Chapter 246 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“Thanks, but there’s no task for you,” Celsie said with a shake of her head.

“I also want to talk to you.”

“Okay. You can sit down if you have something to say,” Celsie said, jerking her head to the seat opposite her for Amy to take it.

“Thank you,” Amy said politely as she sat down, and then looked at Celsie, “I know it’s probably not in my place to say this, and although I don’t know the details of whatever happened, I’m sorry you have to go through all of this. No one deserves this,” Amy said sadly.

“Thank you,” Celsie said as she watched her. She was glad that she at least knew that Amy was being sincere with her. She didn’t know what else Amy had probably said after she left, but from what little she had heard, she was thankful.

“I also wanted to know if you have any plan in place on how to salvage the situation. I will like to offer my assistance,” Amy said hopefully.

Celsie’s brows curved, “You are not curious to know whether or not I did it?” Celsie asked curiously, wondering why Amy wasn’t asking her if she was guilty or not.

Amy took in a deep breath, “Whether or not you did it isn’t the point right now. Although I don’t think you did it, and even if you did, I believe you must have had a good reason for it. So tell me what I can do to help.”

“You are so kind, Amy.”

Amy’s eyes welled up with tears as she looked at her, “When I was in high school my elder sister was accused of seducing her boss and destroying his home which led to his wife’s death. The news was all over the place and no one gave her the benefit of doubt apart from our family. When she couldn’t take it anymore she took her own life because of the constant embarrassment she was faced with every time she stepped out of the house. It wasn’t until her death that the truth was finally revealed,” Amy explained, and raised a hand to wipe the tears on her cheeks, “If only there was one person at her place of work, or maybe a neighbor who had believed in her, she probably wouldn’t have taken her life,” Amy said with a sniffle.

“I’m sorry,” Celsie said with a sniffle of her own as she offered Amy a roll of tissue paper to wipe her eyes and nose, while she did the same.

“Don’t be. Just tell me what I can do,” Amy pleaded.

“Offering to help me is already more than I hoped for. Thank you for giving me the benefit of doubt and standing by me,” Celsie said with a genuine smile that touched her eyes, “And inform those in the office that they don’t need to worry themselves. I will take care of it myself, and none of you will have to lose your job on my account,” Celsie promised.

Amy shook her head, “I think you should let us do as the CEO instructed even though you might not have a need for it. This will go a long way in teaching everyone a lesson to find out both sides of a story before contributing in a hateful conversation,” Amy suggested, and Celsie smiled.

“Don’t hesitate to let me know if you need my help. You can call me at any time of the day and I will come running,” Amy promised as she stood up to leave.

“Thank you very much,” Celsie said once again as she stood up.

“Alright then. I should let you get back to what you were doing,” Amy said with a polite bow before leaving the office.

Once Amy left, Celsie shut down her laptop and stood up. It was time to leave, and she suspected that Benne was probably getting ready to go wait for her by the car park as usual. All she needed to do now was summon the courage to leave her office and face others.

Even though she wasn’t guilty, it was hard for her to walk amid people who believed her to be a murderer. Now she wished she hadn’t tried to be so strong earlier and had just taken Benne up on his offer to leave the office using his private elevator.

“What? Did you change your mind?” Benne asked from the doorway of her office, startling Celsie who was about to walk into his office.

“Why are you here?” She asked when she noticed that he had not taken off his costume yet, and had also come from outside, and not his office.

“I figured you wouldn’t be comfortable walking out alone, so I came in so that we can walk out together,” Benne offered as he approached her.

“You haven’t taken off your costume yet,” Celsie reminded him.

“Being your driver, I’m powerless. I’m walking out with you as the CEO today,” Benne informed her.

“As the CEO? You can’t do…”

“Then what? You expect that I should just stand by and watch you suffer? What is the point of having all this if I can’t protect you? It’s bad enough that I can’t take down the post. I should at least make sure that no employee under my payroll makes you uncomfortable.”

Celsie closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She opened her eyes when she felt Benne’s lips pressed on her forehead, “We will be alright,” he assured her with a small smile as he took her hand and led her out.

He could feel how tense she was as they both walked out of the elevator, and even her hand which he was holding was sweaty as many curious eyes followed them, “Relax, Celsie. You are safe with me,” he whispered to her as he led her out.

“Tell me something,” Benne said, wanting to distract her.

“What?”

“Anything,” Benne said with a shrug.

“Sonia is on her way,” Celsie said the first thing that came to mind.

“So I heard. If your apartment isn’t enough for you all, you can use my apartment,” Benne offered, not wanting to ask her if Sonia had mentioned to her that she had broken up with Bryan just so she could come and be with her. He doubted that Celsie would want to hear of that.

“I can’t believe she is shameless enough to show her face around here after murdering an entire family,” A lady muttered to her colleague as they walked past them, and Benne stopped, making Celsie stop too.

“Make an example of her…” Benne whispered to Celsie, “Or I will,” Benne added in a threatening tone as the muscle in his jaw twitched with barely concealed anger.

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