Chapter 1 Wedding anniversaries

It was my wedding anniversary.

Supposedly, wedding anniversaries are the ones where you take your partner for a special treatment, make them feel special, shower them love as an appreciation for the past years of shared love as a couple.

Mine was exactly in that manner. Infact, I had just delightfully left my office to Mr Barnes - my cocky boss, CEO of Barnes Magazine - to inform him about the two days break I intend to take in order to use those time with Davis.

A vacation to Maldives was well planned and organized by Davis and I to spend our fifth year anniversary.

Liv, the first and only child of Mr Barnes had already given me a go-ahead. She claimed her father was a lover of celebrations like that so, he would grant the two-days break in a heartbeat.

When I first started working at Barnes and discovered that Liv, who worked in the same department as I, was the Ceo's daughter, I wasted no breath to form alliance with her.

In this world, there are three things that keeps you on your feet - money, power and connection.

If you lack all, you are most likely to be at the receiving end of anguish.

So, I had to get smart real quick. However, over the years of my stay in Barnes, I saw beyond making an alliance with Liv.

She was a very warm person and someone I often confided in. And, she always gave the best, effective advice.

Friendship with her kept me sane in Barnes.

So, when she assured me that her father would approve it, I got delighted, positive.

Things were going my way just as I had planned. I was about to have the best time with Davis.

The sole of my black pump heels pinched my toes as I made it towards Mr Barnes office at the top floor.

The heels was three years old and way past it's expiry date on my legs.

But, I planned to replace them, in Maldives. Everything I plan to replace, every shopping I plan to do would be done when I arrive Maldives.

What a great day to be alive!

As I halt before Mr Barnes' mahogany door to his office, I took a deep breath and knocked gently.

"Come in." Mr Barnes muffled answer caused me to give the door a gentle push and I let myself in.

Mr Barnes sat behind his mahogany desk that facing the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the busy city. And, Liv stood beside him.

Could she had helped me deliver the request? Oh, I hope so. It would be of my greatest delight if I get an answer without having to ask any question.

However, something felt wrong. They both had their faces molded in deep frowns.

This worried me.

Had Liv made the request and he already rejected it?

Regardless, I approached them.

So, help me God my perfect break request don't get ruined by whatever is causing the creases on their foreheads.

"I would like to make a request, Mr Barnes."

Mr Barnes nodded, putting away his glasses to get a proper look at me.

Oh, the cause of their frowns wasn't my two-days break request. Thank goodness!

Mr Barnes had this striking resemblance with his daughter, Liv, that made the air at the back of my neck stand.

Liv took every of her father's feature, leaving nothing untouched. From his chocolate brown hair, to his sharp jaws, his cupid's bow-shaped lips, his short angled-shaped brows, his oval-shaped face, his extremely dashing greyish eyes and his creamy skin tone.

It was a complete carbon copy.

To be honest, I envied Liv. I took zero features of my dad. And the only parent I had managed to steal few of her features was a slutty bitch who fled the minute she brought me to the world. So, I am not in the least bit proud of taking those features of hers.

I quickly faced Mr Barnes, maintaining my smile. I should be polite as possible. I must get this break by all means. It was my last chance at spending an alone time with Davis after our distance these past few months.

"If you don't mind, I'd love to request for a two-days break. Actually, Liv said you wouldn't so, I'm asking you, hoping that you wouldn't."

Jeez! Why do awry statements always choose to slip out of my silly mouth in moments like this?

"Actually, there is a more pressing issue,Miss Ford. I don't think the break would be needed."

I frowned, catching Liv's disappointed gaze at me. No, it was more like a pitiful gaze. Like, she did something awful and wants my forgiveness.

What is this goosebumps I feel?

"In few minutes, detectives would bash into the place under a search warrant."

My jaw dropped. A search warrant? So, the rumors were true?

Few days ago, there were rumors that Mr Barnes had being involved in an embezzling act but, I and every other employees in Barnes chose not to believe, reproaching it afterwards.

Mr Barnes would never get involved in such act, we argued. Ridiculous, we thought!

After the rumor made it to the headlines about four times, it eventually died down and everyone found something else to be their center of focus and discussion.

The news that the police had being given a search warrant to search the company, reaching me just now surely confirmed that; not only the police had being secretly conducting investigation on the case, Mr Barnes might be guilty.

No, he was.

I know the face of someone who is being accused wrongly of something and this isn't it, in the least bit.

So, he was really guilty.

Liz didn't seem surprised too. She knew.

Why was I denied of such truth?

I scoffed in disbelief.

"Listen, Sum," Liz started, approaching me with that pitiful gaze pinning mine.

Oh, this shouldn't be good.

Whenever Liz wanted something, she would always address me like that. And, they were always situation where I had adhere to her request.

