ARE YOU MINE?

CHAPTER 3. DISMISSED

EDITOR'S FIRM

"What is this, Aradhya? How could you do something like this?"

Aradhya looked at the man who was questioning her in an unnerving manner. 

The man was William Rushworth, editor-in-chief of her company who was the most ruthless man in the enterprise.

Anybody who ever dared to stand up against him ended up losing his job.

While he looked at her vacant eyes, she stood without a sound like a mini sculpture. Besides, her hands shivered due to the hypothetical situations that she had imagined in her mind in which he had already dismissed her from work. 

"Are you dumb? Can't you speak?", enquired the man with resentment lurking in his stern voice. 

" S …  Sir, I don't understand what you mean. I don't even know why I was called", claimed Aradhya. 

The man smirked and repeated, "Don't know? Look at this article that you published on our main website!"

Aradhya moved her gaze towards the laptop and shrieked, "What??? It wasn't me".

She fixed her plunging glasses and read the article further, 'The chief editor of the successful magazine, Editor's Firm is speculated to have been involved in several illicit affairs'.

She looked at his indignant face and pleaded for her innocence through her woeful eyes. 

Aradhya argued, " I really didn't do it. I haven't even written a single article since the morning. How could it be me?"

William chuckled sardonically and asserted, "Dear, we have traced the IP address. The article was uploaded from your computer at 7 in the morning". 

Aradhya fixed her glasses again and said in a panicking tone, " I wasn't even in the office during that time. Someone might have done it discreetly through my system". 

George intervened in between and said, "Why would anyone do something like that? What would be the purpose of harming the reputation of a minor editor like you". 

Aradhya fixed her gaze on the floor and said, " Yes, it is baffling to acknowledge, but there are people who would do anything to hurt anyone that opposed them or catch them doing wrong things like ... let me guess, cheating!" 

"Could you explain with more precision, please?", demanded William. 

Aradhya bowed her head and said in a broken voice, "I wouldn't mind resigning since it seems like I am the culprit, but my only humble request from you is to look deeply into the matter". 

Willaim inclined his head forward to give his approval and said, "That will be the case. No legal action will be taken against you unless there is any solid evidence to prove that you're guilty, but you would have to leave this office until your name is cleared".

Aradhya complied and went towards her desk in listless steps. The people around her looked at her with discerning eyes. 

She smiled and reminded herself, 'There's not much you can do for them now, so this is expected. They will obviously go on about their day as if nothing happened and forget about the girl that worked beside them'. 

She grabbed her files and books that she held precious and the tiny trophy that she had won during her first year as an editor. 

She looked back before leaving as she thought someone might actually wave goodbye. She turned to look at David who on the contrary looked away. 

That did hurt her. She lacked words that could have accurately described the pain she felt at that moment. 

Other people didn't bother to see her off as well. While watching Aradhya frown, Cindy simply smiled and enjoyed her evening tea. 

Few tears escaped her eyes after realizing how little she actually meant to everyone. 

Just when she was about to leave the office but was halted by a huge arm that barred her from doing so. George looked at her with grin eyes and insisted, "You know we could talk. I have something to say to you".

"Go away, please. I don't have the strength to deal with you today", exclaimed Aradhya with a broken grin.

He held her hand and pleaded insistingly, "Please. I am begging you".

Aradhya removed her glasses, soaked her eyes with her pink handkerchief which had a strawberry imprinted on it. 

"Okay, but make it quick", said Aradhya while still looking the other way. 

George smiled gleefully and said, " Could we talk somewhere else, ... please? I know you can't trust me after what you saw today, but you eventually will after listening to my reasons". 

Ardahya nodded and wore her glasses back. Then, she followed him to his car and got inside it quietly. 

The silence persisted throughout the whole journey. Several times, George tried to initiate a conversation but received no reply in return. 

"Do you have water, please", said Aradhya in a sore voice. 

"Not really, but I do have a cold drink", said George while passing it to her.

She opened it up but only had few sips as something didn't feel quite right.

"It tastes a bit weird than the regular cola", said Aradhya while tucking her hairs behind her ears.

George smiled and said, "It's just that you are having it after a long time, that's why it tastes different". 

THE HARTLEDGE MANSION

"Umm, we're here. You can get down now", declared George. 

Aradhya got out of the car while still keeping quiet and turned around to observe the huge mansion that was behind her. 

" What are you trying to do?", asked Aradhya while glaring at him with a baffled expression. 

George smiled and said in a soft tone, "Nothing you're just going to meet my family. That's all". 

Aradhya looked at him with a stern gaze and felt her head spinning. Her knees became weak while her legs shuddered uncontrollably. 

George held her in his arms and asserted, "You will be fine, Aradhya. Don't worry". 

" I want to go home", mumbled Aradhya while holding her head with both hands. 

George held her in his arms and took her towards his room. He dropped her on his bed and scrutinized her beautiful body.

"Wait up, babe.  I'll come after getting freshened up. Tonight will be the night you'll realize who you actually belong to", claimed George while kissing her cheek. 

Aradhya endeavoured to stand but kept falling back on the bed. She gave up after falling for the fifth time and crawled her way out of his room. 

While crawling, she ran into a sculpture and got her glasses knocked over by it. Her vision got blurry and she found it hard to even perceive things that were present before her. 

By garnering the support from the wall, she stood up on her feet and ended up into a vacant room. 

Being unable to stand anymore, she fell upon the bed with a thud. 

" mmm, Daddy", called out Aradhya while rubbing her tired eyes and slowly drifting off to sleep. 

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

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