Chapter 49
“Ann, I don’t know what he told you, but please give me five minutes to explain…”
“Shut up!” Ann Maxwell shouted.
Zoey silently rejoiced; a love–struck fool was so easy to manipulate.
Steve, having overheard their conversation, looked grave.
Evan finally spoke, looking at Ann Maxwell with indifference.“Hopeless.” He’d given her chances, but she was still being led by Zoey.
Ann Maxwell’s heart broke, tears welling up.
Mar
Olivia realized Ann Maxwell hadn’t been paying attention to company matters, regretting her own naivete. Ignoring Ann, she fixed a sharp gaze on Zoey.“Vice President Zhu, didn’t you think that since it was just the two of us, whatever I said would be hearsay, that you couldn’t be convicted?”
Zoey stiffened, angered.“Ms. Frost, we have no quarrel. Why are you trying to ruin me? You want to impress the President, win his favor, so you’re making false accusations!”
Olivia calmly stared at him, then turned to Evan.“President, I was carrying a recording device when I left this morning to investigate. It has a 48–hour continuous recording capability. I kept it hidden on my chest. It’s now under the coffee table in the old house where I was kidnapped. That house is by the sea. I’ll draw you a map, please send someone to retrieve it. Everything Vice President Zhu said, what Director Du said, and what others at the factory said–it’s all there. I’ll prove the truth immediately.”
“No need for a map. That’s Director Du’s house; he’s confessed.” Evan dropped another bombshell, calling Zach in front of everyone to retrieve the recorder and bring Derek back.
Those with guilty consciences paled. Zach answered the phone; he and Julian were on their way back, Derek in Julian’s custody.
Olivia was unaware that Julian was also there.
Evan hung up, the mood shifting completely. Some uninvolved people began to believe Olivia had been kidnapped. The guilty parties felt the heat.
Zoey’s muscles twitched.“Fine, retrieve the recorder. Let’s have a showdown. I have nothing to hide!”
“Heh…” Olivia scoffed.“Say more. Swear on your life, cry your eyes out. Otherwise, the reversal will lack dramatic effect.”
“Go on, make a show of it! Someone, record this. In case Vice President Zhu denies it later.”
Evan picked up his phone.“I’ll record.”
Those confident in their innocence took out their phones. Facing so many cameras, Zoey was genuinely panicked.
