Chapter 3. Crossroads of Trust
3. Crossroads of Trust
Sabrina's POV
"By the way, Mr. Finn is expecting you. He said he has something important to discuss," Stacey informed me, and I headed inside.
I entered the building and took the elevator to the twelfth floor. Mr. Finn's office was situated in the farthest corner of the floor, just before my cabin. It was the last office in the vast space.
Standing in front of his door, I gently knocked twice and heard a soft "come in" from inside. I entered to find Mr. Finn seated at his desk, engrossed in some files. He had a grumpy, old demeanor that gave the impression of a strict boss, but I knew him differently.
Despite his outward demeanor, Mr. Finn treated me like a daughter. However, I had a feeling that there was more to him than met the eye. Nonetheless, it wasn't my place to pry into his personal affairs.
"Ahem... You asked for my presence, Mr. Finn," I said.
"Sabrina, yes. Please, take a seat," he gestured towards the empty chair in front of him.
After settling down, I turned to face him once again.
"So, how is the work going, Sabrina?" he inquired.
"All good, Mr. Finn. In fact, I've gathered some pictures related to the new task you assigned me," I replied.
"Good, good," he mumbled, lost in deep thought. It seemed like he was trying to come up with a new assignment for me.
"Mr. Finn, today I was supposed to report at the street rally, but you asked me to come here. Is everything alright?" I questioned, a hint of concern in my voice.
"Sabrina, you know I care for you like my own daughter, right?" he asked.
I nodded.
"And I truly appreciate all the hard work you've put into my firm. But this time, I can't be greedy and put your life at risk," he explained, his voice filled with a mixture of care and worry.
"I don't understand, Mr. Finn. Could you please be a little more clear?" I requested.
"Actually, Sabrina, your boldness and fearlessness have caused a lot of issues for you as well as this company," he admitted with an exasperated look.
"How so?" I questioned, trying to comprehend the implications.
"All the powerful individuals you've exposed as a reporter are taking a toll on my firm. It has reached a point where dissolution is likely," he said, his words heavy with concern.
"So, you're asking me to quit, aren't you?" I asked, a sense of disappointment creeping in.
"No, that's not what I'm asking for. Despite the casualties you've reported, which have put a target on your back, all I'm requesting is for you to take a break and resume after some time," he defended himself.
"Wouldn't that be a breach of the contract I signed? It clearly states that I can't quit until two years have passed, and it's only been one year and three months, give or take. I don't see a solution out of this," I paused, voicing my concerns.
"That matter has been taken care of. You can continue working this month, and by the end of it, you'll be on a paid leave. In the meantime, we'll search for a place that will provide you with similar benefits and compensation," Mr. Finn explained, trying to assure me of a way forward.
"I can work with that, but I'll be staying here, right? I can't leave Chicago," I said, my expression filled with disappointment.
"Well, that's the thing. You can continue your work, but not here," he replied. "As you know, we have our firm in Manhattan, and we can place you there."
I muttered under my breath, "I guess I don't have much of a choice here."
Lost in my thoughts, I was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Finn's assistant. She informed him that there was someone on the phone who wanted to speak to him.
"Excuse me for a moment, Sabrina. Let's see if we can find a way out of this," he said. I nodded, feeling disheartened, and left his office.
Third Person's POV
As Sabrina left the office, Mr. Finn answered his phone call, his voice filled with excitement.
"Is the job done?" the person on the other end of the line asked.
"Yes, everything went according to plan. She'll be leaving very soon, and your path is clear," Mr. Finn replied.
"Your payment will be delivered shortly."
"You won't harm my firm now, right?"
"As long as she stays away, your firm is safe."
"Thank you. I'll make sure to arrange a new place for her," Mr. Finn assured.
Unbeknownst to Sabrina, Mr. Finn had orchestrated her downfall for his own greed. She left the place, completely unaware of his true intentions, and began contemplating how she would spend her free time. With this month coming to an end, she had plenty of time on her hands.
Little did she know, Sabrina never imagined that the person she once regarded as a father figure would be involved in her downfall.