Well…” Teresa began, but before she could think of an excuse, someone else piped up.


    “I saw Madisyn head to the restroom right after Teresa.


    ”


    Everyone’s eyes shifted to Madisyn.


    Unfazed, she continued eating, deliberately slow under their watchful stares.


    Finally, she set down her fork and looked up.


    “I didn’t see anything,” she said calmly.


    Liza, her tone dripping with disdain, shot back, “Don’t lie.


    You were the only one who went to the restroom after Teresa.


    How dare you lie like that?” Her voice grew more usatory.


    “You must’ve realized how valuable Teresa’s ne is and decided to steal it.


    Isn’t that right, Madisyn? I suggest you hand it over now.


    A ne like that couldnd you in jail for years.


    ”


    Madisyn’s eyes flickered with amusement as she caught Teresa’s gaze.


    “Really?” she replied, her voiceced with irony.


    A fake ne couldnd her in jail? The idea was absurd.


    With a faint smile, she added, “Even if I did take it, I doubt I’d be seeing the inside of a jail cell.


    Isn’t that right, Teresa?”


    Teresa felt uneasy as Madisyn’s piercing gaze bored into her.


    It was as if Madisyn could see straight through her.


    Then, in a sudden, almost theatrical moment, the man sitting next to Madisyn reached into her pocket and pulled something out with a triumphant shout, “I found it!”


    The man held up a delicate ne, its pendant catching the light, and all the people in the room seemed to collectively hold their breath.


    Everyone recognized it instantly-it was the very ne Teresa had been wearing today.


    “Madisyn, it really was you!” Liza’s voice rang out, full of righteous usation.


    “You’ve only just started working with us, and you’re already stealing? Unbelievable! Teresa, what are we going to do about her?”


    Teresa was stunned at first, but her shock quickly turned into amusement.


    It turned out Madisyn really stole her ne.


    Teresa was amused.


    Madisyn, always pretending to be so indifferent to everything, was actually jealous of her, wasn’t she? It was just like how she had been jealous of Madisyn in high school.


    Teresa could almost feel her own pride inting, filling the room like a balloon about to burst.


    She fixed Madisyn with a scornful re, her lips curling into a mocking smile.


    “Madisyn, I can’t believe you’d stoop so low.


    But, considering we are now colleagues, I’ll let this slide if you just kneel down and apologize.


    If not, I’ll have to call the police, and then… Well, let’s just say your future might not look so bright.


    novelbin


    ”


    “Teresa’s being more than fair.


    Just apologize!” The crowd turned on Madisyn, their eyes filled with disdain.


    “You want to call the police? Fine by me.


    In fact, let me call them right now.


    ” Completely unfazed, Madisyn reached for her phone and started to punch in the emergency hotline.


    Teresa’s heart skipped a beat, panic shing in her eyes.


    If the police really got involved, it’d only be a matter of time before it was discovered that the ne was fake!


    And then, Madisyn would walk away scot-free.


    Desperation seized her, and without thinking, she grabbed Madisyn’s arm and tried to mask her fear with arrogance.


    “Oh, forget it,” she snapped.


    “I know how much your reputation means to you.


    For the sake of our history together, I’ll let this go.


    ”


    The tension in the room instantly dissipated.


    “Teresa, you’re so kind!” someone praised.


    “Madisyn, you should be thanking her!” another echoed.