Catherine's Move

Sunday went by in like the blink of seconds in household work. Mike was waiting for next weekend when he and Mary will be meeting again at Radha's ceremony. Mike was so excited that he can't wait to see her in ethnic dress.

It's Monday morning. Mike got ready and left for his office. He still received few messages from Catherine on the weekend which he simply ignored. Upon arriving at the office he got a mail from Alandra. He wondered now what she wants. Maybe it will be regarding the requirement that we discussed in the presentation with the social media team. He thought. He opened the mail

"Hi, Mike,

Please meet me in the conference room in 15 minutes. We need to discuss the insights of the new work.

Regards

Alandra"

He was astonished to read the mail. Since when Alandra is so humble to send such a sweet mail. Usually, she always remembers everything at the 11th hour. This is new. He thought.

Confused he left the department and headed towards the conference room. But still suspicious he thought of passing by Alandra's office. As he reached outside her cabin, he peeped in and saw her office is empty. Probably as she has mailed, she would have left for the conference room. His mind said. He checked the time and rushed towards the conference room.

He reached the conference room in the next 10 minutes.

Right in 15 mins, He thought.

As soon as he entered the conference room he saw Catherine sitting. He tried to remain calm and sat opposite to her on the table.

"Hey" Catherine greeted her.

"Hey" Mike responded back.

"I messaged you yesterday." She said

"Ya and I didn't feel like replying. Is it a problem?" He said bluntly

"What is wrong Mike? Why are you behaving so rudely to me?"

"I guess we should concentrate on the meeting. Alandra should be here any minute."

Catherine stood up from her chair and went near the main door and locked the room.

"what the hell are you doing? Alandra might be on her way." Mike shouted

"No one is coming here beside you and me," Catherine said as she turned around to face Mike

"What do you mean?" a confused Mike asked

"I never thought you will be so stupid to identify the mail is not sent by Alandra."

"But it's been sent from Alandra's mailbox."

"I knew being an IT guy you will identify the mail and stuff and so I have to arrange a duplicate key to Alandra's office."

Saying this Catherine took a key out of her skirt pocket and showed him.

Damn. She played me again. Mike's mind said and he felt stupid. He grew furious and started walking towards the conference room entrance.

Catherine stood between him and the door.

"Get out of my way Catherine."

"Seriously. Do you really want that?"

"Yes, I do?"

"what has happened, Mike? Are you seeing someone else?"

"That is none of your business."

"Of course it is. I know you are seeing that bitch Mary."

"What? Who told you?"

"I have my ways, Mike. Don't be surprised. Your shopping spree was really fun. Isn't it?"

"What do you want Catherine? Just leave me alone."

"Not so soon. See I do not have any issue with you seeing someone else but you cannot leave me like this. You have to promise to take care of me."

"Over my dead body."

"You do not want your little girlfriend Mary to find out what is between us."

"There is nothing between us Catherine."

"hmmm. I wonder what she will say if she sees the video of you and me in the bedroom on my birthday. You know when we both..."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Mike's face grew red with anger.

"Let me tell you a secret Mike. I have CCTV cameras installed in my house. So all our activities were recorded." Catherine said with a devilish smile

"Mary will hate you when I will tell her myself about you. So don't try to blackmail me as you did to Lucas." Mike said to her folding his palm into a fist.

"So you know? Lucas might be CEO and womanizer and he thinks he is quite smart but I am not dumb either." Catherine said.

"Whatever. Leave my way. I have real work unlike you."

"Think about my words Mike".

"Go to hell Catherine."

Catherine suddenly started breathing heavily and choking and in a few seconds fell on the floor. Mike looked at her and went near her to help her.

"Hey, Catherine .what happened? Are you all right?" Mike asked out of humanity

"I am feeling dizzy Mike. Please help me."

"Don't worry Catherine. I will get someone for help."

"Please don't leave me alone. I am not able to breathe."

