The Queen They Buried

Chapter 505

Patrick’s slightly trembling fingertips betrayed that he wasn’t as relaxed as he pretended to be. He forced a chuckle. “Calling all of us in so suddenly…

He hesitated, eyes shifting toward the row of phones laid out on the table. They had been summoned abruptly and, upon entering the room, were ordered to hand over their devices.

Patrick silently broke into a cold sweat. He thought he had been exposed.

But then he reasoned. He hadn’t done anything overtly suspicious. Neither Birgitte nor Aubree had shown any indication they suspected a mole in their midst. He’d saved both of them, and he was even in a relationship with Birgitte. If they knew something, surely he’d be informed.

That fleeting thought calmed him. Putting his trademark grin back on, he said cheerfully, “Birgitte, if you want to check my phone, that’s fine, but isn’t it a bit much to take everyone’s?”

He winked. “Besides, what’s this all about anyway?”

Birgitte finally looked up, eyes sweeping across the room. “Sit down.”

Her expression was cold, her tone stern, showing no special treatment despite her relationship with Patrick.

Others in the room shifted uneasily. They didn’t know what had happened. Birgitte even treated Patrick like that.

Patrick gave a sheepish smile and obediently sat back down. As he lowered his head, a flicker of resentment passed through his eyes. But from the look of things, Birgitte wasn’t here to check the phones. He would just let her play her game.

Everyone present had been handpicked by Birgitte as top suspects. She’d called them in first thing that morning, so none of them knew what was happening online yet.

The sound of fingers tapping on the table made everyone tense and restless.

Birgitte crossed her arms, tapping her fingers rhythmically. “Unless something extraordinary happens, you’ll all be free to leave after the end of the workday. If you’re innocent, you’ll get five times your normal pay as compensation.”

“What does that mean?” someone finally asked, unable to sit still. If they were going to be fired, they deserved an explanation.

Others didn’t care. “So we’re getting paid to sit here and do nothing? Can’t use our phones, but whatever.”

“Five times the pay? I’ll camp in this meeting room!”

it off. Others got irritated and began demanding to leave. One hot–headed employee grabbed their phone

move. She simply

the black–suited bodyguards standing

the hell is this? Are we

“Birgitte, what are you doing?

an issue, let’s deal with the issue. I know the company’s in a rough spot lately, but we can’t let it come to this. Ms. Miller’s not here. You

began

just declare

mess? You trying

eyebrows and looked directly at

can consider this a very special kind of meeting.” She stood up. For a moment, her presence

earlier still stands. If you’re clean, you’ll walk out of

went pale. “Ms. Cherniavsky, what

“Exactly what it

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2.32 PM

Chapter 505

did she mean? She knew? How could she know? Is she holding us here

usual mask cracking to reveal something venomous beneath. He had

before he could act, a sudden ringtone broke

the sound of a phone

the ringtone instantly. His face

asked, “Birgitte, that might be my phone… Can I answer it without

glanced at the caller ID. An unmarked

saw her expression and relaxed. He reached for the phone. If it were from

*Patrick, you…”

Cherniavsky!” His shrill voice interrupted the call, startling both ends of

my phone?” His protest halted abruptly, like a car driven off

were just calling me by my first name earlier. What, changed your mind already?” Birgitte smiled, her voice calm, though her heart was heavy. She should’ve known. When Aubree was arrested during the first incident,