The Dawn

Chapter 10

Ria's Pov

I'd never thought that I'd get stuck in this situation. Not once. All I wanted was to do a normal job. Get hired like a normal girl, work like a normal girl. But I guess the word 'normal' or any of its synonyms don't work for me.

My legs hurt from my crouched position, but I didn't move. I didn't give up as I sat and kept my trailed intently on Andrew's desk. I had deliberately left the contract there this morning infront of Parker. If he was the one trying to steal it, then he was going to come back for it. I kept myself hidden in the shadows behind the guest couches. What Parker didn't know was that the file on Andrew's desk actually contained a copy and not the original.

It had been 2 hours since I had been sitting here, in this elf like crouched position. I was beginning to have doubts on my doubt.

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe it isn't Parker. Maybe he just has the same car. I looked at the clock.

11 pm already. Maybe he wasn't coming and I was mistaken. Too fed up of sitting here like this, I got up and straightened my legs. I walked towards the door to open it when I spotted a shadow from the window. To startled to respond at once, I quickly shuffled back to my hiding position behind the couch. About a second later, the door was thrown open quiet roughly and a man walked in.

Parker.

My mouth dropped open in shock as picked up the black file with ease. An evil smirk graced his features as he flipped through the pages in satisfaction. He didn't hear me when I crawled out from behind my hiding place and nor did he hear me walk towards the light switch.

I threw it down, illuminating the entire room. I stared at him hard as he spun around to look at me, startled.

"It was you. All along." I said, too shocked to think of anything else to say. His body posture remained stoic and he looked sort of bored.

I couldn't believe my eyes. If I could deny what I was seeing right now, I definitely would. He had been so shy, so nice when I met him but this person infront of me was someone entirely different.

Someone who wasn't an honest friend.

"Good thing you found out Sherlock." He smirked. I shook my head in disbelief.

"How can you do this? Isn't Andrew your friend?"

"Friend and that prick? Ha! Nice joke. I almost laughed." He spat, "All he's ever done for me is rub his success in my face. He knew what my father would do if I didn't get the contract. But he stole it from me. And I'm taking back what was mine in the first place."

He rounded me and walked towards the door. Before leaving though, he paused and turned around to look at me. "I really don't care what you do. Tell him, for all I care." With that, he strutted out.

I just watched his retreating back, too dazed to say anything. Finally, snapping out of my thoughts, I ran out and after him. I run towards the elevator but naturally got nervous and took the stairs. Descending so many was really irking and tiring sometimes but I still ran down.

Crossing the lobby, I reached the huge door and pushed it open. A strong wind cut through my hair and clothes as I ran into the parking lot and stopped. Parker hadn't left yet. He was staring at the contents of the file, his jaw set in a hard line.

He knew. He knew it was a fake.

He looked up at me, furious.

"What the hell is this?!" He yelled, slamming the file on the ground. "This is a freaking copy! Where's the original?"

I glared at him. "Even if I knew I wouldn't tell you."

He took long strides and stood right infront of me. I dared myself to stare into his eyes and not get afraid.

You can't back down now Ria! Be brave.

"I swear I'll rip you to pieces right here if you don't tell me where the original one is." He yelled in my face.

I swallow and stare back, hard.

"I won't. Try whatever you can." I told him before turning on my heel and walking away.

"I'll get my hands on it. Just wait and watch me destroy that Andrew." He shouted after me.

Clenching my fists, I continued walking away. Flagging down a taxi, I went back home.

I had to tell Andrew about Parker's motives. And fast.

The next morning, I put on my off-white crop sweater, black skinny jeans and pulled my hair up in a ponytail.

I kept rehearsing how I was going to reveal Parker's true face infront of Andrew as I applied lip gloss.

"Andrew, Parker is trying to steal your contract with G.C- Na. Too blunt. How about, I know you won't believe me but your best friend is trying to steal your biggest achievement ye- Ahhh." I shook my head, my ponytail swinging over my shoulders.

As I walked down the corridor towards my office, I noticed Parker sitting in Andrew's office again. For a CEO, Andrew sure was stupid not to recognize how this man was trying to get inside his internal affairs.

Ever since morning, Parker had been giving me looks. A taunting look. A look telling me he'll get away with what he was doing and I wouldn't be able to stop him. It was frustrating me to the core. I needed to do something.

The sun set outside. I stood in the parking lot, waiting for Andrew to step out so I could talk to him. I noticed him coming out, talking on the phone.

