‘Carter promised he’d give me anything I wanted. Why is he saying that?’ she thought, feeling utterly lost.
‘Is he really telling me to give up just because of my first setback in showbiz?’ Emily’s anger flared.
‘No way!’ she told herself defiantly.
“Okay, Carter, I won’t cry. I’ll behave and just wait for your update, okay?” Emily said, forcing herself to sound brave.
Carter rubbed his temples, fatigue etched on his face. “Alright,” he replied, though his heart felt heavy.
Inside the office, Carter paced restlessly, puffing on a cigarette, frustration radiating from him.
“Hey, who’s smoking in here? Did you forget Mr. Harris’s no-smoking policy?” someone complained, breaking the tension.
One of the admin girls, working late, pushed open the office door and halted in her tracks upon seeing Carter.
“Oh, Mr. Harris, it’s you,” she said, surprise evident in her voice.
“What is it?” Carter snapped, irritation dripping from his tone.
Tonight, he was a far cry from the easygoing man everyone had come to know.
“No, nothing!” she stammered, beginning to back out. But then, she hesitated and nervously reminded him, “Well, Carter, Mr. Harris really doesn’t like people smoking in his office…”
Carter felt his annoyance boil over. This was Harris Group HQ, not just Uncle Klein’s domain. His father was a big boss here too.
‘Seriously? I can’t even light up in my own family’s company?’ he thought, frustration mounting.
The admin girl stole a glance at Carter, his handsome features now hardened into a cold, intimidating mask. She couldn’t help but feel a flutter of nervousness.
Ryan, noticing the tension, approached with a calm demeanor. “What’s going on here?” he asked, concern in his eyes.
“Mr. Ward, I was just reminding Mr. Harris that smoking isn’t allowed in the office…” the girl explained, her tone slightly defensive.
‘So, Carter’s polite and easygoing side was just for show,’ the admin girl thought, a hint of bitterness creeping in.
‘How typical. All these trust-fund kids are just alike,’ she muttered under her breath.
Ryan glanced at Carter, who was still puffing away, and said, “Alright, I’ve got this. You can head home now.”
With a calm smile, Ryan reassured Carter, “Please don’t take it personally, Carter. Mr. Harris is serious about the no-smoking policy around here. Even the top executives and board members have to follow it, including your father.”
When Ryan mentioned “Mr. Harris,” he was referring to Carter’s father, a fact that only fueled Carter’s ire.
Carter felt his pride take a hit, his anger simmering beneath the surface with nowhere to release it.
He roughly stubbed out his cigarette, snapping, “Happy now?”
Ryan simply smiled and replied, “Sure.”
“Wait, when is Uncle Klein’s meeting supposed to end?” Carter asked, his tone still sharp.
He was still irked about having to extinguish his cigarette.
Ryan’s voice softened slightly as he said, “Carter, I’m afraid I don’t have the authority to interfere with Mr. Harris’s meetings.”
Carter was left speechless, frustration boiling over.
‘Seriously, could this day get any worse? I’ve had enough of this nonsense,’ he thought, feeling utterly defeated.
It wasn’t until eleven at night that Klein finally called Carter into his office, where Carter was practically on the verge of exploding.
“Carter, Ryan mentioned you had something urgent. What’s going on?” Klein asked, his voice calm and unhurried as he slipped on his suit jacket and adjusted his tie, embodying a sense of detachment.
Carter pursed his lips, knowing better than to show any displeasure in front of Klein.
“Uncle Klein, someone’s been deliberately smearing Emily today, accusing her of plagiarism and even paying to make it a trending topic. I tried to get it removed, but nothing worked. Could you talk to your contacts and help me get it taken down?” Carter’s voice trembled with anxiety.
Klein regarded Carter with a long, meaningful look before responding, “So you’re telling me Emily didn’t copy anyone?”
“Of course not,” Carter fidgeted, suddenly feeling uncertain under Klein’s inscrutable gaze.
“Uncle Klein, you know she’s had it rough her whole life. People have been dragging her online all night. Do you know how bad she’s feeling?” Carter’s concern was palpable.
“Well,” Klein nodded, his voice calm and distant, “it’s tough for her, sure. But the entertainment industry is ruthless. If she can’t handle it, Carter, maybe you should tell her to give up before it gets any worse? Besides, you can’t protect her from everything, can you?” Klein’s words were blunt and matter-of-fact, cutting deeply.
Carter was momentarily stunned.
‘Is he implying that I’m useless?’ Carter thought, embarrassment flooding over him.
“Alright, I’ll make some calls. If that’s all, you can head out,” Klein said, his voice steady and unyielding.
Carter let out a sigh of relief.
“Thanks, Uncle Klein,” he said, his voice wavering slightly.
“Don’t mention it. We’re family,” Klein replied, his tone understated yet genuine.
But as Carter walked away, he couldn’t shake the feeling that when Uncle Klein sounded so perfunctory, it was as if he was just saying it to dismiss him. Was he imagining things, or did Klein really not mean it at all?
As soon as Carter exited, Ryan walked in.
“Mr. Harris, should I get that trending topic taken down?” Ryan inquired, his tone professional.
Klein raised his eyebrows nonchalantly and replied, “What’s the hurry? If she’s got the guts to plagiarize, she should be tough enough to take the heat.”
“But… you just agreed to help Carter,” Ryan said, sounding a bit uneasy.
“Agreed to what? I only said I’d make some calls, not that I’d actually get the trending topic taken down,” Klein replied, his voice calm and dismissive, leaving no room for argument.
Klein was always meticulous, never leaving a single loose end.
Carter had just stepped into the parking lot when a message from one of his associates popped up on his phone.
[Carter, we’ve discovered that Ms. Whitney Moore has been spending a lot of time with that man named Jay Lockson lately.]
Carter’s eyes narrowed instantly. ‘Wait, could Whitney be the one pulling the strings behind all this?’ he thought, a surge of suspicion hitting him like a cold wave.
Whitney had just completed her nightly rituals, the familiar routine providing a sense of comfort, when her phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand. The caller ID displayed an unknown number, causing her to hesitate for a moment, a flicker of anxiety creeping in. It could be a client, she thought, her mind racing with possibilities. With a resigned sigh, she answered the call.
As soon as the voice on the other end broke through, her expression shifted from casual curiosity to a darkened frown.
“It’s me. Either you’re coming downstairs, or I’m coming up,” Carter’s voice was firm, devoid of any room for negotiation.
Whitney clicked her tongue in irritation, feeling the familiar stirrings of annoyance. “Carter, have you even checked what time it is?” she retorted, her tone sharp.
“Guess you didn’t care about the time when you decided to ruin Emily’s reputation, did you?” Carter shot back, his words laced with an edge that made her stomach churn.
Whitney’s breath caught in her throat.
‘So that’s why he’s here. It’s all about Emily,’ she thought, her mind racing as the implications settled in.
“I’m only giving you three minutes. Unless you want your neighbors calling the cops on you for disturbing their sleep in the middle of the night,” Carter warned, his voice unwavering.
A chill ran down Whitney’s spine, and she felt her gaze harden as she replied, “Alright, but this is the last time I’m putting up with this.”
If he dared to pull this stunt again, she would not hesitate to call the authorities.
Three minutes later, Carter leaned against his car, his posture relaxed yet tense, as he awaited Whitney’s arrival. Though only a week had passed since he last saw her, it felt like a lifetime. The memory of dropping off that dress for her was still fresh, a bittersweet reminder of the connection they once shared.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.