Whiter

Part 9's

Shanon's heart stopped beating. His face suddenly turned pale. He didn't realize what mistake he had to get fired. Shouldn't there be facts that prove his innocence? None of this makes sense. What he looked brightly at in the future suddenly returned blurry.

"Sir, I didn't do anything" Shanon said as he found the entire employee staring at him strangely.

Jared gave an indisputable look. "Stacking your things."

Shanon clenched his hand. "Is there any evidence that I committed the arson, sir? It's not fair."

Jared put both his hands in the bag. His eyes squinted as if staring at a piece of trash before him. "Some witnesses have proved enough. Besides, you've made mistakes many times within the company. That means your career is over here."

Shanon turns in disbelief. Jared brings personal issues as work issues in the office. He cannot be silent like this. Who wants to get rid of him from the company?

"Sir, I beg you to explore this matter before deciding anything" he said confidently. "I'm sure I'm innocent, sir."

The eyes of the company leader are getting sharper. Shanon believes Jared wants to get rid of him because he has sensed something about him. He didn't want it all to end so soon, when he was close to getting it. Shanon stepped closer with a begging hand.

"Please give me one more chance, sir."

Jared didn't tell him, but Robert replied, "You better not waste your time, Shanon."

He almost jerked Robert who was meddling in the matter but suddenly Hans came to give him a breath of fresh air. "We'd better consider this matter first, sir."

Jared who stood intimidatedly frowned at the statement while Shanon looked expectantly at him. He was convinced that someone was framing him either because of personal problems or work problems. At least someone is defending him now. Hans has always been his guardian angel.

"Mrs. Hans, why do you say that? Mr. Jared has already made a decision on this matter" replied Robert, who had Shanon exasperated. He became suspicious about why Robert was so eager to support Jared's decision. Is he looking for the director's attention or does he have a plan to get rid of him?

All attention turned to Hans. His casual carrying made him look to be able to convince everyone. "I've checked the CCTV, sir. CCTV installed in front of the room was suspiciously damaged two days ago, while CCTV elsewhere showed that Shanon was walking towards the room at 7:12 a.m." Everyone's breathing out including Shanon. He did not understand where Hans was talking. He wished a lot on his luck, at least for just this once. "But at exactly 7:52, a man with a hat covering his face walked towards the room as well. I think we need to investigate this case, sir. To seek the truth is also common salvation."

Jared observed Hans for a while before finally nodding once. "Create a team of investigators for the case. For a while don't involve the police." His orders allowed Shanon to breathe a little. A few moments later, however, the cold gaze returned to him. "But as long as this investigation goes on, you don't have to work." Shanon's mouth is open. He still fired? Hans was about to interrupt when Jared raised his hand to stop him. "As long as the truth has not been found then you do not have to work. Your salary will be cut as much as the day you don't work. The decision takes effect from now on. Everyone back to work." He turned around and left a crowd that felt increasingly stifling to Shanon.

All employees began to return to their respective jobs leaving Shanon, Lowy and Hans there.

"I will go to great lengths to find the truth" Hans assured as he embraced his shoulder.

"Calm down, Shany. I'm sure you're innocent. Just wait, okay?" lowy said with a pitying smile on his lips.

Shanon could only nod weakly. "Thank you for your help and support. I'm going home now."

They nodded unsure. Shanon's hands clenched when he realized that something must have happened and that it had something to do with Robert. Shanon has been very suspicious of his manager ever since. Goddamnit! This problem makes it unable to dwell, even though the sweet plan has experienced sharp progress. He took a breath and then took his bag. Shanon can only wonder how long he will be away from Jared coupled with his salary to be cut.

At the bus stop, Shanon pulls out his phone and checks his last message on Jared. The man was not yet aware of that feeling. Perhaps he was already conscious but could not yet accept how much strength that feeling would be if he gave up. Shanon recalled Jared's arrogant expression as he made that bitter decision. Others may think that cold stares mean cruelty as well as a very professional attitude from a director. But Shannon looked different. The words that came out of those lips were indeed painful but he was sure that the heart was his. Jared was not being professional at all. He did that out of wavering, because that feeling had grown in his heart. If not for feelings then a director will investigate everything until getting the facts and then decide what to do. Jared just wants to avoid. As Shanon had thought before. His prince must be in shock of that feeling then he thought getting rid of a Shanon would be the way out.

He grins.

He really got into his trap. Jared will feel a longing for him as much as Shanon will miss his prince.

Jared sat in his big chair after seeing Shanon out of the office so fiercely. Again he cursed himself for wanting to see Shanon one last time before the facts were revealed. Jared took a sip of his mineral water then felt strange about something. Why would he want to get Shanon out of the company? Hells! He was just an ordinary employee who was amazed by him. There are still many women who are so demanding out there, also many have acted out of such fairness, but how irrational he is when removing innocent employees just because he has feelings for them.

Wait.

Innocent?

Where did that thought come from? The evidence has not been found and how could he think that Shanon is innocent?

You are a fool, Jared!

Deep down he knew Shanon would not do that. How could he possibly be looking for such a heavy matter? He must have known the risk, so there was no way he would have done it. He knows how much a woman like Shanon wants to be around him, so it's impossible that Shanon is the culprit. Then who? The intercom rang out destroying his reverie. Forget this. He must attend the next meeting.

At 7pm Jared decided to end his work for today. He believes all employees have gone home since then so there is no reason for him to be in the office longer. Just before he came out, his eyes were staring at the reception desk. He stared in the same direction for a while before finally shaking his head. Is guilt clouding his mind? Not likely. Thenwhat? What do you want Jared? You're like a labile man.

"Good night, Mr. Jared," said someone making him a little jerked.

Hans stood there without him noticing. He looked in the same direction. "Are you thinking about Shanon?"

Jared stood quietly without making a sound then intended to step away when Hans again said something that surprised him.

"I know you drove Shanon into the break room yesterday morning."

Jared stopped and turned around casually. He raised next to his brow trying to lure Hans to continue his sentence.

"I know you're not sure that Shanon is the culprit."

"You're very confident" he responded briefly.

Hans gave a small smile. "I know Shanon admires you, so he often annoys you. I know you are a very competent director, but your decision this morning is not really to describe your true self. Do you do it only with consideration of your feelings without wanting to know the real facts?"

Jared clucking. "I ordered you and Robert to investigate the case, and now you're working on it? You're investigating me?" He took a long breath. "Cubery tell you about three important things. First, every company does not allow married couples to work in the same place. You know why? Because the attachment of feelings makes everyone not objective, not focused and not working optimally. This is related to the second thing that is Shanon who uses his feelings to disrupt the calmness and productivity of the company's directors. That is, the feeling also makes it unfocused and not working optimally. That's a big deal for the company, Mr. Hans."." Hans." Jared gave a slanted smile with a piercing look. "And the third, do you not realize that this morning you are the one who uses total consideration of feelings. You defended the receptionist desperately even investigating the CCTV by itself. A boss won't move that fast if he doesn't have a vested interest."

"Are you also running in a panic to check the truth of the CCTV?" he satirized with a short laugh then took a breath and exhaled with a triumphant expression. "Hmm.now we know who doesn't want to part with that receptionist." With that he left Hans who was suddenly stiff after hearing his theory.

How dare a subordinate judge him like that. He had no idea how much Jared had noticed the two of them. Now he's upset. Both of them are new problems in his life. He craved a quiet work atmosphere but everything was ruined because of the woman. Shannon.

Fortunately, the woman will not be in the office for the next few days.