My Bestie Reported My Fake Degree, But My Real Identity Terrified Her Chapter 01

My Bestie Reported My Fake Degree, But My Real Identity Terrified Her Chapter 01

In my third year at the company, HR called me into a conference room.

A complaint letter was lying on the table.

“Someone reported that you falsified your academic credentials.”

Sitting across from me was Gemma Bennett, my best friend.

She bit her lip, her eyes red. “I checked with the university registrar and couldn’t find any record of your enrollment. I only reported it because I was trying to protect the company.”

The director opened the file. “For Eastbridge University’s Class of 2018, there is no record of this person.”

Gemma wiped at her tears. “I checked for three months. Neither the university registrar nor the state Department of Education had any record of you.”

The director closed the folder. “If you joined the company with falsified academic credentials, the company has grounds to report you to law enforcement.”

A faint smile peeked through the gaps between Gemma’s fingers.

She was still holding a grudge over last year’s promotion spot.

A security guard was already standing by the door.

I didn’t explain.

I took a card out of my bag and placed it on the table.

There was no university name on it, only an alphanumeric ID and an embossed federal seal.

“I really didn’t attend Eastbridge University.”

“But where my file is kept is something you are not cleared to know.”

***

“Where did you get this?”

The director picked up the card, scraped his fingernail over the embossed seal, and held it up under the fluorescent light.

Gemma’s tears still hadn’t dried, but her tone had already changed. “It has to be fake, right? If she can fake a degree, how hard would it be to make a card?”

The director didn’t answer. He picked up his phone and dialed the number printed on the back of the card.

The conference room stayed silent for about forty seconds.

When the call connected, the person on the other end said only one short sentence.

The director’s expression shifted from skepticism to grave concern.

He hung up and gently placed the card back on the table.

“They said the personnel file tied to this ID is classified, and they will not provide verification to any unauthorized organization.”

Gemma froze for two seconds, then reacted quickly.

“Doesn’t that prove she’s even more suspicious? What normal person has something like that?”

She turned to me, her eyes reddening again, her voice trembling. “Linnie, I’m not trying to come after you. Just show us a normal diploma, and this whole thing will be over, okay?”

Linnie.

That was what she called me every time she was scared.

The director hesitated. He looked at the security guard, then at me.

“Here’s what we’ll do. Until this is cleared up, you’ll be suspended with pay. All projects you’re currently handling must be turned over.”

Gemma was the first to nod.

She was faster than the director.

I stood up and took back the card.

Gemma followed me out of the conference room, her heels clicking sharply down the hallway.

“Linnie, don’t blame me. I only looked into it because I was worried about you. If someone else found out later, that would be the real disaster.”

Her hand landed on my shoulder, her fingertips pressing down slightly.

The pearl ring on her left ring finger dug into my collarbone.

She had put on that pearl ring the day of last year’s promotion.

She hadn’t worn it to celebrate. She had worn it to console herself.

She didn’t get that slot. I did.

From that day on, something had been hidden behind the smile she gave me.

“Don’t worry. I’ll explain things to our coworkers for you. I won’t let everyone misunderstand you.”