Chapter 21: The first victory

Chapter 21: The first victory "Roger, what are you doing here?" Roderick asked, surprise flickering across his face as he glanced at him. "I need you to bring Orabela out," Roger said in his firm tone. Roderick frowned, confusion creasing his brow. "What? Why? Has she done something wrong?" "The boss wants to see her," Roger crisply replied. "Rick, what’s going on? Who’s at the door?" Orabela asked nervously as she stepped into the room. Her heart raced the moment she laid eyes on Roger, the man who had forcefully taken her phone last night. Fear flickered in her eyes, her body tensing at the sight of him. Roderick turned to face her, his expression serious. "My uncle wants to see you," he said. Orabela’s heart sank. "Lucius? Why does he want to see me?" she asked, her voice trembling with fear. The very mention of Lucius’s name made her blood run cold. She instinctively took a step back, dread seeping into her every thought. Sensing her fear, Roderick quickly closed the distance between them. Gently but firmly, he took hold of her arm and leaned in close to whisper. "Go with Roger," he urged softly, his eyes filled with concern. "Do it before my uncle comes here himself. It’s better not to provoke him." Orabela swallowed hard, her mind racing. She knew Roderick was right; defying Lucius could lead to consequences far worse than anything she could imagine. Still, her body resisted, her feet feeling like lead as the weight of her dread settled in. Roderick’s grip on her arm tightened slightly, a silent plea in his gaze. "Trust me," he whispered. He brought Orabela toward the door and handed her to Roger. As soon as Orabela stepped out of the door, Roderick closed it. "This woman never listens to me," he muttered and walked inside in frustration. As soon as Orabela exited the hotel, the flashing lights of cameras nearly blinded her. Within seconds, a swarm of reporters closed in, their voices a chaotic mixture of questions and accusations. Roger, who had been walking beside her, quickly turned away, slipping through the crowd with ease, leaving Orabela to fend for herself. She felt the weight of the cameras pressing in, her heart pounding as she was surrounded. "Miss Orabela! Why did you lie about your sister and try to ruin her reputation?" one reporter shouted, his microphone shoved too close to her face. Before she could respond, another voice cut through the noise. "We have reports that you’ve always treated your sister poorly—was it because your father had a mistress? Were you jealous of her?" The second reporter’s tone was biting, as if the truth had already been decided. "Miss Orabela, why did you make a false report against Mrs. Layla De Salvo? The manager of the AK publishing company said that you bribed him to throw out Mrs. Layla from the company. Are you ready to get punished by the law?" The third one asked. "No! Please! Just leave me alone," Orabela pleaded. She had no idea that her schemes would be exposed like this. "Miss Orabela, do you want to keep the inheritance to yourself? Is that why you have been plotting against Mrs. Layla? Is that why you bribed a reporter and asked him to circulate the fake news about your sister?" The fourth one asked. Orabela’s throat tightened, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The questions kept coming, each time more aggressive and relentless, as cameras flashed from every angle. There was no escape from the barrage. Orabela saw how the people residing in the hotel had started gathering there, some even taking her photos. "Please don’t do this. I didn’t do anything. That bitch is lying!" Orabela screamed in frustration as she covered her face, not wanting them to capture her pictures. Tears streamed down her eyes as she lost her temper completely. ~~~~~ Layla’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as she watched the news broadcast unfold. On the screen, Orabela stood frozen, surrounded by reporters, their relentless questions slicing through the air. The flashing cameras illuminated Orabela’s face, capturing every flicker of discomfort and tears on her face. Layla leaned back in her chair as it was her first step toward the victory. Her plan had worked perfectly. That morning, just after Lucius’ father had left the house, Layla dialed Roger’s number, and gave him specific instructions. **Flashback Started** Layla’s voice was calm and controlled as she spoke into the phone. "Roger, did you arrive at the Flower Book Cafe?" "Not yet, Madam. I’m still stuck in traffic," Roger’s voice crackled through the line, tinged with frustration. "Forget about that for now. I need you to handle something else," Layla said, her tone firm yet unassuming. Roger’s curiosity was piqued. "What is it, Madam?" Layla took a breath, gathering her thoughts before responding. "I need you to assemble a team of top reporters. Given Lucius’ connections, I’m confident his name will attract the best in the field. Also, find out where Orabela is at this moment. Once you locate her, ensure that she is confronted by these reporters. I’ll send you the specific questions they need to ask her via text. Is this something you can manage?" There was a moment of silence as Roger considered the complexity of the task. Layla’s request was audacious, but his commitment was unwavering. "I’ll do it, Madam," Roger assured her, his voice steady. "Thank you. I really appreciate your help," Layla replied, her voice softening with genuine gratitude. "It’s my pleasure, Madam," Roger said before hanging up the call. **Flashback Ended** As Layla watched Orabela on the screen, she felt a surge of vindictive satisfaction from her first victory against Orabela. Her eyes narrowed with a steely determination as she reflected on the pain Orabela had caused her. "You’ve always made me cry, Orabela," Layla murmured to herself. "Because of you, even my father-in-law doubted me. Today, you will pay for every tear I shed. You and the entire Rosenzweig family will face the consequences of your actions. You’ll never be at peace after today." Layla’s gaze remained fixed on the television while she kept smiling. "Layla!" a voice suddenly cut through her thoughts, startling her.