The Billionaires Too (#2)

08 || Exposure

Her Monday had started well so far; she had arrived at work in time to open the building even though she had to take a taxi since Anita was not around to pick her up from her apartment anymore.

After taking off without notice, Jorge and Anita had sent through an email informing Meryl that they were coming back today from Cape Town trip.

The day after dinner, Anita arrived to work wearing shades and she completely ignored Meryl. It was obvious that she had been crying, and that proved to Meryl that Anita did not leave her apartment because she had nothing to wear; she left Meryl’s apartment because she wanted to go home and cry alone.

Meryl had been trying to call her to tell her about her encounter with Javier that night and what she discovered, but her phone was off, and she was ignored her the entire day. When Jorge finally arrived, they left the office, and went on to work outside of town. She had not spoken to her since that night, and was looking forward to seeing her today; hopefully, she would agree to spend a week at Meryl's or invite her to stay at her place.

She feared what Javier Mendoza might do to her; she was always cautious. It had been a few weeks since her family dinner that left Meryl to sleep with one eye open. That same night, she locked her door and pushed the couch against it, and then she had to put in extra effort to get it out of the way on her way out. And then when she took a taxi the next morning, she kept waiting for the driver to take out a gun, turn in the wrong direction, or do something sinister.

But none of that came, and at least three weeks had passed since the restaurant accident.

Work was peaceful, especially since there was no boss to keep her on her toes; she could not believe she was ready to hand in her letter of resignation just a month ago.

Time passed and it was lunchtime. As usual, Meryl took out her phone and earphones to listen to music while waiting for the last fifteen minutes of her lunch break. However, her phone just froze out of the blue and the functions stopped working, and then it went blank. Meryl stared at the phone dumbfounded because she could not even switch it off.

Maybe taking out the battery would help, she thought.

She was about to turn her phone around when the screen flashed again, this time with a text message.

“Meryl Anderson is a fraud.”

Her face paled and she leaned against her desk to balance herself as she felt her legs wobble. This was the worst thing that could happen to her on a Monday afternoon.

Meryl panicked and thought of all the things that could happen if this information got out, and she wondered who could have possibly found out.

There was only one person who knew about this, and the only person who could help her. Her hand reached for the office phone and she dialled MJ’s numbers, but the phone was not working. Meryl slammed the phone down and looked up to check the lights, and they were all working.

Maybe it is my phone. She thought as she walked around her desk and went to the nearest office where the residents were still out for lunch. She tried the phone there, and it was not working. She tried every other phone she could think of in the office, but they were all not working.

She rushed to the elevators, but they were not working either.

She saw one of her colleagues walking back into the office, and she rushed to him. “Hi, could you please borrow me your phone? I need to make an urgent call.” She asked in a panicked voice.

“Sure.” The guy said and gave her the phone, which she took with shaky hands.

She opened the dial pad and started typing in MJ’s numbers, but the phone went blank as she was about to dial. “No!” She shrieked and the guy gave her a weird look. “Lord, no.” She said, tears streaming down her face. She handed the phone back to the guy and muttered an inaudible thanks, and then she hurried back to her desk and turned on the computer. She opened Google Chrome and went to sss, and then she typed an email to MJ. MJ checked her emails after every hour, and hopefully she would see this one ASAP.

The email was short and concise, and she knew no matter how, MJ would understand.

“MJ, someone knows.”

She clicked the ‘send’ button, and the email loaded, and then the screen went blank. “NO!” Meryl screamed and everyone stopped and looked at her as she pulled on her hair while staring at the screen.

She picked up her phone again, took out the battery, and put it back in again, and then she switched it on. The phone stayed normal for a few seconds, but as soon as she touched the screen, it went blank again. “NO!” She yelled again and threw the phone, slamming it on the wall across the reception desk, missing a girl that was passing by.

Silence rose as everyone looked at the shattered phone on the floor, and then all eyes turned to Meryl.

Meryl looked at the phone in shock and looked up to find all eyes on her. One look and she stormed off to the bathroom and locked herself in one of the cubicles and cried.

Thirty minutes later, she got up and unlocked the cubicle, and then she washed her face and fixed her hair. She had to get out of here before things got messy. After cleaning up, she left the bathroom and went back to the reception area.

Upon arrival, people were standing in small groups while talking in hushed whispers. Meryl was sure that they were talking about her episode earlier.

As soon as she entered, silence followed and everyone looked at her; it was only then that Meryl noticed that people were staring at their phones. She frowned and walked around her desk. Her eyes landed on the computer screen, and any colour she had left, disappeared as her face turned white.

On the screen were all three of her ID’s - Meryl Anderson, Samantha Anderson, and Samantha Grayson. With it was her payslips at Billings Corporations, and her tax slips. She looked up and found everyone still looking at her, and suddenly, it felt as if the entire world knew.

Seconds later, Alastair Cooper stormed into the building with the clerk right behind him. He looked furious. His eyes scanned around and when they landed on Meryl, he strode to her desk and slammed his phone on the desk, causing her to jump. “What the hell is this?” He shouted, and Meryl cried.

“I-I can ex-explain…just, p-please…please calm down.” She sobbed, and anger flashed in Alastair’s tiny eyes.

“So it’s true then.” He gritted, and Meryl flinched. “So you mean, all these years, I’ve been working with a fraud?” Meryl cried, her body shaking with the action. “Do you have any idea what your actions have done? This information has been leaked and I’m already losing millions because of you!” Alastair yelled. His face was red. All eyes were on them, and the clerk, Mahalia, just stood there; shocked and confused while everyone else waited to see what would happen next. “I am not going to let you drag my company in the mud with you. Pack up your s**t and leave my building right now.” He said in a quiet and cool voice, emphasising every single word.

It was only then that Mahalia decided to intervene. “Mr Cooper, calm down-” She started, but he raised raised his finger in warning.

“Meryl, or whoever the hell she is, must leave my f*****g building right this moment.” He said, turned around, and strode to the elevator, and then pressed the button to the last floor, but it did not budge.

“Sir, the building has been hacked.” One of the employees said, and Jorge turned to him as he continued, “all the phones and computers are not working. The alarm password has been cracked, all the elevators have stopped working, and there are people stuck on the top floors.” The man said, and Alastair just stood there, his eyes darting from one person to the next; causing everyone to shrink in their places.

Of all the states they had ever seen Alastair Cooper in; this had to be the worst. There was no hint of the sweet boss they knew; he was angry and indifferent. His bright blue eyes were a dark blue. Cold.

Everyone watched him, waiting to see what he was going to do. He walked to the reception desk where Meryl was busy packing her things into a tiny box while sobbing.

Mahalia was with her, helping her pack while comforting her. Meryl looked up to find him staring down at her with cold eyes, and she stopped what she was doing. “I’m sorry.” She whispered, but the old man did not even move a muscle.

“You have two minutes to get out of here, or else I’m calling security. Do us all a favour; don’t ever set your foot here again.” He said coldly and stormed out of the building, leaving Meryl in sobs. Mahalia was trying to calm her down, but it was not helping.

Meryl had a lot coming ahead of her. She could face jail time and would have to pay all the tax money she owed from the past eight years, which was millions and millions of dollars. Her reputation was officially ruined, and there was no going back.

Whoever did this, knew what they were doing, and aimed to do uncontrollable damage.