Chapter 10.

The employee was about to hand over the keys to her when her manager interrupted and stopped him.

"There's no need for you to drive the car, it's his job and he should do it" Her manager intervened.

Maya faced him with a frown unknown to her that his words could save her from a terrible end.

"Why can't I drive it? Are you doubting the driving tutelage given to me?" Maya argued.

"I dare not but it's his job to test the car and interfere…"

"Why am I arguing with you, the car has a goddamn button" Maya rolled her eyes and stubbornly walked to the car.

"Miss Maya, he's right. This is my job and you shouldn't do it for me" the employee interceded and stopped her.

Maya sighed and walked back to the spot, where she stood. She turned to her manager and glared at him.

The employees entered the already-opened car and turned on the engine, the car's door slid down and the car began moving.

The employee drove the car down the path, he tried stopping the car but to no avail. He stepped on the brake pads but to his dismay, it refused to work.

"Why is he not reversing?" Maya asked, worriedly.

"Tell him to reverse, he's gonna hurt himself!" Maya exclaimed, her eyes widened as she watched the car heading towards the wall.

"Stop the car" her manager connected to him.

'I can't stop the car!'

"He said he can't stop the car!"

Before any of them could think of something, the car crashed terribly into the wall.

"Oh my God!" Maya screamed, and her hands flew into her mouth in shock and terror. "Oh my goodness."

The other employees rushed to the aid of the man but unfortunately and shockingly, before they could reach there. The car exploded.

"Ahhh!!!" Maya screamed and tripped to the floor. She covered her ears, petrified by the situation.

They were beyond shocked by the scene that played before their eyes. The car wasn't supposed to explode like that, they made the car so different that, unlike other cars, it would take longer before catching fire after a fatal accident.

Maya, who was still on the floor, turned her face to stare at the fire that was consuming the car. She wasn't bothered about the car or the large amount of money that was invested in the manufacturing or the fact that she could have been the one burnt beyond recognition.

She was sad for her employee, he had a family to take care of her and he was dead because of her.

Tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, her heart was heavy.

They quickly called the fire brigades to put off the fire while Maya was taken away by her manager.

Unfortunately, some reporters were there and they took pictures of everything. In less than an hour, the news spread around the internet and had also been forwarded to television stations and radios.

***

"How could that happen?" Maya cried loudly. "That car was checked a few days ago by the best experts, why did it explode like that? What happened to it?"

Her manager was equally devastated by the ordeal. He was as confused as everyone in the office.

"I don't know but something went wrong. Before the main testing, the car worked a few hours before you checked it that day. It was perfect and ready to be launched. I'm as bemused as every one of you" He replied and lowered his gaze, sadly.

That employee who lost his life was a friend, though they weren't that close but occasionally they kept each other company.

Maya sat down heavily and burst into louder tears, she wasn't ashamed of it. She was truly sad and flabbergasted by what had happened, she was trying to wrap her head around the terrible situation.

She wished that they were able to save the employee in time before that explosion then maybe her guilt would be lesser.

Though the situation was out of her control, she still felt guilty about it. At a point she wished that she had entered the car because she didn't have anyone and to her, she was undeserving of Johnny.

Johnny would have moved on with his life instead of continuing with a traitor like her.

They began discussing among themselves about what might have happened. Maya was excluded from their conversation because she didn't look good at all.

Her eye shadow had smeared and her face looked pale like she was sick. The crisis had taken a terrible toll on her.

Within a few hours, people were gathered outside the company including the family of the dead employee.

Maya mustered courage and checked her phone, the news had filled the internet and they weren't good. They were saying awful things about her.

"She used fake materials for the car, the man must have known something about the company and she had to eliminate him under the pretense of an accident." Maya read aloud and tears streamed down her cheeks, she was so unhappy.

"All this is false" Maya cried and switched off her phone.

The others checked their phones and were stunned by the hateful posts that were loaded on the internet. The accusations were increasing every minute, thereby tarnishing the image of the company.

"Miss Maya, you shouldn't remain here. You should go home before things get violent" Her manager advised.

Maya heard the noises from outside as they increased. She stood to her feet and sauntered to the window. She was stunned by the number of people outside.

She wanted to apologize for everything but they seemed vexed and could lynch her.

"Miss Maya,"

Maya turned to him and nodded gently. She would return home and reserve her apology and compensation for another day.

Her manager called for bodyguards who arrived a few minutes later and took her out of the building. She was led to the car and people who saw her, yelled appalling names.

"Killer!"

"Murderer!"

The situation had skyrocketed beyond imagination. The company guards had to pave the way for her car and the people slammed her car with their hands and cussed her.

Maya lowered her head and blocked her ears from hearing them. She continued crying in the car as it drove away.

Her manager stayed behind to explain things to the press and reduce some of the false news going around the media.

***

Maya was still in her car crying, everything seemed like a nightmare to her because she never expected the manifestation of her dream to bring one of the best cars into the world, which not only failed but resulted in a fatal accident.

The car she was in kept driving towards her house but another car was following.

It was a black Ferrari which kept trailing her car but not for good reasons.