Chapter 223 - Determination

Different thoughts ran through Tom's mind as he hurried down the hallway to the storage room on the third floor once he confirmed that it was Lucy's last location. Judging by the security footage he had watched he could tell that she had overheard the conversation of her team members hence had gone there to hide. 

What could he say to her to make her feel better? She probably would think that he was responsible for the news which was going around since he was the last person she had told about it, he was most likely to be suspected.

How come a case which had stayed hidden in all these years suddenly came to light just after she told him about it? 

Once he got to the storage door he pushed it open without knocking, but not so fast that he missed the sudden cessation of her sob.

She had been in here crying all by herself? It hurt him to know that she had to hide away in a place like this because of people who couldn't mind the business they were being paid to focus on. Tom looked around the room which smelt of dust and old books and then walked in the direction which he believed she was most likely to hide.

Once he stopped by the edge of the shelf where he believed she was hiding, he noticed the sudden movement of a white material which he recognized to be the blazers they had gotten that morning.

He let out a sigh as he lowered himself on the floor next to her and gathered her into his arms, "You should have called me," He murmured in a quiet tone as he took out his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her tears.

A sob racked through Lucy's body as she clung to him, hiding her face in his chest as she wept, wanting to draw comfort from his scent. It seemed like no matter what she did her past was continually going to haunt her even though it was due to no fault of hers. Just when she thought that she was finally going to be able to move on from it, this had to happen? It just had to happen when she was beginning to think that she could be happy? Didn't she deserve happiness? 

Tom whispered assurances to her as he patted the back of her head with one hand, and her back with the other hand, "Don't worry, I'll find whoever started this, and I'll make them pay for it."

Lucy said nothing as she cried her heart out. Once the tears stopped flowing, she pulled away from him, "Thanks," she murmured as she picked up her glasses from where she had left them. Once she put it on, she started gathering her things.

"I didn't tell anyone anything, I promise," Tom said as he watched her.

Lucy swallowed, "I'm not stupid. I know that it wasn't you," she said in a calm voice. Although she didn't know where all this had started from, she was going to find whoever had done this, and pay them back in like manner. 

"What happened wasn't your fault. I don't think you should be ashamed..."

"My tears and hiding in here have nothing to do with being ashamed. I actually feel more angry than ashamed," Lucy assured him as she got off the floor and wiped the dust off her clothes with her own handkerchief.

Eight years ago she had been a powerless seventeen years old girl who had allowed people to trample all over her, this time was different. She wasn't going to allow people to trample on her this way and go scot-free.

"Good then," Tom said as he stood up and dusted his clothes too, "Let's go to the office and take care of this. We can leave through the private elevator if you don't want to..." 

"I'm not leaving through your private elevator. I'm going to walk out of this building at the close of work as I've been doing since I started working here. Whoever did this wants me to be ashamed and cower, but I'm not going to give the person that satisfaction," Lucy said, her face set with determination as she turned around to leave the room.

Tom grabbed her before she could leave and turned her to look at him, "Don't do that. Don't try to push me away," Tom said, sensing from her action that she had emotionally distanced herself from him. 

Lucy drew in a deep breath as she met his gaze, "I'm not pushing you away. I'm just trying to put myself together," she assured him with a small smile, and then brushed her lips over his cheek in a light kiss before walking away.

Although he didn't understand why she had cried that much if she had this much determination in her, Tom said nothing as he walked out with her. 

Lucy stopped by the ladies' room and turned to him, "I need to fix my face," she informed Tom, and he gave her a nod to go ahead while he stood outside, waiting for her. 

Once Lucy walked into the ladies' room, the two females who had been gossiping inside as they washed their hands quickly turned off the faucet and hurried away.

Lucy didn't spare either of them a glance as she kept her handbag on a dry surface and then took off her glasses. She turned on the faucet and washed her face. Once she was done, she dipped her hand into her handbag and took out her lipstick and powder which she carefully applied to her face.

She took in a deep breath as she picked up her glasses after she was done and replaced her glasses on her face before looking at her reflection in the mirror. While inside the storage room earlier, both Lucas and her parents had called, but she had ignored their calls. She could tell that they had most likely seen the news too. She was going to have to return their calls once she was settled, and then search for the piece of news and read it. Although she doubted that it would require much searching seeing how everyone had seen it. 

With a sigh, she returned everything into her handbag and went out to join Tom. Neither of them said a word as they took the elevator to his office, and once they were inside the office she turned to him, "You have a meeting with..."

"Cancel it and join me in my office," Tom said as he headed for his office but Lucy stopped him.

"I can't let you do that. Don't worry, go ahead with the meeting. I will handle this myself," Lucy said with a shake of her head.

Tom sighed as he watched her, "You should know that I won't be able to concentrate on the meeting or anything else until this is sorted out. Okay, tell me how you intend to take care of things," he added when she opened her mouth to argue. 

"I'm going to find whoever started this and sue the person for libel. And whoever dares to call me a murderer to my hearing will be sued for slander. They would have to prove why they think that I'm guilty after I was declared not guilty by the court of law," Lucy said with a shrug.

"If it makes you feel better, I will take care of work after we are done talking. Push the meeting backward and let's talk about this now," Tom said and walked into his office without waiting for her to argue.

He needed to give Harry a call and find out why the news was yet to be taken off the internet as he instructed, and he also needed to hear Jade's legal advice on the issue before taking any step. 

He dialed Harry's line first and paced around his office until the call connected.

"I was just about to call you," Harry said immediately after he received the call. 

"Why haven't you done what I asked you to do?" Tom asked Harry calmly since he knew that Harry probably had a good reason.

"Your sister..."

"I asked him not to," Jade said from the background, and then reached out a hand for Harry to hand her the phone.