Mr. Banks, I came back Stronger

Ep2

Sarah's POV

All eyes on me as I walked down the hallway. I could hear them gossiping about me like I wasn't there.

“Have you heard? She was the leak, the rumors are true.”

“Sarah? Well, I'm not surprised. I always knew she had something else she was doing to keep up with this lifestyle cause I mean, she always looked too polished to be just a secretary.”

“Stupid of her to think sleeping with the boss would give her immunity.”

The tears I was holding back finally broke free, I wiped them off with the back of my hand. I couldn't make the mistake of crying in front of my colleagues and junior staff, knowing fully well that they were all waiting for me to break.

The elevator was the only thing on my side today, it quietly took me down to the first floor without stopping to accommodate any other person.

It gave me time to let some tears out as I looked at myself through the reflective surface of the elevator.

I waved down a taxi and got in the backseat. On my ride home, I thought about different people who could have done this to me. I was so uncomfortable in the backseat with my mind filled with different thoughts. A slight headache came through.

The cab driver’s gentle voice cut through my thoughts.

“Is everything okay ma?” the driver asked, looking at me through the rear view mirror for a split second before putting his eyes back on the road.

“Do cab drivers now give private therapy sessions for their passengers?” I snapped.

His expression changed, like he was being attacked for being nice. His voice dropped an octave.

“No ma. I just hope everything will be alright ma.” he said, glancing at me.

I met his gaze through the rear view mirror.

“I just hope you can get your head back on the road and get me to my destination.” I replied.

The taxi pulled up at my destination, I paid him and went into my apartment. I put on the TV and the first thing I saw was my name on the headline alongside my face on the news.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR COLE BANKS CORPORATION FACES SCANDAL.

“How could this have gotten to the press so quickly?” I stood there questioning the TV like it could give me the answers I was looking for.

My phone wouldn’t stop buzzing, reports, blogs, news stations. They all wanted a few minutes interview with me so they could sell their story.

Three weeks ago, at the gala. Cole had introduced me to the world as the love of his life, now I'm standing here reading a disgraced headline with my name and my face on my own TV.

I went straight to the bathroom to have a bath, maybe I could wash away this sting of betrayal. I stepped into the tub filled with hot water. The temperature was slightly hotter than usual, I prepared it like that knowing full well it would turn my skin red within seconds.

I sat inside the tub for a while, letting the water boil my whole body from my neck down. Everything in my apartment had him on it, from the soap to the shampoo, to my tub, even my bedroom.

I stepped out of the bathtub, the whole bathroom filled with steam, I wiped the mirror clear, enough to see my face. The slight headache came through again, this time worse than the previous one.

I said to myself “I would never stop till I find out the person behind my downfall even if that’s the last thing I'd do on earth.”

Something else must come first before that. I needed to visit the hospital and fast.

…………………..

Cole’s POV

The whole company wasn’t the same after Sarah left. I looked at my office door hoping for her to force her way through and get the explanation she deserves.

The stubborn part of me believed that the folder and the 1minute of conflict in her office was enough, and that’s all she was going to get.

I told myself I did the right thing but deep down it felt so wrong. The board got evidence and didn’t even review it from every angle before taking action.

They used Sarah as an example to anyone who would dare betray the company.

I dragged my tie down a little from my neck as I poured some whisky into my cup from my whisky cabinet.

I sank into my leather chair, the tires rolled backward a little bit trying to hold my muscled body.

The whisky burned through my throat down to my stomach.

A figure appeared at the doorway, hips positioned to look super hot and sexy. It wasn’t who i was expecting, it was grace, my secretary, she’s been using the slightest opportunity to step into my office ever since she was assigned to be my secretary.

Her lips were too shiny and red for the middle of work day, the top three buttons of her blouse were undone giving a long V shape and showing me a little of her nice breast.

When i saw her earlier this morning she wasn’t looking like this, or maybe i wasn’t just paying attention to her looks.

She looked good, good enough to make me lose control of myself and devour her right here in my office. But, she wasn't Sarah.

She stepped in without any permission from me.

“Sir, do you need assistance with anything?” she asked, her voice calm with her eyes already peeling off my cloth.

“I'm fine.” I replied, looking down at the file in front of me.

“You don’t look fine.” She moved down to the side of my table and placed a hand at the back of my chair, then she placed her left finger softly on my blazer, traced it down to my shoulder before placing her other hand on my right shoulder.

The anger inside me erupted and I voiced out. “Get your hands off me!!” I roared. My voice was loud and deadly.

She got an instant shock before she could begin the shoulder rub. Her hands quickly left my shoulders like she just touched a high voltage electric current.

Everything driving her ceased to exist at that moment. The fear I usually see on every employee's face when I speak appeared on hers.

“I’m sorry sir.” she said, backing towards the door. I heard her colleague laughing at her as she came out of my office.

My phone started buzzing almost immediately, it was an unknown number, I let out a little sigh before answering.

“I heard from the staff that you were quite violent in there, almost ripping Sarah’s office apart.”

The voice on the other end was unmistaken. It was Lily, Sarah’s sister. She provided me with the evidence that got Sarah suspended. She was somehow able to get the evidence to the board members too.

I replied, my voice low and deadly. “So you have informat on that floor already?”

“You did the right thing Cole.”

I raked a hand through my hair. “Well, it doesn't seem like it.”

The call ended, and i said to myself,

“What have I done?”