When they woke up, they found their social media accounts in shambles, overrun by a tidal wave of furious comments.
“I told you not to delete that apology post so quickly! Look where we are now–what do we do?”
The wives of several prominent businessmen were frantically messaging in their group chat.
“Even if Selene didn’t cheat, it’s not like she’s guaranteed to place in the finals! Didn’t you see those bloggers‘ analyses? The other contestants were holding back in the preliminaries. That’s the only reason Selene came in first.”
“Let’s just lay low for a few days. Once those doctoral students from the top universities crush her in the finals, the whole internet will tear her apart for us.”
Yesterday, a swarm of media outlets had tried to snag interviews with Selene, but the tide of public opinion shifted so fast that they all scrambled to shelve their interview footage.
The National Broadcast Network was the first to release Selene’s interview, airing a special feature on her. The producer even included a recording of a phone call between Sophie and Selene from the night before.
When viewers learned the real reason Selene had gone to compete at Theodore’s house, they were outraged.
Some internet sleuths even dug up proof that there had indeed been a sudden power outage at Azure Vista Villas on the day of the preliminary round.
“I want to deep–fry Selene’s ex and see if the oil or his shamelessness splatters more!”
“Her ex’s only contribution was being in her past. Bastard!”
“She was just too young–couldn’t tell a man from a mongrel.”
Suddenly, #SeleneExHusband was the hottest trending topic online.
No one had managed to dig up exactly who Selene’s ex–husband was, but that didn’t stop the mob from cursing out every imaginary ancestor he might have had.
Vaughn Enterprises:
DA 11
Chapte
“Achoo!”
Harrison sneezed as he stepped into the executive elevator, with Secretary Burnett trailing behind, clutching his phone.
As the elevator descended, Burnett’s face grew paler by the second.
#SeleneExHusband was currently sitting high atop the trending list. Burnett’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
This was bad. Really, really bad.
He stole several nervous glances at the back of Harrison’s head. As far as he could tell, Harrison was still blissfully unaware that he was being roasted by the entire
internet.
But how on earth was Burnett supposed to break it to him?
When the elevator doors slid open on the first floor, Harrison strode out.
The lobby was buzzing with employees coming and going, their heated discussions drifting right into Harrison’s ears.
“Selene’s ex–husband is such a loser!”
Harrison froze in his tracks.
Secretary Burnett skidded to a halt behind him, cold sweat beading across his
forehead.
“Seriously, it’s like a rose stuck in a pile of manure. Her ex isn’t even as good as manure at least fertilizer helps flowers grow.”
“Achoo!”
Some employees finally noticed Harrison.
“Good morning, Mr. Vaughn.”
“A guy as petty as Selene’s ex would end up single for life where I’m from.”
“Achoo!!”
Gradually, more people realized Harrison was there and hastily greeted him.
“Morning, Mr. Vaughn.“,
But a few employees, oblivious, kept gleefully bashing “Selene’s ex–husband“: “Women get better with age, men just get old and bitter! If you’re bad at your job,
08:11
Chapter 89
you can learn; if you’re not good–looking, there’s always a fix. But if you’re rotten to the core? There’s just no cure for that!”
Harrison pressed a hand to his nose and sneezed again, louder this time. The entire lobby fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned and fixed on him.
09.12
