Ruin Me, Mr X

What's wrong cousin?

SABLE

“What?” I frowned.

“Are you saying an outsider logged into the company forum and posted that?” Nothing about this situation made sense.

Davison gulped nervously. “It is most likely the case, ma’am. That person is probably a hacker, but I promise I’ll investigate this properly and find the culprit.”

I let out a dry laugh. “Find the culprit? What if this person is in another country? Are you going to travel across the world to find them?”

Helen shook her head. “Then the only solution left is to remove the post and block anything like this from ever happening again.”

“I’ll make sure it never happens again,” Davison muttered quickly.

I sighed heavily before taking out my phone to call Alaric.

The phone rang for a while before he finally answered. There were voices and movement in the background, sounding like he was still on the road.

“I’m almost at the office,” he said immediately. “Have they found out who did it?”

“No, sir. However, the post will be taken down very soon. Right?” I directed the last question toward Davison, and he nodded quickly before excusing himself from the office.

“Handle it before I get there,” Alaric said before ending the call.

I slowly placed my phone on the table before signaling for Helen to sit in the chair across from me.

She adjusted her shirt before sitting down professionally.

“I want you to investigate who the couple in the post is before anyone else finds out,” I said, crossing my fingers together on the desk. “Can you do that?”

A confident smile appeared on her face. “It is my job, ma’am.”

I stared at her for a moment, silently questioning why she had not already started.

Her smile faltered slightly.

“I’ll begin immediately,” she corrected herself before standing up. “I’ll also wait for Mr. Leighton when he returns.”

She bowed politely before leaving the office.

The moment the door shut behind her, I stood up and headed for Christina’s office. My heels clicked against the floor as I walked down the hallway, but halfway there, my steps slowed.

I felt someone staring at me.

I turned sharply, but whoever it was immediately disappeared behind the wall.

My brows furrowed.

‘Was I imagining it?’

I brushed the strange feeling aside and continued toward Christina’s office. I knocked twice before her voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

I pushed the door open.

“Christina, I need your help with something... uh...” My words died in my throat. “What’s going on?”

My eyes widened at the sight before me.

Manuel stood far too close to Christina, one of his hands wrapped around her neck possessively.

Christina quickly slapped his hand away before clearing her throat awkwardly.

“Nothing.”

No. It was definitely something.

My gaze slowly traveled over her appearance. Her blouse was slightly wrinkled, and there was a faint reddish mark near the base of her neck.

A bite mark.

‘Don’t tell me...’

I took a slow step forward, my suspicion growing stronger.

My eyes shifted toward Manuel, and I instantly noticed the faint smear of lip gloss near the corner of his lips. His hair looked slightly messy, and the subtle bulge beneath his slacks made my stomach twist in disgust.

Something was definitely going on between these two.

“What do you want?” Christina snapped her fingers in front of my face, forcing me out of my thoughts.

I blinked before looking back at her.

She raised an eyebrow impatiently, waiting for me to speak.

“Oh... um...” I stuttered, completely forgetting why I had come there in the first place. “Give me a minute to remember.”

I pressed a hand against my forehead and turned away from them, trying to gather my thoughts.

Then suddenly, something clicked inside my head.

My eyes widened slowly.

‘The post mentioned two people in a secret relationship inside the company.’

My hand dropped to my side.

The person who uploaded the post could have exposed the couple completely instead of blurring their faces and leaving everyone guessing.

Unless...

Unless the people involved were powerful enough that openly exposing them would cause problems.

My breathing slowed.

Christina and Manuel.

Manuel was Mr. Leighton’s cousin.

Christina was Daisy’s sister.

“Oh God.”

My hand flew to my mouth as the realization crashed into me all at once.

Manuel was cheating on Daisy?

“What’s wrong, Sable?” Manuel’s voice came from behind me.

I turned around quickly, forcing a shaky smile onto my face.

I pressed a hand dramatically against my forehead. “I suddenly remembered that I haven’t taken my medication yet.” I forced out a laugh. “Also, the reason I came here is because Mr. Leighton will need both of you to investigate the post.”

Manuel nodded casually while rubbing his jaw. “That’s not a problem. You could’ve just called to tell us.”

I arched an eyebrow. “You’re right. Just take it as me wanting to stretch my legs a little.”

He nodded again.

“Please inform me through a phone call when Alaric returns,” Christina added calmly, although I noticed the slight tension in her face.

“I will,” I replied.

I turned around and walked toward the door before stepping outside and gently closing it behind me.

But I didn’t leave.

I quietly pressed my ear against the door.

“Did she notice something?” Manuel asked in a low voice.

“I told you to stop doing that! What if she misinterpreted things?”

Christina’s voice suddenly disappeared, replaced by a soft moan.

A loud crash echoed inside the office followed by Manuel’s groan.

Disgust twisted inside my stomach immediately.

I quickly pulled away from the door and walked off before I completely lost my temper.

Unbelievable.

Daisy had no idea the man she trusted was fooling around behind her back inside the company building like some shameless teenager.

A few minutes later, Alaric finally arrived at the office.

The atmosphere inside the building instantly became tense as employees straightened themselves the moment he walked past them. He didn’t stop for anyone and headed directly toward his office before calling for me through the office phone.

I placed the receiver down before slipping my heels back on properly and leaving my office.

The moment I entered Alaric’s office, the image of Daisy sitting on his lap while calling him her boyfriend flashed through my mind.

My chest tightened painfully.

I quickly pushed the thoughts away and forced myself back into a professional state of mind.

They were far closer to him than I was, so even if I said anything now, Alaric probably would not believe me.

“Mr. Leighton, good afternoon,” I greeted professionally.

Alaric nodded while leaning back against his chair.

His expression looked dark.

“What did you find?”

“Nothing yet.” I forced a polite smile. “Davison and Helen are still investigating, and there hasn’t been any feedback yet.”

Alaric nodded slowly, tapping his fingers against the armrest of his chair impatiently.

“But they’ve already taken the post down,” I added carefully. “They also blocked the account responsible and strengthened the system to prevent anything like this from happening again.”

“They better,” Alaric snapped, his jaw tightening dangerously. “If this happens again, review their activities thoroughly and fire them if there’s even the slightest negligence.”

“I understand, sir.”

“I still can’t believe this happened.” He rubbed a hand over his face with frustration. “Where are Manuel and Christina?”

“We’re here.”

Manuel’s voice suddenly came from the doorway just as the office door opened.

My body instantly tensed the moment his scent drifted into the room.

Christina entered right behind him looking perfectly composed, as if the two of them had not been all over each other barely minutes ago.

“What’s wrong, cousin?” Manuel asked casually.