New's pov:

I couldn't believe what was just said. My designs got stolen! Who could possibly be the mole?

Tay looked at me with wonder and suspicion as if he believed I could also be the mole, "Tay, do you really think I could do this to you after everything we've gone through together?" I whispered in his ear so no one else could hear.

"No! What am I thinking? You're... right, New! It has to be someone else!" He whispered back.

"I'm going to my office room. I need to discuss this with New." Tay said to the employees and dragged me by my wrist to the office room.

Entering the room, he still didn't look very convinced. "New, you really weren't the one betraying me, right? I trust you."

"No, Tay. I know how much I mean to you. I'd never do that!'' I explained.

"But if it's not you, then who? You and I are the only ones who have access to your designs!" He said and began panicking, walking around the room and clenching his hair, trying to calm down.

"Tay, it's okay. Calm down." I patted his shoulder. "Are you sure we are the only ones allowed to touch the projects?" I asked.

"The two HRs! The HRs also can possibly stir up the projects!" He exclaimed and stopped walking around.

"I think we should consult them." I replied.

"But who could they be? One of the HR was the one who informed this today!" He seemed worried.

"Consult them both. You never know." I replied.

He began walking around the room once again, not being able to decide to do anything. He looked at me for a second and sat down with his head behind on his chair, closing his eyes, trying his best to keep calm.

I went up to him, trying to comfort and reassure him. "It's okay, Tay..." I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Nothing is going the way I want it to. If dad was here, he'd handle it just fine. Everything's so messed up." He began opening up. I loved that I was the only one he could open up to. Tay had a lot of friends but he never really opened up to any of them.

"Tay, sometimes mess is what proves our worth. Maybe this is a chance for you to show them that you're a worthy leader." I comforted him, calmly. You have to stay patient for someone with such dropped self-confidence like Tay. And I was happy that I was able to do that.

He hugged my legs, still sitting in the chair. "I just... feel like I can't handle a single, simple thing." He exclaimed.

"You can, Tay. Show them you can. I'm here by your side." I reassured, wiping the little tears coming out of his eyes. "Now, let's go. Let us find the mole." I said as he got up and went downstairs, looking for the two HRs.

First one was P'Nian, the oldest and most respected employee of Tay's company. And the second one is Naow, short for Manaow, the most trusted and precious employee.

Tay went to the employees and called both P'Nian and Naow to come to the office, right now. Naow looked genuinely scared while p'Nian just looked confused about why he was looking for him.

I stood next to Tay in the office as he consulted the HR, one by one. First came P'Nian, the one who called him there in the first place but Tay found nothing suspicious in him. He's still the oldest and respected, precious soul right there.

Then there came the turn of Naow, both mine and Tay's suspect. She entered the room and immediately burst out crying, seeing Tay's stern face. Tay looked at me with confusion, not knowing what to do with the situation.

I went up to her, rubbing her back, "Naow, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" I leaned forward and asked her calmly.

She immediately proceeded to hold herself in and wipe her tears. She gulped and finally spoke, "B- boss, I was the one who shared the design with 'Easy'." She confessed, leaving us both speechless.

After a moment, Tay stood up, harshly hitting the table, "How could you do that? I trusted you!" He shouted and then looked at me, signalling him to calm down.

Getting scared, she perched her lips together and repositioned her seat. "I- I..." She tried to speak up but stopped midway.

"You what?" Tay shouted again but calmed his voice down when he looked at me again. "I trusted you, Manaow. Why did you do that?" He asked but the voice was way calmer now. I gave him a thumbs up from behind and he smiled at me.

"I... was threatened." She asked, her head down from guilt.

"Hmm? By who?" Tay asked, furrowing his brows.

"The HR of 'Easy' threatened me that if I didn't share our work with them, they'll hurt me and my family." She explained, very scared.

"Did they hurt you?" Tay asked and she nodded in response, showing a wound over her shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" I asked from behind as Tay sat back on his chair, holding his head from all the stress.

"No one would've believed me!" She shouted and burst out crying again.

"Calm down, Naow. It's okay. You thought exposing the company's designs would be better than just telling this to us?" I asked.

"I am sorry, okay? I made a mistake but I can't go back and fix it, can I?" She shouted, crying.

"That was a big mistake, Manaow. That could ruin my whole company!" Tay exclaimed.

"You only gave them one design, right?" I asked her while still patting her back.

"Yeah." She wiped her tears.

She stood up from her chair, trying to comfort Tay, who's still holding her head due to all the headaches around. "Boss, I am really sorry." She came closer to Tay, touched his hand and rubbed it.

"Please, get out of the room." Tay said calmly, removing his hand from her touch.

She left the room. And I was standing there stunned. I went up to Tay and as always, started to assure him that it's fine. Everything will be okay.

To Be Continued.....

A/n: There's the mole. What do you think about Manaow's decision? Did she do the right thing? What about Tay's reaction? Was it valid?