Chapter 12

Her driver wheeled into a lane and two houses down stood the magnificent DePan inscribed stylishly and boldly for everyone to see. The whole building looked alive with workers flowing in and out in their numbers. Her driver, who parked the car right at her private spot, held her door open as she stepped out ready to rationally tackle any issue that was thrown at her face.

Slipping out a few greetings, she forged ahead for the conference room like a lady on a mission. She barged in and slammed her handbag down on the table.

" Go ahead and read the case, Mandy," she commanded her assistant as soon as she was comfortable.

Mandy explained the case at hand to the rest of the committee Pandora had set, from the sexual allegations to the money extortion, etc. The private hearing was scheduled for that day so they needed to prepare vast and wide to salve the damage already done by the just sacked accountant.

They concluded that to soften the hard fists the press were pointing in their direction, the only resolve was to call Amber Jones and her lawyer to a private hearing and compensate all with damages incurred on her. It signaled a loss of money for her but there was no need to lavish money on fighting her when the public was already rooting in her favor.

So when the time was due, she, her assistant, and lawyer zoomed off in the same vehicle, with an escort trailing behind, all heading for the courthouse. Before they reached the courthouse, a large crowd had already flocked around the building, hoping to see DePan Modelling Firm go down for what they had done to their favorite star. Seeing the posters that protested for justice, it wasn't a surprise for pandora, after all, with the much negativity Amber had spread about her, she was bound to be hated by many who were expecting her downfall. However, instead of feeling defeated and downhearted, she became more strong-willed and vowed within herself that justice will be served rightly even if it meant her compensating Amber with damages.

Using an exclusive back route, they were able to enter the courthouse without being disturbed by the angry protesters that lined its gates. Entering the building, they met Ms. Amber Jones and her Lawyer already waiting for them while the judge retired into a backroom.

Using the opportunity of a closed-door meeting, Pandora tried apologizing to Amber, on behalf of her member of staff's intolerable behavior. She felt the latter's pain because during her early stages, some sponsors had tried taking advantage of her but, she made damn sure it ended in their peril. Taking from that experience she understood why Amber was so bent on putting her and her company in peril.

Occupying the seat adjacent to Amber, Pandora pleaded, " I know you're angry and are determined to bring me and my company down at all costs. But please reconsider. If I was aware that my bloody accountant was a pervert, I wouldn't have hired him. I promise you, I honestly have no hand in what happened." Her eyes were filling and looked ready to empty soon.