The Billionaire's Pretend Wife (Isabella) novel Chapter 34

“Let go of me!” Claudia demanded, grabbing at a desk and digging her heels into the floor to keep Isabelle from dragging her any further. “What do you think you are doing?”

“What are you afraid of?” Isabelle asked, not relaxing her grip around her arm. “You said that you saw us with your own eyes. We are only going to confirm with the director.”

“You are crazy,” Claudia accused. “This is harassment, I can report you to HR–”

“I’ll accompany you to show them the video of you slandering me,” Isabelle informed her.

When they were almost at the director’s office, the door burst open and Mr Grayson appeared, a frown on his face. He looked around at the gathered workers, and then his eyes zeroed in on Isabelle and Claudia. “What on earth is going on here?” he demanded.

Isabelle finally let go of Claudia and faced the department director. This was her chance to stop everything once and for all, in front of everyone. “Claudia is spreading rumours that you and I went to a hotel together last night.”

Mr Grayson’s face paled at Isabelle’s words. Where on earth had such a rumour come from? He had been trying to seduce Isabelle in secret, and now there was a loudmouth ruining everything for him?

“So we came to ask about your whereabouts last night to clarify things,” Isabelle continued, her eyes focused on him.

As his face darkened with anger as he looked at the woman standing next to Isabelle, he arranged his thoughts. He couldn’t let her ruin his reputation before he got Isabelle where he wanted her.

“What are you talking about?” he asked Claudia, his voice firm. “I spent the night at home with my wife, and she can confirm that. Why are you making up rumours about Ms Cruz and I?”

Everybody went quiet while Claudia faced the floor. “I’m sorry, sir. I must have mistaken someone else for you.”

Mr Grayson stepped towards her, his face stormy. “Such nonsense will not be tolerated in my department. If you have so much to say, maybe you should move to the marketing department, they can do with your story-spinning talent over there.”

Claudia bent her head further. “It won’t happen again, sir. I’m truly sorry.”

Mr Grayson looked around at everyone. “This show is over, you can get back to work. If I catch anyone else spreading malicious rumours at work, they’ll face the consequences.”

Then he turned and marched back into his office. Claudia left the office and hurried towards the bathroom. Isabelle finally felt relieved. She was certain that after this, Mr Grayson wouldn’t try to pursue her anymore. After announcing to everyone that him seducing her was a story formed in Claudia’s imagination, he wouldn’t do anything that would get people talking again.

When he left, instead of going back to their desks as instructed, the crowd burst into excited whispers. Before Isabelle could get back to her desk, she caught sight of Seth walking into the office. On seeing her, he hurried over, a concerned look on his face.

“Are you okay?” he asked, looking around at the gathered workers and then focusing back on her. “I got your message.”

“I’m fine,” she told him. “I wanted to ask you to clarify something if you don’t mind. Someone started a rumour about my character in college–”

“I’ve heard,” he told her, his expression softening. “Of course, I’ll set things straight.”

“Thank you,” she told him, feeling grateful.

“Good afternoon, Mr Holding. What are you doing in our department?” one of her colleagues asked, approaching them.

“I heard false rumours being peddled around about my junior, so I came to clear them up,” he replied.