41.

AMBER'S POV. "Too bad there is no CCTV footage that can be used as evidence." Benny's personal secretary, Johnny, provided the results of the statement at Benny's behest. For almost two weeks Johnny had been trying to contact the restaurant where Benny and Asleena were to ask for cooperation in finding the perpetrators of the photo spread. But unfortunately there is nothing suspicious in the CCTV footage installed in front of the restaurant or in the border area of private or public seating. Hearing the report from Johnny made Benny let out a long breath. Benny had been worried about this before. Because if there was indeed CCTV footage that captured the whereabouts of the perpetrator, then Benny would get the results faster. But he took almost two weeks and made him think of canceling his intention to look for CCTV footage of the restaurant. "Who exactly is that person?" Benny was still trying to guess the image of the person who took his picture with Asleena. "I still can't imagine whether he was an exclusive reporter who gets facilities from the company to get into every VVIP area, or was it someone from another company in disguise?" Johnny couldn't answer. He secretly felt sorry for Benny, his boss, who had been trying to find news and ways to find the perpetrator of the photo spread. Unfortunately, now they found unexpected results. "In my opinion, there is still another way to find out who the culprit is, Mr. Benny." Johnny made a suggestion. Benny raised his face and looked at Johnny curiously. His sitting position straightened as his curiosity was aroused. "What are some ways you can think of?" asked Benny in a serious tone. There was a brief pause for Johnny to think of the right sentence. Johnny considered something. "How about you meet the editor or writer who first broke the story? You must remember the name of the media company," Johnny replied with a suggestion. Benny immediately paused to think about the first time he came across the article that published his photo with Asleena. Benny had noted down the caption names of the editors and writers involved in the article. After remembering, Benny hurriedly checked his desk drawer. He always carried the smallest important things with him, including the paper with the name of the editor and writer of the article. The piece was in a medium-sized box along with flashdrives and other items. Taking the paper, Benny read it briefly. Actually, since he first noted the name of the editor and author of the article, Benny had the intention to find out directly. But unfortunately, Benny's mind was distracted by Joseph's request to help him contact the media companies involved. Now Benny remembered his original plan. "Right, Johnny. This is the only way we can find out who did it," Benny replied in a low, grumbling tone. He stared ahead, wondering if he could find the person who had shared this photo. Johnny nodded his head, agreeing. "Yes, Mr. Benny, you should search as soon as possible so that the news doesn't spread further." Benny nodded in agreement. "All right. Come on, Johnny, you come with me to find the editor and writer of this article." "Yes, Mr. Benny. I'll find the location and contacts of both of them." *** "Sorry, I can't provide information about the person who sent the photo. There are already company regulations regarding privacy protection." Benny was really annoyed after hearing the words of Meshly, the woman editor of the article, who had just explained. Benny's request was flatly rejected. Even earlier, Benny had given a big reward if Meshly told him about the person who sent the photo of him and Asleena to the media article. "Privacy protection?" quipped Benny with a lopsided smile. "So you did privacy protection to that person. So what about me?" Benny deliberately suppressed his words with a sarcastic tone. His gaze was intense on Meshly who seemed to be hiding her nervousness. Even in these tense moments, Meshly was not at all affected by Benny's sharp gaze. "I don't want to break company rules, Mr. Benny. Even if you offer me a lot of money..." Meshly paused her words for a few seconds. Something was nagging at his mind at that moment so that the look on his face could be seen hiding anxiety. "...I still can't tell, I'm sorry." "Is it because you were threatened?" asked Benny as he squinted suspiciously at Meshly. Meshly did not answer. She just looked at Benny, very intensely and sharply. I don't know what he was thinking at that moment. Meanwhile, Benny took something out of the pocket of his black blazer. Benny put the object on the table by throwing it lightly. "You were given a generous amount of money this morning along with your salary today. There is an additional allowance." Meshly was both surprised and panicked to see the piece of paper on the table. With both eyes spontaneously bulging with worry, Meshly immediately picked up this month's pay slip. "How did you get..." Meshly spoke with a slight stammer. The look on her face turned uneasy as she looked at Benny. It was inversely proportional to the few seconds before the pay slip was thrown onto this table. Benny had expected this. Since the beginning of their conversation, Benny had deliberately not immediately pulled out the pay slip he had gotten. Benny wanted to do a psychological game that provoked subtly. Because he was able to read that Meshly was not easily conquered, finally the evidence that he had kept since then was forced to be released. "Has the person who gave you this money really guaranteed your life?" Benny asked, looking at Meshly intensely and deliberately intimidating. Meshly couldn't hide her nervousness after learning that this pay slip was in Benny's hands. Looking at the figure of $200,000 as an additional allowance made her hands tremble slightly. "And this..." Johnny then placed another object onto the table quietly. But his eyes were firmly on Meshly. "You bought all this fancy stuff, didn't you?" Meshly was even more surprised when she realized that the other bends were the receipts for her luxury bags. Also, pictures of her at the nightclub. "The night before the day the photo of Mr. Benny and Miss Asleena was posted, you were having fun at the club. At that moment, did he promise you money?" "Unfortunately, Ms. Meshly, we also found a reservation to come to the night club at midnight," Benny replied. He also placed the reservation receipt on the table. It was the arrival of someone named Delbaran, the man who booked the VIP area. "Then we found a CCTV camera that captured you walking into the VIP area, and you were on the VIP sofa," Benny continued as he placed another piece of evidence. This time Meshly was speechless. Meshly was completely dumbfounded because all the evidence Benny and Johnny laid out was valid evidence. Meshly's throat felt choked that very second. Her tongue was paralyzed. Her eyes just stared at all the bends on the table, as if she wanted to eliminate herself right then and there from Benny and Johnny's presence. Benny grinned with satisfaction at Meshly's complete inability to speak. "You shouldn't play games with me, Ms. Meshly. If someone who gives you a picture of me with lots of money and can spoil you..." Benny stopped his words for a moment. After Benny's piercing gaze met Meshly's for a split second, Benny then smiled sarcastically. "...I can get more things that can destroy you," Benny continued with a proud expression. Meshly gritted his teeth so that his jaw was visibly hardened. "You... really provoked my anger," she retorted without guilt. "Don't you know that all these things you're getting are illegal?" Benny nodded. "Of course it is. But you also agreed to spread bad information about me by releasing that article. Why not curate more useful articles instead?" "You want to know?" Meshly raised both eyebrows with a grin. "Because if it's about you, Mr. Benny, then it will increase our traffic. And that's very profitable." Benny paused. Meshly's words sounded challenging to him. "All right. If you care about what benefits you, then I'll do what benefits me."