Mike got panicked and didn't know what to do. So he lifted Catherine and put her in a lying position on the conference table. He removed her heels and rubbed her feet.

"Mike. I am feeling sweaty and dizzy."

"Relax. I guess your shirt is too tight. Let me unbutton the top button of the shirt. You will feel better." Saying so Mike unbuttoned her top button of the shirt. She grabbed him by her hands and forced her lips on his and in a second she pushed him away and started shouting for help. He stayed there confused and shocked trying to process what has happened.

Within a minute she got up from the table and unlocked the conference room door and shouted. After a few minutes the room was filled with HR, the CEO, and other authorities.

"What is the matter, Catherine?" The HR Pam asked

"I arrived in the conference room for a meeting. Mike arrived a bit later. We were just discussing the social media meeting content when I suddenly started feeling dizzy and this guy instead of calling for help or doctor tried taking advantage of me." Saying so Catherine started crying.

"She is lying Pam. I never did anything like this. Catherine has been repetitively seducing me and today when she fell dizzy I told her I will call for help but she said not to leave her alone. " Mike justified himself.

"If I would have known you will try to take advantage of me I would have not asked you to wait. Pam he even started unbuttoning me and then tried kissing me." Saying so she starting weeping again

"What nonsense? Pam believe me. Catherine pulled me towards her." Mike said explaining the truth

"And why would I do that? I was already feeling dizzy. In such a situation why will I pull you? Pam, you can check the CCTV footage."

"Both of you quiet. I checked the CCTV footage along with Lucas and since the CCTV was placed above the conference door we can just see Mike leaning and unbuttoning Catherine's shirt and next Catherine pushing." Pam said

"Because that is what happened. He tried forcing himself on me and I pushed him." Catherine said

Damn, so she knew the CCTV would not be able to catch her actions if I lean on her. She really is a mastermind. Mike thought.

"Pam you have to believe me. I am innocent." Mike said

Pam thought for a minute and asked Catherine "So Catherine as you said you guys arrived for a meeting so who sent the meeting invite?"

"We received a meeting invite from Alandra." Catherine lied

"But I never sent one," Alandra said with a surprised expression.

"Wait I will show." Saying so Catherine took out her phone from her pocket and showed the meeting invite mail.

"Interesting. But I didn't send it." Alandra said post looking at the meeting invite mail.

"Pam this meeting invite is sent from Alandra's computer by Catherine. She told me herself." Mike said

"Stop Lying, Mike. Everyone knows we are in PR and we just read emails. You are in IT department and works under Alandra. So it's a high possibility that you would have sent it from Alandra's computer."

"Alandra you have CCTV in your office. Right? Let's see it's the footage." Lucas suggested

"Unfortunately Lucas my office CCTV doesn't work. I have informed the administrative department 2 days back." Alandra said with disappointment.

"What? Why is it not fixed then? Damn, I am paying you all to work and not do nuisance. Where were you when the mail was sent?" Lucas asked a bit frustrated.

"I was running late today as It was my son's parent-teacher meeting." Alandra said

"How can anyone send a mail from your computer Alandra without you knowing?" Lucas asked demanding an explanation from Alandra.

"Actually my BitLocker password wasn't working so I have logged a ticket with the admin team yesterday for my system check and till that time I have removed the password."

Mike's mind wanders -So this was a setup. Catherine knew that Alandra's office CCTV is not working, she has seen that Alandra is not in the office yet. Catherine knew that Alandra is having a system issue.

"Enough guys. This is a serious matter of sexual harassment. Mike, you are suspended for a week till the investigation goes on. "Pam announced

"But I am innocent." Mike cried.

"That is not for you to decide. Just pack your bag and leave the office premises right away. We will mail you." Lucas ordered.

Mike quietly came back to his department and started packing my bag.

David saw Mike packing and asked him "What happened, Mike?"

Mike kept quiet and left without any explanation.