Coleman was only treating her like this because of what Bonnie said about her in the past.
‘Damn that bitch! I’m going to mess her up real good this time!’
Selina turned around and looked at the painting in front of her. The hesitation in her eyes had been replaced by a newfound resolution.
‘Oh, Bonnie. Let’s see if Lady Luck will look after you and get you out of the mess this time!’
Meanwhile, Bonnie had just returned after her phone call. She found a bunch of people huddled around the painting she was supposed to guard.
She had just approached the crowd when one of them let out an ear-piercing scream.
“Look, guys. That’s her. That’s the lady in charge of Master Kieran’s painting!”
Everyone turned to look at her.
Bonnie looked at the wall, only to find that Master Kieran’s painting was nowhere to be seen. There was only an empty space where it had been.
‘Did someone steal the painting while I was away?’
She was in the middle of her thoughts when a slightly younger professor walked over and looked at her sternly.
“What the heck is wrong with you, lady? You know you’re supposed to guard this important painting. So why did you leave without informing anyone? Now, someone has stolen the painting. How are you going to bear the responsibility now?”
Reece had followed the crowd here. When he saw the way Benton was lecturing Bonnie, he spoke up for her at once.
“You can question her all you want, Benton, but do you have to look so vicious when you’re at it? Perhaps you should let her speak. She could’ve left her post due to an emergency. Have you thought about that?”
Reece shook his head and thought, ‘Benton is nothing but a common professor. How dare he speak to Bonnie in this way? He’s going to piss his pants when he learns that she’s the university president. ‘Furthermore, she has another much more prestigious identity! She’s none other than the pillar of scientific research in Arvandor-Ms. Bonita!’
Benton looked at Bonnie again and questioned her sternly, “I’m going to give you a chance to explain yourself since Reece stood up for you. So, why in the world did you leave your post without permission?” She thought, ‘Well, I left because I needed to deal with the augmentation research for the latest nanomaterial. There were some issues with the research component. But I can’t just say this out loud in front of everyone.’
Realizing she was not saying anything, he assumed she was trying to think of a lie out of this mess.
‘This has confirmed my suspicion. Bonnie must’ve stolen Master Kieran’s painting herself.’
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and answer my question.”
She pursed her lips and spoke in a nonchalant tone. “I needed to deal with an emergency earlier. That’s why I left.”
Selina scoffed. “What emergency was it? How could anything be more important than Master Kieran’s painting? You were supposed to guard the painting, but I think you stole it and hid it away.
“After all, this is Master Kieran’s painting. There are only two of her paintings on the market now. It’s priceless, too.
“You’re just a bumpkin. Do you expect me to believe that you weren’t the least bit tempted by its insanely high value?”
