Chapter 36: The Investigation Result
"She’s bluffing," Sienna said, keeping her tone steady. "That’s all it is. A psychological tactic. She wants us to panic and break before anything is even decided."
Sienna tilted her head slightly as she added, "But clearly, she failed. So don’t let her get into your head."
Mia didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she lowered her gaze, her lips pressing together as if holding something back.
"Sienna..." she said after a brief pause, her voice even quieter now. "I’m sorry for dragging you into this..."
Sienna frowned slightly, about to interrupt, but Mia continued—
"You clearly know..." Mia continued, her tone turning more serious, more certain despite the tremble, "...I really never received any revised file from them. Nothing from Anna... or Angie."
She lifted her head slowly, her eyes meeting Sienna’s. "Never. You believe me, right?"
A warm smile slowly formed on Sienna’s lips as she stepped closer to Mia, closing the small distance between them until they stood side by side on the quiet stair landing.
"Mia," she began gently, her voice softer now, "you are my best friend... I’ve known you for a long time. Probably long enough to know all your bad habits too..."
Mia blinked, clearly not expecting that last part.
Sienna’s smile was growing a little playful. "Like how you always forget your own lunch but somehow remember everyone else’s order perfectly."
Despite the tension pressing down on her, Mia let out a weak, breathy laugh. A slight weight felt lifted from her shoulder.
But the moment didn’t last long.
Sienna’s expression softened again as she noticed the slight shimmer in Mia’s eyes. Not sadness. Not fear. But gratitude.
"Of course I trust you," Sienna continued, her tone firm now. "Don’t let Anna’s words get to you. She’s not the owner of this hotel... neither is Angie." She chuckled lightly, her gaze steady. "And as much as they act like they are bossing around the entire world, they don’t."
Mia let out a slow breath, as if trying to release the weight sitting on her chest.
"Just leave everything to the HR investigator," Sienna said while nudging her gently with her elbow. "They get paid to deal with messy people like this. Let them do their job while we try not to lose our sanity in the process."
Mia nods her head slightly, though a faint, bitter smile appears on her lips.
"I trust them," Mia admitted. "I really do—" Her voice trailed off, hesitation creeping in again.
"But... for some reason, my guts are telling me otherwise," Mia continued quietly. "It just doesn’t feel right. Even when Anna said she sent the revised file by email..." she frowned, her brows knitting together. "There’s nothing. No email. No notification. Not even in spam."
Sienna’s eyes flickered for a brief second. A small, almost unnoticeable shift, but it was there... worry. Because that detail didn’t sit right with her either. Not at all. But she pushed that thought aside, forcing her expression back into something calm, something steady.
"Then maybe your inbox is the problem," Sienna said lightly, shrugging her shoulders. "You know technology. It works perfectly when you don’t need it, and disappears the moment you actually do."
Mia shot her a look. "Geez, you’re failing to humor me, my friend..."
"I’m trying, alright..." Sienna replied with a small grin.
That earned her another quiet, reluctant laugh.
The tension didn’t disappear, but it loosened just enough for them to breathe again.
Sienna straightened slightly, her expression turning more serious as she glanced up the stairs.
"Mia, let’s go upstairs." Sienna took a step forward, then paused briefly, glancing back over her shoulder. "Whatever is waiting for us... We will face it."
Mia looked at her for a second, then nodded slowly. "Hmm... you are right! Let’s go!"
And with that, she followed.
Their footsteps echoed once more as they continued climbing, each step bringing them closer to whatever decision awaited them upstairs.
This time, neither of them spoke.
But the silence between them no longer felt as fragile as before.
Now, it feels like preparation.
...
The moment Sienna and Mia stepped into the meeting room, the fragile calm they had managed to build outside shattered completely.
The air inside felt heavier and colder.
At the head of the table, the HR manager sat with his usual composed posture, his expression unreadable.
Beside him were two HR staff members. They looked silent, observant, and clearly there to witness whatever decision was about to be made.
And then there was Angie. Sitting slightly to the side, her posture relaxed, her lips curved into a gentle smile that, to anyone else, might have looked kind.
But not to Sienna. Because behind Angie’s soft expression, there was something else. Something sharp. Something... pleased.
"Sienna, Mia..." Angie’s voice was calm, almost welcoming, as she gestured toward the empty seats across from her. "You can take a seat."
Sienna met her gaze briefly, and for a split second, she could see it clearly... a quiet satisfaction in her eyes. As if this moment had been something Angie had been waiting for.
Still, Sienna said nothing. She simply nodded and took her seat, her movements controlled, careful.
Beside her, Mia sat down as well, her posture stiff, her hands resting tightly on her lap.
Sienna didn’t look at Angie again. Instead, she turned her full attention to the HR manager, focusing on him as if he were the only person in the room.
Waiting.
The man remained silent for a moment longer, his fingers lightly resting on the table, his gaze moving between the two of them as if measuring something invisible.
"Miss Sienna, Miss Mia..." he finally began, but then he paused. Just long enough to stretch the tension until it felt almost unbearable.
And it worked.
Sienna felt her fingers curl tighter against her skirt. From the corner of her eye, she could see Mia sitting just as rigid, her breathing shallow, her entire body bracing for impact.
"I have received the results of the investigation from my team," the HR manager continued calmly. "And to be honest with you..."
His gaze shifted, first to Mia, then to Sienna.
"...what they found is that Miss Angie and her assistant told the truth."