But, something told me that this request was more daring.

What could she need this time? Coupled with that pleading look on her face, I hope it wouldn't be something that would be too much of a favour. I just want to get a break and enjoy my vacation with my husband.

"Dad dealt with them already. He managed to tip off the police."

Great nation. Great law.

As much as I liked Mr Barnes, embezzlement wasn't a piece of cake crime that should be overlooked just by some silly tip off.

"But, the police said they'd need someone to take the blame."

Liv continued and my frown deepened.

This had better be not what I think it is.

"My dad thinks you are the perfect person for the job."

"Excuse me?" I frowned and glared at Liv. Darting my glare from Liv to Mr Barnes. Maybe their face would both burst into laughter and call it a joke.

But, they still have that expression on their face - Mr Barnes, the remorseless frown and Liz, the pitiful frown.

They were dead serious.

"I promise to get you a lawyer and he would see to it that the judge at least, reduced the jail term." Mr Barnes proposed. It sounded effortless, slipping out of his tongue. So casual and less formal.

It felt as though he was requesting me to lead a new project. As if he was inviting me for a team party.

This man is literally asking me to take his place in the prison without an ounce of remorse pleasantly.

What the actual fuck?

"Once your term is done, there is a big position with a mouth-watering salary awaiting you."

Liv added as if she was making sense. When, in actuality, her lips moved but, her voice was inaudible.

My head had gone blank. And I felt dizzy and nauseated.

"You both must be out of your mind."

I'd rather lose my job and remain jobless than take the fall for such.

Nonsense!

I swirled around instantly, proceeding to exit the office.

As I rested my hand on the door knob, ready to push it open and show myself out, Mr Barnes got up and made it towards me.

Well, I should believe he had something to say so, I turned around to face him, my hand still firmly gripping the door knob. After all, whatever he says or asked would get a whooping "No" from me.

"You don't have a choice."

Mr Barnes said.

Now, I am terrified. Why does he look so relaxed? It surely wasn't a good thing. He looked confident as well, like I didn't have a choice indeed.

Oh goodness, what has this man done?

I began to panic.

"In the next few minutes, the police would arrive with an arrest warrant after the search party. And, they'd be arresting only one person."

My lips quivered. I think I already knew what he was going to say. But, I still hoped and prayed it wasn't what I was thinking it was.

"You. They wouldn't be arresting me but you, Miss Ford."

What?

"W-what do you mean?"

I stuttered. My palm had slipped off the door knob, sweaty and stiff.

"It means all evidence needed to make you the culprit has being planted in your system, Miss Ford."

I gasped, my lips a quivering mess.

"No. No. No. Mr Barnes, you can't do this to me, please." I began to beg. "It's my anniversary and-and-and I'm just thirty-five, ready to settle for marriage and-and raise kids. I have a whole lifetime ahead of me. And my dad-"

I was a stuttering mess.

I quickly went on my knees.

"Mr Barnes, please!"

"Miss Ford, I'm afraid it's already late."

I jerked back onto my feet and rushed towards Liv who had remained behind the mahogany desk the whole time.

"Liv," I grabbed her hand, almost sending her flying with her butt on the floor. "Help me, Liv. You are my friend, you can't let your dad do this to me."

"Sum, I'm so sorry but, my dad can't afford to serve term in jail. His reputation-this company would be ruined."

"What about mine?!" I snapped, tears trickling down my eyes. "What about my reputation? My life?! I fucking have a life too! I have a fiance! I have a father I must take care of! This is not fair!"

Suddenly, a ridiculous sound filled the room. Liv burst into laughter, her pitiful gaze immediately disappearing like it was never there.

"Be for real, Summer. The only reputation you have is your friendship with me. And, once you get arrested, it's not yours at stake but, mine. Do you have an idea what people will say about me once the friend I have kept for years is accused of embezzlement. You should be glad I'm risking that for you."

I stepped backwards, tears stinging my eyes. I was loss of words. Even my mother abandoning me couldn't compare with the shiver I felt.

A siren wails from afar.

"Sum, just make this one sacrifice. Please."

Liv proposed.

"I hate you."

My lips trembled, more tears trickled down my eyes.

The police men suddenly burst into the office, greeted Mr Barnes and brought out a paper that looked just like an arrest warrant.

"Miss Summer Ford," The police man started, extending the warrant paper to my viewing. "You are found guilty of embezzlement and you are under arrest."

As they clipped the handcuff into my wrist one after the other, my gaze stayed planted on Liv and as the police men showed me out, I mouthed to her one last time; "I hate you."

Everyone had already gathered in the lobby and they watched me with disgust and disappointment as the police men led me out of the building.

Now, what more could have being a nightmare than getting framed and arrested on ones wedding anniversary?