Chapter 203

Melissa Lee's shrill voice exploded from the phone speaker.

The conference room plunged into eerie silence.

Lance Yeager's fingers trembled slightly around the phone, disbelief written across his face.

Alexander Kingsley's brow furrowed. Winston Strauss's eyes flashed with surprise.

Evelyn Sinclair's fingertips turned cold.

The speakerphone button glowed accusingly.

Hanging up would seem cowardly. Continuing felt humiliating.

Trapped between two impossible choices, she chose defiance.

"Cat got your tongue?" Melissa sneered. "Weren't you so confident about securing that interview?"

"Negotiations are ongoing." Evelyn kept her voice steady.

"Ha!" Melissa's laugh scraped like nails on glass. "Planning to use your seduction tricks again? Just like how you snagged Alexander?"

Evelyn dug her nails into her palm. "Forgot your medication today, Director?"

The recording light blinked mockingly.

She yearned to shove those vile words back down Melissa's throat.

"Playing the saint now?" Melissa scoffed. "Standing up Orange Media—are you Simon York's mole?"

Evelyn's gaze turned glacial. "How intimately you track my schedule."

"Bullshit!" Melissa's composure shattered. "The whole industry saw you get thrown out by hotel security!"

Lance suddenly snatched the phone. "Who said she's not negotiating?"

Three seconds of dead air.

"And you are?" Melissa dripped contempt.

"Lance Yeager. Assistant to Winston Strauss."

Melissa's cackle pierced the room. "How much did Evelyn pay you to lie for her?"

Lance's face darkened.

"What's Horizon Media's budget?" he ground out.

"Pathetic acting!" Melissa jeered. "No interview? Then go home and gestate!"

Lance ended the call with violence.

"Sign the damn authorization!" He slammed the table. "Don't even think about refusing, Winston!"

Winston glanced at Alexander's thunderous expression and swallowed hard. "...No objections."

——

The atmosphere at Horizon Media's conference room turned lethal.

William Yearwood presided like a judge, flanked by grim executives.

Melissa smiled like a viper. "I heard Reporter Sinclair secured a premium interview? Let's review the budget together."

The seven-figure fee hung like a guillotine.

Knowing glances passed between attendees.

"Have terms been negotiated?" The CFO demanded.

Evelyn shook her head.

"Playing games?" The CFO stood abruptly. "Either you're deceiving the company, or deceiving Winston Strauss, or—"

"Playing both sides!" Melissa finished, eyes gleaming with malice. "Unethical ambition has no place at Horizon!"

Every gaze became a blade.

To them, she'd already dug her professional grave.