If only Hannah had let him take her home today, they could have had a wonderful afternoon together, and he wouldn''t have had to say all this. But the words were out, and everyone believed him.


    So what if she was a daughter of the Temple family and Lionel''s wife?


    Even a prestigious background couldn''t protect her from a ruined reputation. Maybe after this, her husband would finally leave her, and the Temple family would disown her.


    With nowhere else to go, she''d have no choice but toe to him. The thought was incredibly amusing.


    "Wait, is what you''re saying true? You''re not just making this up, are you?"


    An unfamiliar voice cut through the gossip.


    James replied with conviction.


    “It''s true. Hannah disappeared right after lunch, and then I saw her getting out of the boss''s car. It''s obvious what happened. How else could she havended this project on her own merit?"


    “That''s funny, I don''t remember any of that happening."


    A dead silence suddenly fell over the breakroom. No one spoke. The quiet was unnerving.


    James paused, a flicker of recognition dawning on him. The voice that had questioned him sounded strangely familiar. He instinctively turned his head and saw that the person who had been questioning him was Hannah.


    "I''ve recorded everything you just said. And Samuel has already called the police."


    Hannah held up her phone, then raised a hand and pointed to the security camera on the ceiling.


    "The camera recorded everything you said from the beginning. The police will collect the footage when they arrive. I''m sure yourpany''s survettance system won''t suddenly


    malfunction, right? But even if it does, it doesn''t matter. I''ve recorded your final statements myself."


    Hannah turned and walked away.


    James'' face drained of color. He stared in shock and disbelief at her retreating back.


    After a moment of hesitation, he rushed after her.


    "Hey, what are you calling the police for? I was just joking with everyone! It was just a joke!"


    His words made everyone else realize the truth. He had been lying the whole time, probably because he had a crush on her and she wasn''t interested.


    The colleagues all turned to him with looks of disgust.


    “James, are you sick? Spreading rumors about a woman like that? How could you? That''s disgusting. I can''t believe you''re that kind of person."


    "It''s her first day here, and you''re already spreading lies about her."


    "I guess the rumors I heard about you doing this at yourstpany were true after all."


    "I''m reporting this to the leaders. I


    can''t imagine having to work with someone like the What the


    decides


    he doesn''t like me one day


    and starts spreading rumors about


    me?"


    “You''re right. Let''s all go talk to management. This is terrifying. I don''t want a colleague who might nder me at any moment.”


    James never imagined the tables would turn sopletely. Now everyone was against him.


    "You say you didn''t have that special rtionship with the boss, but do you have any proof? You need to


    show us proof! I think I hit a nerve, and now you flustered. Show me


    the proof! Where''s your proof!"