VEINS OF SILENCE

VEINS OF SILENCE > Part 10

Continuation...

Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she strode toward them, voice cool. “What’s going on? Did you find it?”

“Yes!” her friend snapped, thrusting the bracelet up. “And this employee was hiding it in her bag. She should be punished!”

But when Valeria’s eyes fell on Celeste’s tear-streaked face, she froze. Recognition flickered across her features, shock cutting through her usual poise.

Her friend tugged her arm. “Well? Tell them to arrest her!”

Valeria’s voice cracked unexpectedly. “Shhh! That’s enough!”

The sudden outburst silenced the entire lobby. Even her friend stared, confused by her sharp reaction.

Realizing her slip, Valeria quickly softened her tone, smoothing her expression. “Perhaps… it was all an accident. Let’s not make a scene here.”

She placed a calming hand on her friend’s arm. “We’ll discuss this privately, in another room.”

Reluctantly, her friend nodded, though still fuming. They left together, guards escorting them away.

The employees left behind buzzed with speculation.

“Did you see how she reacted? Weird…”

“First Celeste’s scandal, now this? She’s such a problem.”

Across the hall, the Crown Clique exchanged smirks.

Vanessa leaned close, whispering. “Looks like your plan worked, Bianca.”

Bianca crossed her arms, satisfied. “Serves her right. She’s always trying to be the center of attention. Now let’s see how she explains her way out of this one.”

What no one else knew was that the entire setup—the missing bracelet, the planted evidence—had been their doing from the very beginning.

And now, Celeste stood at the center of the storm.

________

The Next Day – Leadership Development Department

Bianca and Reign stood near Celeste’s desk, their voices low.

Reign: “Looks like Celeste is late again.”

Bianca: “Late? Just say it—she’s already fired.”

A heavy pause followed as the thought lingered.

Reign: “But… I’m scared. What if the CCTV caught what we did?”

Bianca froze. She had completely forgotten there were also cameras in the cafeteria. Panic flashed across her face. Abruptly, she stood and left the room, her steps quick and restless.

Moments later, Adrian walked in. His eyes immediately fell on Celeste’s desk, worry creeping into his thoughts. Maybe she wouldn’t come at all after what happened yesterday. His reflection was cut short when the door opened again.

Celeste walked in.

Celeste: “Sorry, I’m late.”

Adrian: “I thought you weren’t coming today.”

Celeste drew in a deep breath.

Celeste: “I have to. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t even know how that bracelet ended up in my bag.”

Adrian: “I believe you. You’d never do something like that. Honestly, it doesn’t even seem like an accident.”

Celeste: “What do you mean?”

Adrian: “I can’t say for sure—there’s no evidence yet. But let’s see. The CCTV review is happening today.”

Outside the office, Bianca was on the phone with her dad, frantically asking for help. Fear consumed her—what if the CCTV revealed the truth, that she was the one who planted the bracelet? After the call, she returned inside, only to find Celeste calmly seated at her desk.

Bianca: “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be packing your things already?”

Adrian: “That’s enough, Bianca. Celeste hasn’t done anything to you. Why are you always against her?”

Bianca: scoffing “Isn’t it obvious? She acts so arrogant, pretending to be innocent. And worse—she’s a thief!”

Adrian: “Shut your mouth, Bianca. Celeste didn’t steal the bracelet. If anyone took it, it was planted on her. The CCTV will show the truth.”

Bianca stiffened, fear flickering in her eyes.

Celeste: “That’s enough. Let’s just wait for the results.”

Bianca turned away, her glare sharp and full of hostility as she stormed out of the room.

______

After an hour, Reign was called out of the department, assuming their boss was about to assign her a new task. Not long after, a notification appeared in the interns’ group chat, instructing everyone to gather for a meeting.

The interns seated behind Adrian exchanged curious glances, quietly wondering what the sudden meeting could be about. Celeste felt a knot of unease tighten in her chest, while Bianca shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her forced composure faltering.

---

At the meeting.

All the interns assembled in the conference hall, the air buzzing with whispers and speculation. Moments later, the doors opened, and Julian, the Chief Operating Officer, stepped inside. His very presence silenced the crowd. Without hesitation, he strode toward the stage and took his place at the podium.

Julian: “Good morning, interns.” His voice was deep, calm, but firm. “I know many of you are wondering why you’ve been called here today.”

A pause followed, thick with tension.

“Lately, the company has faced challenges. Our performance has fallen short of expectations, and our results at the Global Innovation Summit have been the subject of much discussion in the media. Many were disappointed—some even found it difficult to believe. But as heavy as those external pressures may be, we cannot ignore the issues within our own walls.”

His gaze swept across the interns, steady and unyielding.

“As Chief Operating Officer, it is my responsibility to protect the integrity of this company. That includes every department, every employee… and yes, even our interns. Which brings us to why we are here today....Yesterday, we faced another problem—an incident involving the disappearance of an expensive bracelet.”

