Chapter 113

~ Clinton ~

The more I thought about what had happened to Octavia, the more convinced I became that something wasn’t right. It wasn’t just a fall. The feeling lingered at the back of my mind like a whisper I couldn’t ignore. She hadn’t simply slipped. Not after everything I’d seen. Not with the way tensions had been building around her lately. And now, with her memory fractured and unreliable, she couldn’t tell me what really happened. I didn’t want to push her to remember, so I had to find out myself.

I was at work when the decision crystallized. I leaned back in my chair, eyes narrowing. "If she can’t remember," I muttered under my breath, "then I’ll remember for her."

I would investigate what happened—with or without Franklin’s help.

I drove straight to JeffTech and asked for Miranda, Octavia’s team leader. She looked surprised when I walked into her office.

"Good morning, Mr. Harrington. What a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting you today," she said, motioning for me to sit.

"Good morning, Miranda. I know," I replied, taking the seat.

"Did you come for the meeting you canceled the other day? We can head down to the conference room—"

"I didn’t come for that, Miranda," I interrupted.

"Oh." She looked confused. "Then what can I do for you?"

"Octavia Herman is on your team, correct?"

"Yes, she is." Miranda nodded, still puzzled.

"Good. Since she’s your employee and works with colleagues under you, I’d like to have a meeting with them—if that’s all right."

Her brow furrowed. "What for?"

"Just a few questions about the ’great fall’ Miss Herman had." I leaned forward. "I hope that’s okay with you."

"As long as they won’t be in any trouble, I don’t mind," she said.

I smiled. "Thank you."

She hesitated. "Mr. Harrington... I don’t understand why you need to interrogate her colleagues. Do you think one of them might have hurt her?"

"That’s exactly what I’m trying to find out for myself."

"But shouldn’t that be a job for the police or a detective?"

"I’m not a detective, Miranda. I’m just someone who cares about Octavia. She’s a wonderful and very special person to me."

"Wonderful and special?" Miranda echoed, sounding even more confused.

"Yes."

She studied me for a moment. "I know this is none of my business, but... who exactly are you to her? Everyone here knows she’s married to Franklin Flemington."

"I’m aware she’s married to him," I said evenly. "We’re just friends. Good friends. No harm in that."

I stood up. "Thank you for giving me permission to speak with your team."

She stared at me a second longer, then nodded. "Of course. I’ll get them ready and send them to the conference room. If you need anything else, just let me know."

"I will."

I headed to the conference room. A few minutes later, the four women filed in and took their seats.

"Good morning, ladies," I began.

"Good morning," they replied in unison.

"I’m Clinton Harrington, CEO of Skyline Investments. Our firm has a partnership with JeffTech, but that’s not why I’m here today. I came to ask you all a few questions."

"Interrogate us?" one of them asked.

"Why?" another added.

"I’m sure you all know what happened to your colleague Octavia," I said.

"Yes, we do."

"Do you know how she’s doing, Mr. Harrington?" one asked anxiously.

"She’s okay. She’s awake and stable now."

Relief washed over their faces. "Oh, thank God."

"Can I get your names, please?"

"Tina Yates," the first one said.

"Ava Laughlin."

"Sarah Abbott."

"Victoria Whitmore."

"Thank you. I’m glad to know everyone. Shall we begin?"

They nodded.

"Where were you all when the accident happened?"

"I was at my desk," Tina spoke first. "I had bad menstrual cramps, so I stayed behind instead of going to lunch. I saw Octavia rushing to a meeting. I wished her luck, she thanked me, and then she left. That was the last time I saw her."

I glanced at the others. "So the rest of you went out for lunch?"

"Yes," they answered together.

"No one knows what actually happened to her?" I asked.

They shook their heads.

"We just heard she fell down the stairwell and that an ambulance came," Victoria said. "The worst part was hearing the siren while we were eating at the restaurant. We had no idea it was for Octavia. I felt terrible when I found out."

"I was sad too," Sarah added quietly.

"So there were no witnesses," I said.

They looked down and nodded.

’Great. No witnesses. Too convenient.’

"Before the accident, did Octavia say anything unusual? Anything at all that stood out?"

They all shook their heads.

"It was just a normal day," Ava said.

I exhaled slowly. "Does she have any enemies here at the office? Anyone who might have had a problem with her?"

The room went quiet. They exchanged uneasy glances. That was my first real clue.

"Yes," Tina finally said.

I locked eyes with her. "Who?"

They didn’t hesitate this time.

"Bella Washington."

The name landed heavier than I expected. Bella Washington. The same woman who had accompanied me on the Bronx trip. The one who had flirted shamelessly, pushed every boundary, and tested my patience. Interesting.

"Why Bella?" I asked, keeping my voice calm.

"Well... she and Octavia don’t get along," Victoria said carefully, adjusting her glasses.

"That’s putting it lightly," Tina cut in. "Bella doesn’t like Octavia. At all."

"She’s competitive and territorial," Ava added. "She hates when someone else is at the top. She wants to be the best, and she’ll get rid of anyone who stands in her way."

"And she’s not subtle about it," Sarah said. "She’s evil."

I leaned back in my chair, processing everything. Was Bella capable of pushing Octavia down the stairs? The idea didn’t feel impossible.

"Why didn’t Bella join you today?" I asked.

"Mrs. Lawson said she’s out representing us at a meeting with one of our partner companies," Victoria explained.

"Okay." I leaned forward again. "Did anything happen between Octavia and Bella recently—right before the accident?"

"Just the usual tension," Ava said. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Nothing that could have led to what happened to Octavia?"

They all shook their heads, but I didn’t fully believe them. Something about this still didn’t feel like an accident.

"Alright, that’s all I needed to know. Thank you for your cooperation, ladies."

"You’re welcome, Mr. Harrington."

The room emptied slowly as they filed out. They had told me everything they knew—or at least everything they were willing to say. But it was enough. I now had a clear direction: Bella Washington.

I stepped into the hallway and headed for the elevator, already pulling out my phone. The line rang twice before Miranda answered.

"Miranda Lawson speaking."

"Miranda, hey. I need something from you."

"What is it?"

"I need Bella Washington’s phone number."

There was a short pause. "That’s... specific."

"I just need to speak with her."

Another pause. "Alright. I’ll send it to you."

"Thank you." I ended the call.

I stood in the elevator, silent. A moment later, my phone buzzed. Bella’s number appeared on the screen. I stared at it and felt the corner of my mouth lift in a small, determined smile.

This was exactly what I needed.

I slipped the phone back into my pocket as the elevator doors opened. The plan was already forming in my mind.

The game was on.