Hide and Seek

6 hours...

'"So you know?" I laughed a little.

"Mmh." He nodded.

"How did you find out? How long have you known?"

"How I found out doesn't matter. And I've known for longer than you have."

"So you understand that I couldn't let such an opportunity slip through my fingers."

"You took someone else's weakness and used it as an opportunity. I don't understand things like that. If I did, I would have done so myself."

"Well you are a fool. It's a selfish world Ezra. The sooner you realise that, the better. In a world like this, you have to be selfish to succeed."

"The selfishness you see in the world is a reflection of what's in your heart. Don't delude yourself by thinking everyone is like you. It's pitiful." He stood up.

"Are you going to snitch?" I stood up as well.

"Are you going to confess on your own?" He asked.

"Ezra, you don't understand. I need this promotion. Dad actually smiled at me. You wouldn't understand because you see it everyday. Let me have this one. Please."

"What about Dilean?"

"He has Renata. That's all he cares about. I'll let him keep his secret and never bring it up again. If need be I'll even support him. You just have to look away from me. Please Ezra. If dad found out he would fire me without a doubt. Don't take this away from me."
After all that begging and pleading I felt pathetic. But I had to do what had to be done to keep the secret.
After all that, Ezra Levi just walked out without saying anything. He made me live anxiously, I did not even enjoy my promotion.
He took the blame for Dilean at some point and that gave me hope that he would keep quiet for me as well. He wouldn't meet my eyes when he would come to the company. He just walked past me as if I didn't exist. Then I started seeing him very rarely.'

"Then fast forward two years you thought he finally exposed you?" Teagan said.

"Yes. It was the most humiliating day of my entire life..."

'I walked into the building late morning as usual. It was almost noon. Everyone was staring at me and giving me these weird looks. I didn't pay mind to it and headed for my office. When I got there, dad, Dilean, Seth, Eli and Kaiya were there, along with a few of the board members.

"Goodmorning," I greeted them. "What's everyone doing here? Is there a meeting I don't know about?"

"The project you proposed about two years ago has met the target," dad said. "We've seen a thirty percent rise in sales which is incredible. Everyone is so impressed, especially the jewellers."

"Well, I'm just doing my job, there's no need to praise me."

"I'm not praising you." Dad shook his head. "Dilean, that project was yours wasn't it?" Dad glanced at him.

"Ummm..." he looked at me. I tried to subtly shake my head. Giving him a sign to deny it.

"It's okay Dilean. I know everything now. It was your idea, wasn't it? In fact, it was Ezra's idea that you developed."

"Yes." Dilean nodded.

"Dilean," I hissed.

"Sorry Myra," he mumbled.

"You stole my brother's presentation?" Kaiya spoke up, a look of disdain on her face.

"I didn't steal it, we had a deal." I tried to defend myself.

"You're pathetic Myra." Eli shook his head and I laughed.

"Says the man who didn't even know that his wife was cheating on him with his brother!"

"Everyone out!" Dad yelled and they obeyed.

"Myra, what you did is called plagiarism. It is not tolerated in this company. Hand in your resignation and leave quietly."

"Dad-"

"I don't want to repeat myself."

"Dad, this is not fair." Tears burned my eyes. "Ezra committed espionage two years ago and you didn't kick him out. You let him stay. Don't kick me out."

"Why are you comparing yourself to Ezra? What right do you have after this stunt?"

"The right of being your child." I sat down at my desk and took hold of the table. "I'm not leaving. I won't leave. You can't fire me if you didn't fire Ezra. Why should you fire me and not him?"

"Ezra owned up to what he did and fixed it. You kept it hidden, and you still failed to deliver. You stole the idea, you proposed it, but you still failed. Everyone else in the marketing department was working except for you. You arrive to work at your own time, you sleep on the job, and you don't work, so why should I keep you here. I'm not firing you because of your crime, I'm firing you because you're incompetent."

"Dad, that's not true. I did my share too."

"When? When have you ever done your share Myra?" He narrowed his eyes. "If you had stolen the idea and delivered, then maybe I would have been proud of your ambition. Though you would have gone about it the wrong way, I would have given you credit for delivering."

"Dad, I can start now. I can work hard."

Two security guards entered the room and at dad's gesture they began to pull me off the chair.
"What are you doing? Let go of me. How dare you touch me!" I struggled against them.
With the office door open, everyone saw it happen.
They dragged me off the chair and began dragging me out of the room.
"Okay, let go of me. I can walk on my own." I pulled myself off them and they left me. I grabbed my bag and as I walked out of the building I understood the looks the staff had given me earlier. For some reason, everyone knew about it. I stepped into my car and the one thing on my mind was how I was going to kill Ezra...'

"But not literally." Myra raised her hands, glancing between Teagan and Zahara. It was figurative, you know, in my head."

"We get it Myra. Continue." Teagan rolled her eyes.

"Right. So, I drove to Ezra's apartment and slammed on his door when I got there. I was so angry that I didn't know what to do with myself..."

'"Ezra!" I called out, slamming on the door continuously.

"What are you doing?" He said when he had opened. "You'll break my door."

"Shut up!" I screamed and pushed past him. "You kept Dilean's secret, why couldn't you keep mine?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You told everyone that I stole Dilean's presentation. There, dad fired me. Are you happy now?" I wiped my tears eyes. "I asked you Ezra. I practically begged you not to say anything."

"Myra that happened two years ago. What would I gain from it?"

"I don't know. You tell me. Maybe you want to get back in dad's good books since he doesn't approve of your girlfriend."

"I don't care if dad approves of her or not. I love her and I'm marrying her. As for your plagiarism, I didn't tell anyone."

"Don't lie to me Ezra."

"I'm not. Why don't you just ask dad who told you?"

"He won't even look at me. How am I supposed to ask him?"

"I don't know, Myra. This has nothing to do with me so please leave me out of it. I don't want to be involved anymore. With any of you people."'

"Then he kicked me out. Probably because he didn't want you to see me." Myra looked at Zahara. "I think you were in the shower. If it was you. I saw a purse on his couch."

"Yes, it was me," Zahara muttered.

"There you have it." Myra pursed her lips.

"You can go Myra." Teagan waved her out.