I took a deep breath. It was now or never.

As soon as he hung up, I called out to him. "Andrew! I mean- sir?" I added nervously.

He gave me a slightly annoyed look but stopped to listen to me.

"What is it?"

"I uh, I have to-" before I could speak further though, Parker appeared out of nowhere and approached Andrew.

"I found out who was in your office the night you were out. It was her." He pointed to me.

I knitted my eyebrows together, confused.

"She's the one trying to leak the details of your confidential contract." He added further.

My jaw dropped open. I looked at Andrew in panic.

Hurt and confusion flashed across his eyes.

"No! I am not. Why would I? Parker's the one trying to do it! He's the one trying to steal your contract so he can impress his father!" I protest in desperation.

But I could see it was of no use. Andrew had already masked his eyes with anger.

"How dare you?! I hired you despite your low qualifications! Devon has so much faith in you and you betrayed him! How could you? And now you're blaming Parker?!" He bellowed.

I felt tears flash in my eyes but I had to protest my innocence.

"I'm telling you I didn't do it! I'll tell you what happened that night-"

"Save it." He cut me off, "Even though you violated the rules, I'm ready to give you another chance. Apologize to Parker and me and I'll overlook this. I won't fire you." He said, his eyes holding me in an intense gaze.

I just stared back at him. Wasn't he going to believe after all I did for that meeting to be a success? After how I put my heart and soul in this job even after he challenged me to those 14 days?

I felt angry tears form in my eyes. "You know what? I will never ever apologize. And you don't have to fire me. I see how much you trust me. I resign. Albeit a little late, but you did win the bet." I ground out.

His eyes stared at me intensely, holding me in place. Not being able to stare into them any longer, I turned on my heel and left.

Instead of going back to my apartment, I walked inside the park. This job or Andrew didn't matter that much to me but I couldn't help feeling empty inside.

Why was I hurt that he didn't trust me? I mean, who was I to him? Just some girl he granted a favour because he had some debt to pay back to his best friend? Someone who yelled at him for his unjust behaviour?

Still, even after all these factors, I had foolishly expected him to trust me. To trust in the fact that I would never do something as lowly as this. To trust that I would never harm him or his company.

I sighed, letting loose a few stray tears.

The alarm rang. Springing up, I flipped the blanket over and slammed the clock shut. I almost jumped out of bed when I realized that I no longer had a job.

I resigned yesterday.

Feeling dejected, I fell back on the bed. Couldn't he have believed me? It wasn't that hard. I mean, sure Parker is his friend and all. But what makes him think I'm a liar? What makes him think that I would try to steal something he had worked so hard for? Something that meant so much to him?

I groaned and dragged myself out of bed, looking forward to a day full of sulking. I still hadn't told Andrea or Devon about what happened and I don't think Andrew did either because none of them had spammed my phone just yet. No doubt, Parker would try to break in and get the contract from the vault again.

What if he succeeds this time? What if he destroys it and traps Andrew in those million fraud cases? Then everything Andrew ever worked for, everything he gave his life to, would come crumbling down. It'll all just waste away into nothingness.

I shook my head. I should'nt care. He's the one who didn't trust me. He's the one who called this upon himself by trusting the wrong. I grabbed a cup of tea and plopped down on the couch. He can get robbed of trust, for all I care.

I stared hard at the mug in my hand. Then I let out a loud groan.

Darkness surrounded everything as I walked in deeper. My flashlight wasn't exactly that bright but I kept on going anyway. Outside, the rain hit the window panes noisily. Thunder rumbled in the sky, giving my situation a sort of The Conjuring effect.

Finally I found a spot and slipped inside, shutting the flashlight in the process. About 15 minutes later, the door opened and he walked in, in his rain boots, coat and hat. He easily crossed the threshold and approached the desk. Even in the dark, I could see his evil smirk. He picked up the file on the desk with ease and flipped through it.

"What an i***t!" He exclaimed with a cackle.

I shook my head, my ponytail swinging over my shoulders. I was still sitting in my hiding spot, knowing what he was doing and what the consequences of his actions would be. I watched as he triumphantly scanned through the contents of someone else's hardwork. And not even a stranger.

His own bestfriend. That was the irony of the situation. My boss was being betrayed by no one else but his very own best friend. I glanced at my glow-in-the-dark watch.

About time.

Suddenly, the room flooded with light. Parker spun around, stunned.

And there in the doorway stood Andrew, his jaw clenched and his face set in a hard expression.