Chapter 129

"I'm afraid I can't comply with that request." Evelyn Sinclair's voice remained gentle yet firm. "My three-day field assignment was personally approved by you, Supervisor. The investigative piece isn't finished—how can I abandon it midway?"

Melissa Lee let out a derisive laugh. "Investigation? You dare mention your so-called investigation? Tonggowan Manufacturing is threatening to sue us for breach of contract! Even a paid job turns into a disaster with you—what a talent!"

She could barely contain her amusement.

This idiot Evelyn.

Melissa had assumed the worst outcome would be Nigel Norton assaulting her. Instead, the fool had resisted and created this massive mess.

Breaching the agreement. Exposing client confidentiality. Inciting online harassment. Unauthorized absence. Defying recall orders...

Any one of these violations could sink her career.

And yet, she still dreamed of completing the assignment?

Her job hung by a thread, yet she fantasized about continuing interviews with Nigel?

"Let her flail," Melissa told Penelope Pope cheerfully. "The harder she struggles, the faster she'll drown."

Madam Ashford had promised—once Evelyn left Horizon Media, Julian would finally agree to their engagement.

"Hopefully Nigel teaches her a brutal lesson," Penelope agreed.

The entire Financial Department buzzed with gossip.

"Everyone warned her financial journalism differs from entertainment reporting. She insisted on using tabloid tactics—this disaster was inevitable."

"Tonggowan's stock hit two straight limit-downs. Nigel must despise her now."

"Will Horizon protect her? Our creed claims to defend journalists who risk everything for the truth."

"Only for legitimate cases! Should we shield reckless troublemakers?"

"Even the Crown Prince hasn't intervened this time. Probably lost patience with her."

"Tonggowan's shares are rebounding. What impact did her gossip piece really have?"

"Her hashtag's fading too... Evelyn's finished."

Fewer than five people in Horizon Media believed Evelyn could turn this around.

So when Julian Ashford got added to a group chat titled [Blizzard Support], he assumed Martha Nash had misclicked.

Martha: [Everyone here still believes in Evelyn, right?]

Julian: [?]

Iris: [Team Evelyn all the way!]

Charlie: [Evelyn will prevail!]

Julian: [What exactly are you planning?]

Martha: [Moral support.]

Julian: [??]

Martha: [The odds always seem against Evelyn, but we know she'll defy them!]

Iris: [Exactly! Evelyn's unstoppable!]

Charlie: [I'd bet a year's salary she wins!]

Martha: [Stop gambling. Remember the guy who lost bathroom-cleaning duty last time?]

Charlie: [This is different! I'm betting on Evelyn!]

Julian: [...]

Martha grew suspicious: [You don't believe in her, Crown Prince?]

Julian: [Just think you're being... unnecessarily dramatic.]

[You have been removed from the group]

Julian: ?!

They actually kicked him out?

Four nobodies dared eject him?

After all their fawning "Crown Prince" flattery?

He requested to rejoin.

[Enter passcode]

Julian tried: [Evelyn will prevail?]

[Incorrect passcode]

He tried again: [I know how she'll win.]

Instant approval.

Martha/Iris/Charlie: [SPILL!]

Julian typed deliberately: [She's going to... short Tonggowan.]

——

Short selling.

This term had once been synonymous with Autumn Detail.

"Why does everyone credit Autumn Detail for the short attacks?" Julian once asked William Yearwood, back when his father still admired the firm.

"Without their reports, how could those financiers strike so precisely? Autumn Detail possesses industry clairvoyance."

If Autumn Detail flagged a company, its flaws became undeniable.

Later, when Autumn Detail collapsed, William changed his tune: "They destroyed too many firms—karma struck back!"

Julian disagreed.

Autumn Detail only exposed existing corruption. Their reports purified the financial sector.

Horizon Media's rise owed everything to the Sinclair and Kingsley families.

It was an Autumn Detail analysis that convinced the Kingsleys to invest.

The Yearwoods' subsequent betrayal truly embodied the phrase "biting the hand that feeds."

——

"The hashtag's fading. The stock's rebounding," Scarlet Archer observed. "How do you predict today's closing?"

Evelyn's tone stayed calm. "The hashtag decline is expected—the real battle has shifted venues. Stock fluctuations are inevitable. We'll see a minor uptick at closing, but tomorrow's opening..." Her lips curved. "...I'll send it plunging again."

Did they truly believe a few social media posts could topple a publicly traded corporation?

How naive.