I Returned to Inherit a Billion-dollar Fortune

There was an eerie silence in the room after Layla slapped me.The tension was obvious.If anyone were to drop a pin,everyone else could hear it.

No one said a word.Clayton didn't say a word–not that I was expecting him to–but at least make the effort.I was backed up against the wall.

"I…I'm sorry..."I began,but Layla bursted into tears.

What the hell was she crying about?I was the one getting hit and embarrassed in front of stakeholders and executives,but she was the one who got to shed tears?

Wow.

"I'm so sorry,Sage.I lost control for a minute.You know this project is crucial to the company,and the team has worked tirelessly for three months to make this work.I simply..."

My face still stung from her slap,and my teeth felt loose,yet she was playing the victim card?

I glanced at Clayton,seated at the head of the table,his expression cold and unyielding.He didn't speak up for me.

I knew he was furious about the recent project loss to a competitor and had ordered an investigation.Did he think that I was so stupid to do such a thing as this?

My heart sank,but I guess it had gotten to this point.

"How could I be so stupid as to sabotage myself and this company?"I asked Layla,my tone icy.I wasn't going to let her walk all over me.Just because she got hitched to Clayton didn't mean eshe had the right.

Her face reddened.She was either flushed or angry that I was calling her out.

"You think I'm stupid?"she shouted,attempting to slap me again but I sidestepped,avoiding her blow,causing her to stumble a bit.

"I didn't say that.You're the one putting words in my mouth and not giving me a chance to explain,"I said,a lopsided smile gracing my face.It was there but almost invincible to detect unless anyone was close to my face.

A male secretary intervened.

"You dare to defy me?Wait,are you calling me a liar?"Layla shouted,obviously forgetting that she was just a secretary and that she didn't have the right.

"Enough!Both of you!"Clayton ordered.His voice commanding attention,as he stood up.

I kept quiet out of respect for the others in the room but Layla just wouldn't shut up.She just kept coming at me as though her mouth was some loaded gun.

"As the project leaders,the only people who had access to those plans were you,me and Kyle Maxwell.The Brooks family is an investor,and our families wouldn't leak such informations.It must have been you!It has to be."

After she said that,everyone suddenly started looking at me like I really did leak the information.Okay,this was coming too much.

I turned to Clayton,"Do you really think that I had a hand in this?"

What I wasn't expecting was his response to my question.

"As of now,there's no evidence to prove that you did it,but it also doesn't prove that you didn't leak the information either.What you're to do is hand over your pending tasks and cooperate with the investigation.If you're indeed foujd guilty,I won't be so kind."As he spoke,his words cut deep.They felt like punishment for a crime that I committed.

"You don't trust me at all,do you?"I asked,feeling betrayed.

His soulless eyes confirmed my fears."I don't answer to you,Sage."

The pain in my heart kept spreading like wildfire throughout my body.I couldn't explain it.

But as he made to leave the conference with the others,I held his wrist.

"You'll pay for this humiliation,Clayton."I whispered.

He shook me off,cocking his eyebrows at me.I slammed my ID card onto his chest.

"Consider this my resignation!"

Layla sneered at me."Sage Riley,you have no right to say that to him.You're the one who stirred the hornet's nest.Now leave!"

Without a second thought,I slapped her,catching her off guard.

"That's for earlier,"I said.

Her shocked expression satisfied me.If I could smack her again,I would.Probably not now,but soon.

"This isn't over.I'll find the evidence that I'm innocent and prove to you all that I'm being setup.And whoever is responsible prays to whatever god they serve that I don't find out."

I noticed Clayton watch me leave,his eyes held amusement in them.

To hell with him.I was going to make him regret it.

——

I was in the elevator when Julian Storm stepped in as well.Julian was once Clayton's childhood acquaintance,but now,they were business rivals.

His stunning looks and defined features didn't impress me.He looked like an Adonis,no doubt,but I wasn't going to fall for that.I mean,once beaten twice shy,right?

What brought him here today though?

These past few hours had shown me Clayton's truel colors.And if he thought that he was a Charmeleon,I was more than willing to show him that I was a painter who knew her colors.

I wasn't going to be at the losing side.