Chapter 4: Unexpected encounter
The next morning...
Bella arrived at the office on time, keeping her head low, not intending to draw attention. She noticed something weird around her, whispers flitting between cubicles like startled birds. A snippet caught her ear.
"Mr. Woods is fired," someone said with disbelief. "It’s said that he...well, he harassed a female colleague. How strange it is! I never thought he could do something like that."
"Me neither. He looks harmless," another chimed in.
The first voice dropped to a conspiratorial hush. "Heard Cooper Group is in hot water too. I was shocked to hear that both Mr. Cooper and Mr. Woods tried to rape that woman."
"She must have a strong backing," the second voice echoed.
As Bella pondered the implications of their cryptic conversation, a sense of unease settled over her like a dark cloud. She sank into her chair, mind reeling.
Mr. Woods was already fired. A single question echoed in her head: Who had complained about him?
Not only Mr. Woods, but the Cooper Group was also in trouble. Was it a mere coincidence?
Bella grew more and more perplexed.
"Bella..." Bella flinched at a woman’s nasal voice, snapping out of her reverie. It was the annoying Olivia.
She felt a bitter tang in her mouth as she recalled the conversation she had heard last night.