Victor raised an eyebrow but retained his composure. "Is that so? I was not aware women could lie like that, and people would still believe them."
"It seems you have finally come to your senses!" Chloe said, banging on the desk. "With a single accusation, we can ruin your career! You will be fired from the Mayor's position, and the Cromwell family's reputation will be in the dust!"
Victor nodded again. "It makes sense. What do you seek to achieve from such a fraud?"
Daphne grinned from ear to ear. "If you don't want us to accuse you… Quickly type out our letters of joining as secretaries with double salaries. Moreover, we want a check for fifty thousand dollars each right now!"
"Oh, this sounds like blackmail," Victor said slowly. "And extortion. Which are both crimes."
Chloe waved a dismissive hand. "Do you have any other option? Consider the money and job as compensation for us preserving your reputation and career. Fulfilling our demands would be better than going to prison, wouldn't you agree? Besides, a hundred thousand dollars wouldn't be spare change for a member of the wealthy Cromwell family!"
Victor shrugged. "You're right. I can dole out even a million dollars without breaking a sweat. However, I will have to refuse because you have been caught blackmailing and extorting a public official."
Both girls guffawed. "Are you delusional, Mr. Cromwell? Don't you see the dire situation you are in? You must choose between having two beautiful secretaries and going to prison!"
Victor pointed his thumb at the large painting behind his high-backed chair. "Don't you realize the situation you are in?"
The two girls squinted in the direction Victor indicated and noticed a small device fixed on the frame. Their hearts skipped a beat, and their expressions froze.
Then Daphne began screaming like a banshee. "You had a hidden camera! You recorded us for your perverted fantasies, you sleazy lout! A private show for later?"
Victor shook his head slightly. "Actually, it wasn't a private show. It was a public show."
"What do you mean by a public show? There is nobody else in this office."
Victor's lips formed a devilish smile. "Ah, let me explain. I was supposed to conduct a virtual meeting with the employees of Springfield City Hall after the interviews. Accidentally, I kept the cameras and microphones on. Therefore, our conversation and interaction were telecast live in the city hall, and hundreds of people saw them. That includes your 'private show' and your attempt to blackmail me."
Daphne and Chloe's jaws were left hanging. Not only did their plan backfire, but their nude performance was streamed to hundreds of people, most of whom were middle-aged men. Even janitors, gardeners, and the shoe-stand guy saw their private parts in full glory.
"No… No… No…” Daphne stammered, putting on her clothes hurriedly.
"Shit… Shit… Shit!" Chloe mumbled, dressing up quickly.
The two didn't even utter another word. They turned tail and ran out of the Mayor's Office as if on fire. Victor was left chuckling after them.
As the girls escaped through the city hall premises, the employees cheered and whistled at them.
"What a brilliant show, Miss Daphne!"
"I loved those young titties and tight asses!"
"Please visit the city hall again!"
"The Mayor brought Christmas early!"
"You sowed what you reaped!"
Daphne and Chloe were greeted by female police officers outside City Hall. They were arrested on a litany of charges.
***
Victor continued interviewing candidates for the secretarial positions, this time without the cameras. However, most were ineligible, politically motivated, or stooges of lobbyists. Many of them were people he knew from his previous life, and thus, he judged their competence easily. Victor was on the verge of giving up.
The last candidate knocked on the door and entered. Victor didn't even take a look at the name. After such a long session of interviews, he was convinced that Springfield youngsters lacked the integrity and skills he sought.
The last candidate was a young beauty, fresh out of her teenage years. She was slender, with brown hair, and wearing a tight pantsuit.
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Cromwell," she said politely.
Victor paused since it was a very familiar voice. As he raised his face, his eyes widened because he also recognized the face.
"Eva?" he voiced out without thinking.
"Yes, Mr. Cromwell?" the girl asked innocently. "I take it, you know my name from the interview list?"
The beauty before him was none other than Eva Atelier. Victor had a history with her. When he was a teenager, the Ateliers and Damones were close families. Victor used to babysit little Eva, and they were pretty close.
The two ran into each other last year when the beauty visited with her family. During that time, Eva proposed to Victor. The latter turned her down because of her young age and his feelings for Carol. Now that those issues were no longer relevant…