Chapter 65
“Were all those meals with Heberly’s people a waste of time? How could the brand choose to back someone like Veronica at a time like this? She’s nothing but a designer with no name of reputation at all! Has the company gone insane, or is it trying to ruin itself?” Eleanor snapped Her nails scraped against the wooden tabletop, leaving deep marks in the grain.
Her manager, Bobby Burke, looked grim. “Eleanor, be careful of what you say. If someone with an agenda overhears, they might twist your words. We’ve already asked around. Heberly has finalized their spokesperson.”
“Who is it?”
“Jocelyn,” Bobby replied.
“It’s her? Of course it’s her!” Eleanor could no longer sit still. “I was wondering why that aloof phony suddenly came out to defend Veronica. She was sucking up to the brand! And none of you worthless idiots caught the signs at all?”
Bobby tried to explain, saying, “Eleanor, Heberly keeps things close to the chest. It took a lot of effort just to get the company to agree to two dinner meetings.”
“I don’t want to hear your excuses. Get out!”
“Take the time to calm down,” Bobby said as he walked out of the lounge.
As soon as Bobby left, Eleanor furiously called Archie. The moment the call connected, her voice broke into sobs that traveled clearly over the line.
“Archie… They are all bullying me…‘
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“What happened, Eleanor? What’s going on?” Archie tensed immediately the second he heard her sobs, his chest tightening.
However, Eleanor refused to explain. She only kept crying on the other end, grief–stricken.
“El, please don’t cry. It breaks my heart when you cry.” Archie comforted her patiently. He had been overwhelmed for the past few days, trying to recover from the losses incurred due to the disrupted shipping routes. So, he had not been following the drama online.
Between sniffles and tears, Eleanor twisted the truth until it was barely recognizable. She said, “Archie, don’t blame Jocelyn. Perhaps she just wanted to work with the brand too badly, so she lied for Veronica.
“As an actress, I can also understand how she might feel that way. I just feel so awful. No one will listen to me. You’re the only one I can talk to.”
Archie’s fury instantly flared. “El, leave this to me. I’ll make things right for you!”
Chapter 65
Veronica was off–limits as she had a husband. However, Jocelyn was just a mere girlfriend of his, so she was still within his reach.
“I’ll make her delete the post and apologize to you in person. She’ll give up the deal with Heberly!”
Eleanor blinked in feign innocence as she said, Archie, would that not be too cruel to her?”
Archie exploded. “Cruel? She brought this on herself. One does not get to take what does not belong to them. I was blind to let her get this far Once this mess is over, I’m breaking up with her!”
He thought that Eleanor was being too kind. Even after being humiliated, she remained worried about the one who had hurt her.
Heath was another useless person in his eyes. After all, Heath had not even stepped up to defend Eleanor. If he could not protect her, then Archie would have no problem taking her for himself!
He determinedly called Jocelyn nearly a hundred times before the line finally connected.
Jocelyn sounded tired when she asked, “What is it, Archie?”
“What was that post supposed to mean? Do you have any idea what you’ve done to El?” he roared into the phone. He did not even ask her why she hadn’t answered earlier.
“Archie, let me explain. Ms. Dolton-”
“Enough! I know exactly what kind of woman Veronica is–more than you do! Delete the post immediately and reject the endorsement deal with Heberly. You must also apologize to El in front of everyone. You twisted the truth for your own benefit!”
Silence fell on the other end of the line.
Just as Archie’s patience began to run dry, Jocelyn finally spoke again. “Archie, why didn’t you visit me that night at the hospital?” she asked.
“That was ages ago!” he retorted.
“Answer me.”
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“I was swamped with work, obviously! Do you think I have time to play around like you
“I see.”
“And? You still have not answered my question!”
Jocelyn wiped away a silent tear and gave her reply. “I’m sorry. I’m busy right now. I’m currently on a flight overseas. If you need anything, message me. Goodbye.”
The call ended abruptly.
do?”
Chapter 65
For the first time since they had gotten together this once obedient, gentle woman had gone against him.
“Jocelyn Tillman!” He immediately redialed her number, hundreds of times in a row, only to be met with a cold, mechanical voice. Jocelyn had switched off her phone.
He threw his phone across the room in rage.
“Fine. When you come back, you’d better be ready to kneel and beg for forgiveness!”
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