The room erupted into murmurs. Several interns glanced toward Celeste, their eyes sharp with suspicion.

Julian raised a hand, and silence returned.

“I am here to clear the matter once and for all. On behalf of the company, I apologize for the confusion and distress this situation has caused. But now, it is time for the truth. The speculation ends today.”

He nodded to a staff member at the side of the stage. The large screen behind him flickered on, revealing CCTV footage.

Gasps filled the room as the video showed, beyond any doubt, Reign taking the bracelet after it had fallen.

The hall fell into stunned silence.

Julian: “It is clear now that Celeste Dela Vega did not take the bracelet. Our investigation also revealed that the earlier incident involving missing files was the work of the same intern—Reign. She has confessed that envy toward Ms. Dela Vega drove her to commit these acts.”

“This company does not tolerate deceit, sabotage, or malice. On behalf of management, I offer my apology to Ms. Dela Vega, who was wrongfully accused and forced to bear the weight of false judgment. And I expect the gossip and speculation to end today.”

Relief washed over Celeste as Ivy cheered, while Adrian stayed close by her side—his quiet support speaking louder than words ever could. Bianca, meanwhile, escaped untouched—her father making sure Reign took all the blame. Reign was dismissed from the company, carrying the weight of it all.

Bianca felt safe, but deep inside, her hatred only grew stronger. Celeste was still here… and that made her despise her even more.

_____

The Next Day

Celeste rushed through the lobby, desperately trying to beat the clock. She caught the elevator just before the doors closed—and to her surprise, they slid back open.

Inside stood the CEO, accompanied by his assistant.

For a breathless moment, their eyes met. Celeste’s heart stumbled, pounding so hard it almost stole her breath. Time seemed to pause—the noise of the lobby fading until there was only him.

His gaze was sharp, commanding, yet strangely unsettled. Something flickered in his eyes, a trace of emotion he didn’t want to show, and for the first time, his composure wavered. Celeste felt the weight of it press against her, her pulse quickening under his stare.

It was brief, fragile, and dangerously intense—yet it was enough to leave them both shaken.

Then, the spell broke.

An employee suddenly grabbed Celeste’s arm, pulling her back.

“Not this one,” he whispered urgently. “The CEO won’t like it.”

Startled, Celeste quickly bowed in apology as the doors slid shut. The assistant swallowed nervously, catching the silence in his boss’s demeanor, as though fearing what it meant.

The employee turned to her with a grin.

“Close call. Lucky I was here to the rescue,” he joked.

Celeste forced a small smile, thanking him, though her heartbeat was still racing.

______

CEO’s Office – Horizon Tower

Caspian sat in his office, Julian by his side. The room was quiet, but the tension between them was palpable—years of shared decisions and unspoken understanding filling the space.

Caspian: “Is it true—the issue I’ve been hearing about?”

Julian: “Don’t worry. Everything is under control.” Their conversation paused briefly before he continued. “What we need to focus on now is the media. People are still talking nonstop about what happened at the Innovation Summit.”

Caspian: “You’re right. And Damian Corporation… it seems they’re already finding ways to get the public’s attention.”

Julian: “I looked into their background. Their ratings were undeniably low before. But ever since the heir stepped in, their numbers have started to climb.”

Caspian: “I sense something different about Victor Damian. He won’t be an easy competitor.”

Julian: “I reviewed his background too. He came from the States—educated at one of the top business schools, trained under a multinational firm, and even spearheaded a few successful projects overseas before returning. He’s ambitious, strategic, and not the type to hesitate. That makes him dangerous.”

Caspian: “Then we need to stay two steps ahead. I won’t underestimate him.”

Julian: “Agreed. We’ll monitor his moves and adjust our strategy. For now, the company and the media are our priorities.”

The two men exchanged a sharp, knowing look. Outside, the world saw only numbers and headlines, but inside Horizon Tower, the battle for power had already begun.

_____

Leadership Development Department

The office was unusually quiet, and even the usual gossip had come to a halt. Bianca did nothing after her companion, Reign, left—she kept her phone in hand, chatting with friends from other departments. Celeste, meanwhile, stayed busy with her work, fully absorbed in her tasks.

What no one realized was that it was promotion day. The recent events of the past few days had completely occupied their minds, and they hadn’t thought about it at all. Celeste didn’t even expect to be promoted. Even though she knew she had done nothing wrong in all the recent incidents, she was aware that her boss and a few employees now viewed her unfavorably.

What she didn’t know was that she was included in the promotions—alongside her were Ivy and Ryan, Adrian, the crown clique, and several other interns. The announcement left everyone in disbelief, especially the crown clique.

In Bianca’s mind, it was clear that she wasn’t the only one with connections in the company—Celeste clearly had her own.

To be Continued...