Secrets Behind The REPUTATION

CHAPTER THREE

The whole office slowly came alive again by the ringing of the phone and the polished footsteps, willing to bring the targets off. As the murmurs and smell of burnt coffee rise to the surface, the ascending sun cast a rosy hue across the hallway. The brown door bearing the name of George Woodson, inscribed on the silver plaque, was pulled from the inside, and Michael, Vincent, and Regina stepped out. The door slammed shut behind as the three of them began to walk down the corridor. While walking, Michael was in the middle, tucking one hand inside his pants' pocket. Vincent on his right and Regina on the left, holding a coffee cup in their hands.

'I am glad that G is finally happy on this case.' Said Regina while swapping a grin at Michael. 'At least he did not chew us out for being late.'

Vincent rolled his eyes at her words. Because the last thing he wanted was to include Regina in this case. Vincent wants to say no, but he did not because it was Michael's decision and he knew Michael would not take that step without a second thought. And he was sure that there had to be another reason behind that approval of engaging her in this case.

'Regina, let me tell you something straight.' Michael said, and it led Regina's legs to pause in the middle of the corridor. Now she was standing in front of him, her eyes blinking once and raising an eyebrow with bewilderment, but the smile still stamped on her red, glossy lips.

'I wanna see Rachel.' As he said that, Michael let out an exhale, and tried his best not to spring his tone up at her. His lips gave a devilish, more like a sneering smirk off as he caught the way her smile slipped into dullness.

Regina did not react to that unforeseen demand from his hand, only stared at him with an expression of disheartened and shocking. It was a blend of humiliation and shame, the look of a lady who had just been caught by her husband with another guy right under his nose.

'Who?' Vincent slid in between their conversation, almost craning his neck over Michael's shoulder from behind. He has absolutely balled up by the name that Michael had served it up in front of him.

'Her daughter.' Michael said, looking at Vincent and pointing his finger at Regina. It was as if he had just snagged a criminal red-handed, was proud and triumphed. Anyway, Vincent could not guess what Michael was on about, and he was racking his brain to figure out how her daughter is so significant here. Vincent went ahead to ask something, he raised his hand but Regina stormed towards Michael, detaching Vincent and lessening the gap between Micheal and herself.

'Wait! How do you know about Rachel?' She asked Michael directly. Her voice whispered in anger as her eyes wandered on each side of the office. She was yelling under her breath.

'Well, that certainly sounds pretty weird, doesn't it?' Michael grinned at her, a devilish grin that had died out a long time ago suddenly propped on his face up that moment. A piece of darkness that he had washed away after falling in love with Lydia. Now, it came back from beneath. Vincent was more amused by the sudden change in Michael's attitude. Little did he know that he has about to say hi to the older Michael.

While witnessing the darkness that lingered on his face, Regina was even more panicked and frightened. Michael took a step forward as she took a step backwards. He went on with his yanked-back lips and wide, unblinking eyes, which looked more like a fighting mad animal than ever. 'If you don't know yet, I am perfect at digging things up, Regina. I am good at locking my head onto the evidence, nasty criminals, those reasons, and moreover...' He came closer to her again as she took the step backwards, causing her head-to-toe sweating. Michael narrowed his eyes on her and put his both hands on each side of his pocket, tilting his head. 'I was good at finding how did you solve the Atlanta case.'

Regina's heart jumped out of her white shirt when she realized finally Michael nosed out how she cleared up the case. She swallowed, her eyes widened, and the chest slowly rose up. Vincent's head swung towards her in disbelief; he came nearer with wide eyes.

'What?' Vincent screamed. 'You mean she didn-' He looked at Michael with his wide eyes.

'No...' Michael answered as letting out a sneering grin.

'I knew it!!!' Vincent made a half-turn and tried a scorn smile out on Regina, making himself set up to torment her about this for the next eternity. He folded his hands and continued. 'So, you are not the one who found the criminals. Interesting...'

Regina's face went down into deep regret and shame, which made Vincent's happier than ever. The more he analyses, the more he enjoyed it. He wants to dash to G's office and rub this news on his face and scream about this until the blood comes out from his throat. Finally, he wishes to reveal the true side of her, to reveal how rubbish and dumb she can be, and to reveal that she is not the person everyone thinks she is.

'It is okay... We won't inform it to G.' said Michael, causing Vincent's heart to drop from his chest. 'Instead, I wanna see her.'

'Why? This is our chance to expose the truth.' Vincent's fury flared up on the spot. His fist clenched as he looked at her face. 'At least it would be a lesson to others. I cannot believe she has been coasting along all these times and exposing the highly confidential data to some stupid teenager.'

'Vincent!' Michael's voice burst at Vincent for the first time, which caused some heads in the office to turn towards three of them. Michael was angry all of a sudden, the voice getting out of that broad chest was undoubtfully thick and heavy. He tried to dampen his anger down as he had analysed Vincent's startled face.

By taking a deep breath, Michael went back to Regina. He cleared his throat, adjusted his black suit, and asked, 'When can I meet her?' Strangely, it was not a question, it was almost a command to her.

'This is the explanation why you told me to engage in this case.' Her wandering eyes watered.

'Of course!' Michael scoffed lightly, mogging a light amount of breeze off his nose. Regina could not accept the fact that Michael is never going to look at her the way she looks at him. The more the words wheeled around her mind, the more tears welled up on the corners.

'What else it could be?' Michael gives a cunning look. He leaned closer to her and his eyes narrowed, forcing her to lock herself back into him. 'For your information, I am not HIM.' Michael walked past her aiming towards the exit while Regina was still standing there like she was stuck in thick concrete, not able to move a bit.