Chapter 210

Melissa Lee's fingers trembled slightly.

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel. Neon lights outside the car window blurred into streaks, mirroring her chaotic thoughts.

As a reporter for Horizon Media's financial department, she should have been accustomed to high-stakes situations. But only she knew how she'd gotten this position.

Her admission to Imperial Media University was secured through her father's connections. The graduate school spot was bought with family favors. Even this job was obtained by riding on the Ashford family's coattails.

Her phone screen lit up. Taking a deep breath, she sent out the blurry photo.

[Lance, guess what I captured?]

Three minutes later, her phone rang.

"What do you want?" Lance Yeager's voice was icy.

Melissa smirked. "Simple. I want Winston Strauss's exclusive interview."

A cold laugh came through the receiver.

"With just a blurry photo?"

"Of course not." Confidence dripped from her words. "The camera holds much more interesting footage."

After hanging up, she eagerly rummaged through her bag for the micro camera. It was Horizon Media's standard equipment, which she'd brought specifically to...

"It's gone?"

Her face drained of color.

The phone rang again.

"Miss Lee," Lance's mocking tone cut through. "I'm waiting in the hotel lobby with the agreement."

Melissa forced composure. "I'll be right there."

The receptionist handed her a familiar black device. "Is this your missing camera?"

She grabbed it like a lifeline, not bothering to check the contents.

The elevator ascended to the penthouse. Lance stood silhouetted against the floor-to-ceiling windows, his backlit figure ominous.

"Did you bring it?"

Melissa raised the camera. "Everything's here."

Her fingers froze the moment she entered the password—

The storage was completely empty.

Lance leisurely tore the agreement to shreds. Paper snowflakes fluttered to the ground.

"Miss Lee," he leaned in menacingly, "next time you try blackmail, make sure your evidence still exists."

Melissa staggered back, knocking over a coffee table. The shattering glass mirrored her crumbling confidence.

"Impossible... I clearly..."

"You clearly what?" Lance picked up a glass shard, twirling it before her eyes. "Like this glass, some things can't be put back together once broken."

He turned and pressed the intercom. "Security. Escort her out."

Melissa stood dazed in the elevator until the mechanical voice announced the lobby.

The glass walls reflected her disheveled appearance. She finally noticed her smeared lipstick—the crooked red grin made her look like a pathetic clown.