Lilacs Forever

Chapter 20: Believe

Disclaimer: there's some cursing so be warned if it's not your thing

All eyes were on Ashley, her face red and eyes wide. She looked around panickedly. "N-no! I didn't do anything!"

Everybody kept silent, staring at her in disbelief.

"It was them!" she pointed to the clique. "Everybody took part in it, why do I have to be the scapegoat!" She continued blaming everyone, from the girls in the sales department to Dan, from Norma to Nate and Phil. Her mouth kept running every single name, every single excuse that she could think of.

"Give me a straight answer." Mr. West's eyes demanded, his eyes narrowed at her.

"It was her!" Ashley pointed at Delilah. "She's been lying to everyone that I made a group it you up chat to bully her. She's trying to bring me down! You could see it on her little face, she's enjoying every moment of being the victim!"

Delilah stood still like a deer in the headlights as everyone's eyes were on her.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Ashley hissed.

Delilah had so much to say but no words would come out of her mouth. She can't keep quiet this time, her livelihood and honor was at stake. What did Jacob say?

"I'm telling the truth," Delilah said as strongly as she could, "I'm not the type of person who would bring other people down, it's not who I am."

"Oh really?" Ashley scoffed, "I mean, Alexander, who do you believe?"

Mr. West paused, the room was filled with tension.

"Delilah. I believe Delilah." he said straightly.

And that was when Ashley lost it. "Everybody would have been fine if it wasn't for your fucking victim-complex fat ass! You just think that you're the good girl who everybody believes! But nobody cares about you, nobody would ever care about you. Everybody's bending over backwards being nice to you because they don't wanna lose their jobs!"

"I care about her." Anita spoke up.

"I care about her." Alyce joined in.

"I care about her." It was Dan, and afterwards Nate and Phil. And then Norma and Janet.

Ashley looked around the room panickedly. Her face became red with rage and embarrassment. "Are you serious? I mean, look at her smug little face!"

"The only one making the smug face was you, especially what happened with HR." Norma found the courage to speak up.

"Why is no one believing me?! I have ADHD! I have a fucking condition!"

"That's enough. Just because we accommodate you doesn't mean we baby you." Alexander said coldly. "Get out of my office. Now."

Ashley finished calling Delilah a slew of names and stormed out of the office, angry tears in her eyes.

Everybody was silent, trying to make sense of what just happened, Mr. West's threat of firing every single one of them, and Ashey's meltdown.

"Now that this issue has been resolved, I'd like to announce the holiday party at Etoile on 3rd street. Be there as each of you are valuable, I'd be disappointed if you don't show up. Have a good weekend."

Relieved, everyone filed out of the conference room and talked amongst themselves. Delilah went along with the crowd, numb with shock.

"Everything alright, Delilah?" Alyce asked.

"I'm - I'm just relieved." she answered with a sigh.

"I just want to let you know that I'm proud of you. You really took a hold of yourself. Where did you get that confidence?"

"Oh um, I talked with my neighbor Jacob about it..." Delilah blushed.

"Well, the holiday season is coming, why don't you get him something nice."

"Yeah, of course I will!"