Mr. Banks, I came back Stronger

Sarah’s POV I should have realized something was off with the way the staff looked at me on my walk from the hallway to my office. The way they looked at me hoping for me to trip and fall so they could all burst into laughter and make it the talk of the week. Although I was used to it, this time it was different. I could see it in their eyes, the stare of disgust was written all over their looks. I have been Cole’s executive secretary for the past three years and these staff always look at me with hatred each time I take a walk down this hallway. I stepped into my office, settling down for my daily routine when a call came in through my IP phone. “Cole Banks is on his way to see you ma.” This usually sounds like a threat to others but not me. Cole’s visit to my office is normal to me, he could have easily called me to his office but he likes to take a walk from time to time just to see what his staff are doing. His visit at times could be for a meeting he wanted me to sit with him for, or a way to see my pretty face and get his hungry lips on mine for a few seconds. Three years of secret we kept so well that even the staff didn’t notice a thing. Three weeks ago at the company’s anniversary gala he held my hands and whispered to my ears "I'm done hiding it.” After that he showed the world that he was in love with me. I still remembered the s*xy green dress i was on. “So it was you,” Cole Banks stepped into my office as he slammed the door behind him with great force, possibly damaging it. The sound went as far as the whole floor. “You were the leak.” he yelled, His tailored Blue suit tried to contain the raw anger running through him. I froze on my seat, my hands came off the keyboard, confusion all over my hazel. I’ve never seen him this angry and I surely didn’t do anything to make him this mad. “Cole? What’s going on?” I asked as he took a few steps closer to my desk. “Save it.” He tossed a folder onto my desk. The edges were rough, an obvious sign that someone had gripped them too hard. “How do you explain this?” I slowly reached for the folder and opened it. Internal documents, confidential strategies, project blueprints, and email correspondence I had never written. “I didn’t….” “You were working with Grant Holdings,” Cole snapped, cutting me off immediately. Grant holdings was one of our top competitors. Grant Shaw, the CEO of Grant holdings has always been Cole's worst nightmare. Cole has been working so hard over the years to prevent Grant holdings from capturing our contracts. “You have been feeding them information. For the past two months, we have been losing every deal. Even the investors deal I thought we’ve already bagged, we still lost it and it all traces back to you.” Cole’s voice was sharp and loud enough for the whole staff to know what exactly was happening in my office. I stood up slowly, hunting his eyes with mine, trying to meet his angry gaze but he avoided my eyes. I could tell that he was blinded by the lies inside the papers than the truth standing right in front of him. “This can’t be true, someone is trying to frame me for this. You know me, I'd never do…” I tried to protest, but he didn’t even give me a chance. “Do I?” Cole yelled, cutting me off again before I could defend myself. “Because I feel like I don't know you anymore.” “Cole, someone is setting me up, can’t you see?” “Why would I do such a thing to the company?” Cole’s voice dropped deadly low as he took a few steps towards me. “I don’t know, maybe you got tired of the salary and the bonus you earn from the company and decided to level up and double the income.” His jaw clenched. “How much are they paying you?” The insults hit me harder than the words. “So this is what you think of me after everything I've done for you and this company.” I shot back, holding the burning tears in my eyes. “This is what I get after the late nights and all the hard work, time, and energy I invested in this company.” He turned away facing the floor to ceiling window, his fists clenched at his sides. “HR’s investigating but the board wants action. You are suspended, pending investigation.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I wished someone would wake me up from this terrible dream I was having, but it wasn’t a dream. It’s really happening “No. You can’t just…” “I can and I just did.” He shot back. I took a few steps towards him. “Cole, look at me. This company is my life. I’ve given everything, every late night, every canceled weekend, every damn thing you asked of me.” He refused to meet my eyes. “Someone’s pinning this on me, they want me out. You know me, Cole, I'd never do such a thing.” He turned. “Get your things, Sarah. If you are innocent then the investigation would prove that.” He walked out, slamming the door behind him. I was badly broken. By the time this gets out, my reputation will be in the mud. No one would want to believe the truth. I sat back in my chair, staring around my office. Everything I have built within the past five years, my name, my job, and the quiet connection I once shared with Cole, is now tarnished by betrayal. I stared at the folder sitting on my desk, then I picked it up, flipped through every page, thoroughly reviewing to see if I could get something off it to defend myself. One wrong date, wrong email address, but everything was just too perfect. Whosoever is behind this knows exactly where to strike to ruin my life and my career