Unscented-Chapter 1196 - 1138 Warning to Others

Melissa felt cold shivers all over her as she walked into the AEC conference room. She felt lonely.

It was sheer wickedness by not allowing her to come with an aide. She knew today wasn’t going to end well no matter how truthful she was.

It was now that she was realizing that she had committed severe atrocities.

"This way!" a heavily armed security guard directed her.

Melissa couldn’t take her eyes off the security guard. Her mind whispered she was going to be arrested after the meeting.

She went into the meeting room and froze at the doorway. There were lot of people, bosses of organization but their looks.

"You are welcome" a man waved at her to come closer. "I’m Mr Black, have your seat" he directed her to a seat.

"Thank you" Melissa murmured.

"We are collectively sorry to bother you. We know you have a lot to attend to in your company so we are not going to take too much of your time" Mr Black assured her.

Melissa felt relieved. At least she would still leave here a proud woman and they were even addressing her politely.

"Not to waste too much time, that will need your cooperation. If you do not deny that you are responsible for the defaming information about Anthony company for these past days?" Mr. Black seemed very professional by his choice of words.

Melissa remembered her assistant advice to stick to the truth but Mr. Black’s words were accusations that she shouldn’t admit.

"I thought it is not defamation if it is the truth" she countered.

"Of course. I do not mean it in the legal terminologies. But should I say you admit you are responsible for the exposure of the skeleton in Anthony’s cupboard?" he joked using analogy.

Others that were present chuckled at his expression. Melissa also smiled broadly.

"Yes, I am responsible for it" she admitted clearly.

"So I will hand you over to Mr. Brown" Mr Black pointed to Mr Brown to take over.

Melissa sighed. Mr. Brown didn’t look friendly like Mr. Black. His face was frightening.

"Ma’am" Mr Brown’s voice was booming. "Can you tell us why you did something so horrible to a fellow company?" he questioned her.

This was the real deal. Melissa breathed heavily. She tried to catch her breath before responding.

"All what I did was a retaliation. I’m very sure you heard about it when Murray company was in chaos. Anthony was responsible for that" she opened up.

"What happened to Murray Company back them could happen to any company. How did you conclude that Anthony was responsible?" Mr. Brown was an experienced interrogator.

Melissa knew instantly that she should take her time and be careful of what to say.

"I have a detective. He investigated and discovered him" Melissa said briefly.

"You have a detective? I’m sorry I can’t believe that" Mr Brown nullified.

"That is the truth. I have a Detective, Jandor by name" she replied sternly.

"Thank you" Mr Brown nodded. "Whenever you are talking about a person, you should include their name for the record" he corrected her.

Melissa sighed. She was worked up.

"This detective is unqualified, right?" he asked again.

"He is qualified" Melissa asserted.

"So tell me why a qualified detective will not advise you to take a matter to court?" he faulted her words.

"He said Anthony is well connected and we can not win him" Melissa replied calmly.

"Excuse me, Mr Brown" another man among the panels intervened. "You don’t need to involve the court. We recently made a rule that you should report when something like this happen. Why didn’t you report him to us?" he queried her.

"I was sick all the time Anthony was hitting us. I didn’t know what was happening in my immediate environment. I didn’t know about the rule" Melissa pleaded.

"If we let that pass, you have your revenge. Why didn’t you stop?" Mr Brown asked again.

"I don’t believe I have won" Melissa said pitifully.

"But he hit you once and you retaliated like thrice. If we overlook your first shot. You will still have two offences" Mr Brown informed her.

"I’m sorry" Melissa took to her assistant words.

"This has gotten beyond ’I’m sorry’ madam" Mr Brown scoffed. "You have caused a lot of damage not only to Anthony company but all entertainment company including yours. You have spoilt our public image, you deface us" he emphasized.

Melissa didn’t know what to say anymore.

"So we have to read out the penalty to her, I think" Mr Black murmured to Mr Brown.

"Please" Melissa said suddenly. "I have committed a lot of wrongdoing which I am very sorry for. I know I deserve whatever you decide to punish me with" she paused. "I just think you need to know that before you read out the penalty" she added.

"You are a very wise woman" Mr Brown smirked. "The penalty you are to be served here is ban, minimum of three years except if you accept without putting up a show. That’s as it was stated by the honorable director and now that you have declared your submission before you hear it, all you have to do now is to pay a fine" he announced.

"Fine is fine by me" Melissa smiled. That was better than all what she was expecting. And she needed to really appreciate her assistant who gave her the advice of not being headstrong.

"So the calculations will be made and you will be notified but I assure you. I will see to it personally, that the payment does not affect you" Mr Black added.

"Thank you, sirs" Melissa couldn’t hide her joy.

"And one more thing for future purpose. Know that you have become a recognized member of this association, not just recognized but respectable. That is what humility earns" Mr. Brown informed her.

"Thank you" she appreciated again.

"There are ways to avoid people like Anthony and their antics. Now that we have become acquaintances. You need not to worry about such petty things anymore" Mr Black asserted.