's good faith who had tried to convey about the unethical duplication plan which he said Karfis & Vin would do.

Emmeline stared at Justin Ford, but with all seriousness Justin still said, "Believe me, Miss. I was framed. I don't know how they managed to send all that to my private email. I don't know how they did that. I don't even know exactly who called me just now, but he claims to be from Silas HA, and he—"

"This is indeed from Silas HA, Mr. Justin Ford," said Emmeline. "The company stamp is clear. What are you trying to do?" Emmy put on an angry and surprised expression at the same time. "Our designer claimed you were the one who told her to hand over the Silas HA design to our company's production team, and you told an outsider you thwarted that attempt? What's the point of all this?!" Emmy looked more and more angry.

"Miss, trust me. I didn't say anything to anyone. I didn't steal Silas's designs either. I don't know how that designer got her hands on that design and says I ordered it. I work with my body and soul at Karfis & Vin. I didn't do anything bad, believe me."

The atmosphere was getting more and more uneasy by then. Chloe straightened her back, prepared for any impromptu orders Emmeline might give. Meanwhile Emmeline, was silent holding back the roar of anger in her chest.

"You," said Emmeline after a moment, "are temporarily suspended from office, Mr. Justin Ford."

"Ah, no. Miss, please believe me." Justin adamantly denied any accusations leveled against him. "Listen to me and believe my words, Miss." By that time Chloe had moved swiftly from the room.

"Mr. Justin, it's my decision. A temporary termination letter will be issued to you soon."

"Miss Karfis, please don't think I betrayed you, Miss. I beg you, listen to me. I am innocent. Miss Karfis—"

"Please get out of my room."

"Miss Karfis—"

"Mr. Justin Ford," interrupted Chloe. She came with the security guard. "Please leave this room." Justin couldn't do anything about it. The security guards forced him out of the room.

Chloe held on inside with quite a ragged breath from the commotion she had just witnessed.

"What decision did you give him?" Chloe asked.

"He was temporarily dismissed."

"You're really kind. Not getting him out of here."

"I'll make things clear first."

"Isn't this clear enough for you?"

"Wait a minute, Chloe. I can't act rashly. We need to do a more thorough investigation. Someone could be deliberately trying to destabilize our company's internal stability. I ... " Emmeline closed her eyes with tight jaws and ragged breaths, "I need some time to think."

"B-but what if Justin runs off before we can clear things up?"

"Then it will be clearer to me, and easier for me to determine. I can also put him in jail and he won't be able to run from the police."

"Oh," Chloe exhaled. "Okay. I don't know what to do. As your assistant, I can only say, I support all of your decisions."

***