Marrissa's pov
"Marissa," I heard a very familiar voice,it was Morgan,his voice cut through the air and through me like a sharp blade, his presence sending a shiver down my spine as I stepped out of the police station.
Still trying to absorb the shock that I spent two days in prison for a crime I know nothing about.
I froze in my tracks,my legs failing me again and it seems they were stuck in the ground.
My heart pounded in my chest as I turned slowly to face him, my eyes dancing ,burning with a mixture of anger, hopelessness and disbelief.
"What are you doing here? You have done your worst,right? I spat, my voice with fury and a touch of emotion that showed I wanted to cry.
Morgan's expression remained unreadable, like he wanted to laugh at me,at the tears streaming down my face steadily,his steely gaze locked on mine.
"I bailed you out," he said simply, his tone emotionless , standing there as if he was expecting me to flung my arms around him in gratitude.
I felt a surge of rage rushing up inside me at his audacity. I felt my heart tightening.
How dare he act like he just did me a huge favor?
I had thought it was his father that had come to bail me.
But as usual I had gotten the shock of my life ,I wondered why our paths keep crossing.
I entertained the thought of asking why he was here,why he had bailed me out?
Why did he come to my rescue?.
"I don't need your help,you can take your stinking help somewhere else. " I snapped, shaking with fury.
"Why did you come here?I never needed your help." I finished my hands trembling with anger.
There was a smirk on his face.
"Did I say I wanted to help you in the first place ? I was just doing what any normal human could have done,being so generous."
"Really?" I asked, already starting to cry.
Morgan's lips curved into a smirk,one bigger than the first, staring closely into his deep green eyes. I could see a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes.
"You don't have much of a choice, Marissa, don't play smart,Not after what you've been accused of."
His words hit me hard like a punch to the stomach, the reality of my situation crashing down on me suddenly, forcefully once again.
"I'm not a criminal." I voiced out wondering if I had had my own voice or something spoke behind me.
"Do I look like I care ? You can be one." He waved his hands in the air and then thrust it back into his pocket.
"Besides you can't believe someone because they say they are not a criminal,there was evidence Ms Cooper."
"Ms Cooper?"
I could see the smirk on his lips.
As we stood there,the silence intense , the police officer who had arrested me approached us, his expression grim.
"Ms. Cooper, I just want to let you know that we've conducted a thorough investigation, and there's no evidence to support the charges against you. You're free to go."
The words hung in the air like a wet blanket, a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that had consumed me.That had made me cry my eyes out for the past days.
Then realization dawned on me,I turned slowly to Morgan, my eyes burning with unshed tears and unbranded hatred.
"You knew," I said, "You knew all along ." my voice trembling with emotion,my face red from crying
"You knew I was innocent, and yet you let them arrest me anyway."
"How was I supposed to know when there was so much evidence pointing to you? Watch how you talk to me,I'm still your boss." He said.
"You are evil,I was arrested while my mother was dying at the hospital." I couldn't complete my sentence as I broke down in tears again,my voice choking.
Morgan's facade faltered for a moment,there was something which passed through his face quickly, a flicker of guilt crossing his features before he quickly masked it with his usual arrogance.
"I did what I had to do," he said dismissively, emotionless,his voice cold and distant like he was speaking to a rabbit.
Anger surged through me like a blade, tearing my insides.
My fists clenched at my sides as I fought to control the overwhelming urge to lash out at him.To reach out and punch him hard in the stomach.
"Let's go somewhere to talk," Morgan suggested,,his voice kind of softening and
I wondered what kind of suggestion was that.
"There's a restaurant nearby."
I scoffed.
"A restaurant." I looked around me wildly."Yeah,right.Mock me,how do you know I'm so hungry."
The bitterness in my voice is unmistakable, unshakable .
"I have nothing to say to you,do you know how much I hate you ?
Morgan's gaze hardened.
"Do you think I have any feelings for you ? You work under me so you better watch your tone.?"
I watched as his jaw set in a stubborn line. Tightening.
"You owe me that much, you owe me a lot, Marissa. After all, I did just bail you out of jail."he said.
I almost choked,so that was it. Cool.
I walked away, thinking hard on a perfect revenge.
MARRISSA! Molly screamed my name.
I'm so happy you are out, she said, hugging me.
She looked at Morgan and noticed a glimpse of surprise.
"This is Mr Morgan Thornhill, my boss", I said to her.
She went closer to Morgan slowly, "Good day sir, I'm Molly, marrissa's friend".
I didn't know why she was cool towards him, it was like she was happy to meet him or something.
I dragged her away, walking towards her car.
The drive home with Molly was more like a blur. My mind was very far away, consumed with thoughts of things I had gone through.
We pulled up to our shared apartment, all this while Molly had been giving me sideways glances.
Molly turned to me, concerned, glued to her face.
"Are you okay, Marissa?" she asked gently, her eyes filled with sympathy as she stopped the car and made to get down.
I shook my head as I struggled to find the words,words which flowed out of my mouth easily were hard to pour out.
I tried to express the pain I was feeling but I couldn't.
We stepped in as I pushed myself onto the couch.
"I just can't believe he would do this to me," I choked out."Why was he so cruel to me ? Do you know the shame,the stigma,I just can't hold on."
Molly handed me a cup of coffee which she had quickly prepared.
I took it with shaky hands allowing the hotness from the beautifully designed chinaware pierce through my palms.
Molly reached out and took my hand in hers.
"I know, Marissa.I know how you feel . But you have to let go ,don't let him see that you are weak." She paused, choosing her words carefully."Sometimes people make mistakes. Maybe Morgan just needs some time to realize what he's done,he is a jerk and all that but the best revenge you can give him is to show that you are better, more efficient and all that."
I looked up at her, my mouth forming a small "O"
But I couldn't bring myself to believe her words.
I couldn't continue to work alongside Morgan, to pretend that everything was fine when it clearly wasn't.
"I will resign tomorrow." I said and got up heading towards my room.
I could feel Molly's shocked stares behind me.
With a heavy heart, I tried to sleep as I lay in bed that night, the events of the day replaying in my mind like a cruel taunt.
As morning dawned, I knew that I had to make a choice. I was going to leave the company and try getting a loan to help with my mother's treatment.
And as I stepped into the office the next day, my heavy heart weighed the decision I was about to make.
I knew that Mr Ferdinand Thornhill would miss me greatly but I really don't care about all that now.
The stigma would follow me all through.
I packed my stuff,then I would type out my resignation letter and have it submitted on my way out.
"What the hell are you doing ?"
I turned around to see Morgan staring down at me." You are not supposed to resume till next Monday."
Like I care.
I said nothing,the intense silence heavy.
I kept on packing.
"You still have your loan to pay,six months to go, Marissa Cooper, so you are stuck here at Thornhills Enterprises." He said so casually,his words a sharp blade cutting through my spine,into my memory.
I still had my back turned towards him when he phone rang.
"What! Are you sure officer"
I heard him stop.
"Ok, thank you officer, I'll stop by the station when I'm free", he said.
"The culprit has been found , Barbara Reynolds,the new head of department." There was a silent pause.
I turned to stare at him.Then a smirk appeared on his thin lips.
"There are ten emails to respond to,and two more to send and make sureyou arrive at work early tomorrow. We have a meeting to attend.And don't forget to get me the paperwork that needs my signature and a cup of black coffee on your way out."