News With The Neverseen

Episode 10

Gisela's POV

"Wait, what?" I could hardly believe my ears. But then it dawned on me. Love, Umber. This was exactly the kind of thing Umber always did as a punishment. I should have known that her revenge wouldn't end with her firing me. Now she was attempting to get me fired from NWN too. And I had a sinking suspicion that she might succeed.

"Come see for yourself." Gethen led me to the lounge. He was silent the whole way, which made me feel even worse. I hoped this wasn't the end of our short relationship–if it even was a relationship.

The lounge was almost unrecognizable. Everything was gone, except for a few chairs scattered around. One chair had a note attached. I walked over and read it. And, just like Gethen reported, it said: This is for you, Gisela. Love, Umber.

"I don't know what to do," Gethen said quietly. I jumped. He must have quietly snuck up on me. "Did you have anything to do with this, Gisela? Please tell me the truth."

I shook my head hard. "No! Of course not!"

Gethen nodded, but his eyes still looked sad. "I want to believe you, Gisela. I really do. But... the evidence is hard to ignore."

"There's no evidence." I told him. "Someone must have framed me."

Gethen didn't seem to hear me. "That Q&A question, from all those weeks ago. It was from someone called Umber's Receptionist. I didn't think... I couldn't imagine... But it was so obvious..."

"That wasn't from me!" But the lie was obvious. Even I knew that. And Gethen was too smart to believe me.

"I don't even know what to say." Gethen stalked out of the room.

"Gethen, wait!" I called after him, but he didn't listen.

After he was long out of sight, I sat down on one of the few remaining chairs and read Umber's note over and over again. This is for you, Gisela. Love, Umber.

+++

I sat down at the table in the conference room, nervously tapping my fingers against it.

Everyone at the table was glowering at me. But I guess I deserved it.

I had betrayed News With the Neverseen. The low ratings, and even the game segment getting canceled, were partially my fault.

But I couldn't get fired. If I did, I would have nowhere to go. My relationship with Umber was ruined. My relationship–if it could even be called that–with Gethen was probably also ruined.

"Gisela, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Gethen asked from the head of the table.

I nodded. "I didn't steal the furniture."

"And can you tell us who Umber is? And why the note said the furniture was stolen for you?"

I sighed. "I left Umber's company to be here. I guess she took the furniture so I would have to leave NWN."

"But who is she?" Gethen pressed. "And what kind of name is Umber?"

"My friend. At least she was." I ignored Gethen's second question. And the anger and betrayal in his eyes.

"Please elaborate. What does her company do?" Gethen folded his hands on the table politely.

I shrugged. "Everything, I guess."

"What do you mean by everything?"

"A lot of stuff." I said, hoping he'd let it go.

"And when did you leave?" He asked.

"When I started to work here."

"Why were you here before?"

"I just... went." I tried. "Why? Didn't you get in trouble with Umber. Why weren't you fired before?" With that question, Fintan looked up from his list of questions. I could instantly tell that he was suspicious. Oops.

"Um..." I was at a loss for words.

"Did she... send you here?"

I gulped. "Um..."

Gethen stood up from his seat and backed away from the table. "No way. What was she trying to do?"

"Nothing!" My voice went up an octave. I was terrible at lying. And my lying was worse when I needed it the most.

He backed down a bit. "Fine. Let's go. Your verdict is up to Fintan.

+++

Fintan was late. Probably to make me sit in shame. His plan worked.

Five minutes later, Fintan walked in. "What do you have to say for yourself, Gisela?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"It wasn't me." I told him.

"Of course. The letter said for Gisela." He waited for me to say more.

"I didn't ask for Umber to do it, either."

"Then why did she?" Fintan seemed genuinely interested.

"I guess she wanted revenge? Did you do anything to make her angry? She could have been punishing both of us."

Fintan forced a laugh. "Unlikely." He didn't sound very sure.

"This is getting off topic," Gethen cut in. "What's going to happen?" Fintan looked at me. "You're fired. I think. I dunno. I need to talk to the parent company. But you worked very well here. I liked your articles."

"Really!" Gethen's face turned purple. "That's it? She was in kahoots with Umber!

"Yeah, yeah." Fintan told him. "I'll talk to the parent company later. Toodles!"