Chapter 37
"Ryan Holt's career will be ruined within three days?"
Melissa Lee tapped her fingers on the desk, a mocking smile curling her crimson lips. "Does she really think Julian would move against Ryan for her sake? That cash cow was handpicked by investors—does she think she can just take him down?"
"But Melissa, the whole company's buzzing about her being the Crown Prince's..."
Melissa tossed her long hair back. "What do they know? Back at Imperial Media University, Evelyn Sinclair was always clinging to Julian. He was just being kind to a junior—yet she took it as permission to overstep." She twisted a lock of hair around her finger. "Couldn't even land a proper job, so she shamelessly latched onto him."
"Exactly," agreed Victoria Henn, head of the entertainment division. "Gossip spreads like wildfire among low-level staff. Everyone in management knows about your history with the Crown Prince. Those rumors make my blood boil."
"Julian let the Ryan incident slide out of respect for their shared alma mater. Yet she actually thinks she's special." Melissa's grip on her hair tightened.
As the daughter of Horizon Media's co-founder, Melissa had been parachuted into the finance division after graduation. She and Julian Ashford were classmates in the same program—campus royalty, the perfect match.
Both families had long considered them destined for each other.
Until Evelyn enrolled in their graduate program.
Julian changed.
Always courteous, he became animated whenever Evelyn appeared. His eyes would follow her unconsciously, his lips curving into unguarded smiles.
Melissa had probed their relationship once.
Julian answered plainly: "Evelyn and I grew up together. I've always seen her as a younger sister."
True enough—after graduation, Julian joined Horizon, pursued further studies abroad, then returned... with no sign of Evelyn.
Melissa made her moves, hinting at her feelings through words and actions.
Julian never took the bait.
Only once did he slip.
Years ago, when Horizon was under siege by Kingsley Group and other investors, Julian returned from overseas to salvage the crisis.
At the victory banquet, he drank too much.
Melissa found him perched on a hotel rooftop windowsill, legs dangling over the edge.
"Tell me," his voice floated on the wind, "do only the dead get remembered?"
"If I died... would she think of me for the rest of her life?"
Melissa lunged forward and dragged him down.
Julian collapsed into her arms, tears streaming.
"I was such a fool..." His voice broke. "Why did I abandon her? Why did I lie? She trusted me completely..."
"I pushed her away with my own hands. Now I regret it and chase after her... How pathetic am I?"
Melissa asked, "Who is she?"
Julian hugged his knees in silence until sobriety returned.
That night was never mentioned again.
Melissa didn't dare ask.
She feared the answer.
Now, Evelyn had reappeared.
"Normally, probationary employees who make such mistakes should be fired immediately," Victoria said. "But I can't do it overtly."
Melissa raised a hand. "Don't fire her."
Her eyes narrowed. "Transfer her to the finance division."
At Imperial, Julian had shielded Evelyn from her reach.
Now, finance was her territory...
......
Office gossip grew uglier.
"Half a day left—where's that 'Ryan Holt will be ruined' promise?"
"Ryan's the industry's model professional. Even rival companies can't dig up dirt on him. Does she think she can conjure some?"
"If she actually had leverage, would Ryan have refused the interview? Overestimating herself after riding on her looks?"
"Did that Alexander Kingsley profile give her delusions of genius?"
"What was so special about that article? Martha spoon-fed her all the research!"
"This Ryan mess makes my blood pressure spike! Anyone else would've had the magazine on shelves by now! Now Orange Media gets the scoop!"
"How long has it been since Horizon lost to Orange? The whole company's efforts wasted because of one person!"
"Horizon's disgrace!"
"Shh—here comes Eight Million!"
......
Evelyn rather liked her new nickname.
Eight Million.
Sounded valuable.
Her colleagues fascinated her. They had private chats for backbiting, yet insisted on snide remarks within earshot.
The moment she appeared, they scattered like startled birds.
During work, they exchanged sudden laughter or meaningful glances...
Evelyn remained unruffled.
Martha Nash cracked first.
"Evelyn, do you actually have dirt on Ryan?" she asked.
The entire office strained to listen.
"Of course." Evelyn's tone was breezy.
"Then produce it!" Martha was sweating. Victoria had slashed her resources again, hinting everything would improve if she ditched Evelyn.
Martha wasn't fooled.
Victoria kept pushing her to play the villain.
"This Ryan situation is catastrophic," Martha whispered. "I might not be able to protect you. Maybe... a transfer?"
"No." Evelyn's voice was calm. "I said three days. There's still half a day left."
"What are you waiting for?"
Evelyn lifted her gaze. "I hear I'm Horizon's disgrace because Ryan chose Orange?"
The office fell silent.
Everyone pretended to work.
Then she smiled—a rare, fleeting bloom.
"Martha, what if I could turn this around? Make Orange lose their prize and their leverage?"