Chapter 5: The Press Conference
1114 Words
The rain just would not stop, even after Sophia left the Blackstone Group.
She went to a café across the street and sat down with a cup of coffee.
The coffee was getting cold. Sophia did not even notice.
Five years is a time.
Sophia had been working at Blackstone Group for five years.
She had always thought that if she worked hard everything would be okay.
In less than one hour everything started to fall apart.
Her phone started buzzing.
It was Olivia calling.
Sophia picked up the phone.
"Hey, " she said.
Olivia said, you sounded tired.
Sophia said she had a day.
Olivia wanted to know if Sophia was coming home early.
"Are you coming home early? Grandma wants your favorite dumplings tonight."
Sophia looked through the rain-covered window at the towering Blackstone headquarters.
Sophia said she would try to come early.
Olivia said, You always said that.
Sophia smiled. Only for a moment.
She told Olivia she called her later.
Soon as Sophia hung up the phone she stopped smiling.
She looked out the window at the Blackstone Group building.
Employees were rushing toward the lobby.
Several news vans had just arrived.
A reporter and a cameraman were hurrying inside.
Something was going on.
Sophia's instincts told her it was not a coincidence.
Without thinking Sophia grabbed her bag. Crossed the street.
Inside the lobby there were a lot of reporters and camera crews.
The security guards were trying to keep them back.
Sophia stayed near the back of the crowd, where no one could see her.
Then Alexander Black came out onto the stage.
He was wearing the black suit he had worn earlier.
He had the same unreadable expression on his face but Sophia could see that his eyes looked tired.
The chairman was standing next to him.
Sophia whispered to herself
"So it was not an internal meeting..."
This had all been planned.
A microphone was put in front of Alexander. The room got quiet.
He looked at all the cameras.
Started talking.
" Today we found out that someone had broken the rules at Blackstone Group, " he said.
The reporters all started writing at the time.
Alexander said they were investigating what had happened.
A journalist raised her hand. Asked if someone had sold secret company information to a competitor.
Alexander said they thought someone had gotten into the company's information illegally.
Sophia's stomach started hurting.
Another reporter stood up and asked if they knew who the employee was.
The chairman looked at Alexander and for a moment Sophia thought he might not answer.
Then Alexander looked straight into the cameras and said,
"Our executive assistant, Sophia Bennett.. she’s not working for us right now while we investigate."
The world around Sophia just stopped.
The reporters gasped.
The cameras started flashing wildly.
Someone asked if they thought Sophia was responsible and Alexander's face got tight.
When he finally answered his voice was cold and scary.
"Blackstone Group will not protect anyone who betrays the company, " he said.
Sophia could not breathe. Those words just kept echoing in her mind.
She took a step back. Then another and the reporters just kept shouting questions.
Sophia could not hear them anymore.
She turned around and walked out into the rain.
She did not want to. She had to or she would have broken down right there.
An hour later Sophia got to her apartment.
Olivia was in the kitchen. Looked up when Sophia came in.
"There you are, " she said. Then she saw Sophia's face and stopped smiling.
"What happened?" she asked.
Sophia tried to answer. She could not say anything.
She just handed Olivia her phone.
Every news channel had the headline: "Blackstone Executive Accused of Corporate Espionage."
Another article said, "CEO Alexander Black Promises Zero Tolerance for Betrayal."
Olivia looked at the screen. Then at Sophia.
"They are talking about you?" she asked.
Sophia nodded.
Olivia hugged her tightly.
"We will fix this " she said.
Sophia just closed her eyes and said, "I do not know how."
Then there was a knock at the door.
It was three knocks. Olivia got up to answer it.
There were two men in suits standing outside. One of them was holding a leather briefcase.
"Ms. Sophia Bennett?" he asked.
Sophia stepped forward cautiously.
"Yes, " she said.
The older man handed her a sealed envelope.
"We are from Hargrove & Cole, " he said.
Sophia looked at the name. Realized it was one of the most prestigious law firms in the country.
"I think you have made a mistake, " she said.
The man just said, "We have not."
He told her that the senior partner had asked them to deliver the envelope.
Then the men left without saying anything.
Sophia slowly opened the envelope. Found a single business card inside.
It said "Daniel Hargrove, Senior Litigation Attorney."
There was a note beneath it that said,..
"If you are innocent, do not defend yourself.
Fight back.
See me tomorrow at 9:00 a.m."
There was no signature and no explanation.
Olivia looked over Sophia's shoulder. Asked, "Who sent it?"
Sophia said she did not know.
Olivia said, "Someone wants to help you."
At the time on the top floor of Blackstone Group Alexander was standing alone in his office.
Marcus came in carrying a tablet.
"The press conference is over the news, " he said.
Alexander just said, "I know."
Marcus told him that they had found out who was behind the attack the day before.
Alexander looked up.
"And?"
Marcus said, "The driver's body was found outside the city an hour ago.
He was murdered."
The room got quiet. Alexander's face got darker.
Marcus said, "Whoever is behind this, is not trying to frame Sophia…
They are escalating."
Alexander walked over to the window and looked out at the city.
Across the skyline lightning flashed once.
"They have started moving more than I expected, " he said.
Marcus looked at him carefully. Asked, "Should we tell her the truth?"
Alexander did not answer away.
Finally he said, "If she learns the truth now...
She will never live enough to hear the verdict."
Late that night…
Someone quietly entered Sophia's apartment building. Dressed in black. Face hidden beneath a hood. The figure stopped outside Apartment 1208.
A gloved hand slipped a folded photograph beneath the door.
Then disappeared into the darkness.
The next morning...
Sophia picked up the photograph. Her heart stopped.
It showed her leaving Blackstone headquarters the previous afternoon.
Standing across the street...
Watching her. Alexander Black.
Written on the back, in red ink, were six chilling words.
"He’s been lying from the beginning."
- Writer
