The Press Conference - Part 2
"What gave you such an impression?" Mrs Haward questioned trying to keep herself calm even though she was boiling inside.
"From your statement you said, he had a rough childhood. Just want to know if that took a turn on him?" replied the reporter.
"Where are you in a hurry to?" asked Mrs Haward and the reporter was instantly confused.
"I am not sure I understand your question," replied the reporter.
"I just started and you are already questioning my introduction. If you are patient you will know your question came too early," Mrs Haward explained with a sarcastic smile embarrassing the reporter. "I guess you were also not paying attention, because I also said, he turned out well," she added further embarrassing the reporter who quickly apologized.
Her gaze moved away from the reporter back to addressing the gathered press.
"I am here today, to address a rape scandal going around social media naming my son James as the perpetrator. Let it be on record that this news is false and my son did no such thing as claimed by the person who cowardly posted that news on social media," Mrs Haward said.
"So how do you explain the audio content?" asked another reporter.
"Good question, but you are forgetting one thing. This is an audio, not a video. Aside from the fact that my son is not the only one with such a voice, with the level of technology we have, everything is possible. Let's not also forget that he is rich and a public figure and people will do anything for money," Mrs Haward pointed out and the reporter who asked the question went silent.
"Someone is trying to destroy the good image of my son and you are here helping. What is your duty as a journalist? Is it, not your duty to do an intense investigation to find the truth before making such news go viral?" Mrs Haward continued.
"But ma'am, the victim is known to be a friend of Mr Haward. He was mostly seen with her. Why do you think she will just frame him up like that? From our records, she is not poor or needy," asked a journalist.
"What is your position and how long have you occupied that," asked Mrs Haward.
"I am a journalist with three years of experience," the journalist replied.
"Good, and in your years of experience, where did you get the impression that it is only the poor that scam the rich?" Mrs Haward questioned and the journalist also went silent.
He went silent not because he didn't have an answer but because he knew there was no point in challenging Mrs Haward. She will just embarrass him.
"My son is the heir of the Haward fortune. He is not just rich but powerful. Why do you think she started getting close to him?" Mrs Haward questioned and there was silence.
"You think I made that story up against your son?" came a female voice from among the crowd getting all heads to turn to find who had just spoken.
Fiona began to walk towards the front and the gathered crowd made way for her. Mrs Haward looked at Fiona from the stage as she made her way to the front. Fiona acknowledged Mrs Haward with a gentle nod and without asking her permission turned to address the gathered crowd.
"Mr Haward and I became friends shortly after the interview, in which I was the host. He gave me his contact and asked me to call him which I obliged. We met a couple of times at different public places. On the day of the incident, he called and invited me out that night which I accepted. If you want evidence of my story it is all around you. We always visit popular public places. The place he took me to was no different. It was a rooftop restaurant and there were other people there. I excused myself to use the washroom and that was when I was attacked," Fiona narrated as she shut her eyes to the memory.
"I felt a sharp pain in my neck," Fiona said touching her neck where she felt the pain. "And I went off. Next, I woke up in a house in a secluded area. I was wondering what happened to me," she blinked the tears from her eyes as she continued to narrate the incident which the gathered crowd listened attentively.
Mrs Haward watched her and chose not to interfere, just waiting for the right moment to rubbish her story.
"For a man, who used to call me three to four times a day and always end his conversation with the statement, 'When would I let him touch my flower,' What would you think if the person stopped calling you after you have been drugged and slept with?" Fiona asked, her eyes red with anger as she blinked her tears away.
Mrs Haward rolled her eyes at her question.
"I didn't believe he would do that to me because all through, he had been a perfect gentleman," Fiona pointed out.
"So, I went to confront him. His admission to the crime is the audio you heard," Fiona concluded as her tears streamed down her face.
"I, see," commented Mrs Haward.
"Let's listen to the audio assuming it is my son," said Mrs Haward as she knew the audio had a lot of ambiguity in it.
"Please play the audio to the hearing of everyone again," requested Mrs Haward and the sound operator did just that and soon the two voices could be heard through the speaker in the hall.
The audio conversation
"Please can I talk to you for a minute? Please," came a familiar female voice accompanied by a noisy background.
"If only you will give me your body," came a familiar male voice also accompanied by a noisy background.
For two to three minutes, no one was talking all they could hear was background noise. A closing door was heard and it was followed by a female voice with a completely silent background.
"You don't care about me anyone, do you?" came the female voice.
"Why do you think that?" came the male voice and a body rubbing kind of sound was heard in a completely quiet background.
"You blocked my number," came the female voice.
"O that, is because I don't need you anymore," replied the male voice.
"What do you mean by that?" came the female voice.
"It means, I am done with you, I don't want you anymore," came the male voice.
There was a pin-drop silence in the entire hall as they all listened attentively to the audio conversation. There was a kissing sound and Fiona closed her eyes feeling very hurt. She recalled the moment in the private room.
"Conscious or unconscious, you still feel the same," came the male voice and the audio ended.
"Okay, so you have all heard it again. Now let me ask each one of you what you think the conversation you just heard meant," asked Mrs Haward.
"Sounds like two lovers breaking up?" replied someone from the crowd.
"Great, anyone else with a different opinion?" Mrs Haward asked.
"But he admitted it. Did you not hear him say, 'conscious or unconscious you feel the same?" questioned Fiona who was surprised by how Mrs Haward was turning everything against her.
"What did he mean by that?" Fiona asked.
"Good question. That could mean anything?" replied Mrs Haward and they all agreed.
"You said you woke up in a house in a secluded place. Was my son with you or did you see anything that proved that my son was there?" Mrs Haward asked Fiona.
Fiona could not answer but stare at Mrs Haward with a red eye and tears streaming down her face.
"My son is innocent and this one here," Mrs Haward said pointing to Fiona. "Is just out to destroy him," she added.
"Why will I want to do that?" questioned Fiona.
"She wanted my son to get her, her own TV Channel, do you deny it?" replied Mrs Haward to the crowd and directing her question to Fiona.
"That is not true. He offered me that," replied Fiona and everyone turned to look at her.
Fiona could see lots of accusing eyes and she knew no one believed her.
"I believe you all now know my son is innocent and this woman here just made that story up," said Mrs Haward.
"People like her do not belong in our society. On this basis, I am going to sue you for character assassination," said Mrs Haward.
"Please, believe me, I am not lying. What will I gain from making up such a story?" cried Fiona but she was dragged out of the hall upon Mrs Haward's command.
Mirenda sat on the stage in complete silence. She knew James and recognized his voice from the audio. He is her brother after all. She knew her mother was just defending James like always and pushing the blame on another person like she had always done since he was a child.
Mirenda sat watching her mother end the press conference in deep thought. The words "let's go" brought her out of her thoughts. She quietly followed her mum out of the building. The car they had arrived in, was waiting at the entrance. They both sat in and Mrs Haward was so happy with herself while Mirenda sat in the car in silence looking out the window
"That went great. I am sure these media people have already started announcing it," Mrs Haward said with excitement.
She quickly fetched her phone from her bag and went online. She smiled at the first news headline that was already posted;
First headline: Fiona rape scandal an act of blackmail.
Second headline: Great Host Fiona out to destroy.
Mrs Haward was smiling ear to ear as she went through one headline after the other, moving from one media platform to another.