The call ended abruptly with a sharp click, leaving Calvin staring at the screen in disbelief.
A bitter laugh escaped his lips, tinged with frustration. ‘Who the hell is behind this? Now they’re in hot water, and I’m caught in the crossfire too.’
****
Ivan dialed Townsend’s number repeatedly, three times in quick succession, his determination unwavering.
Townsend’s irritation was palpable. “Ivan, are you truly that protective of your protégé?” he asked, exasperation creeping into his voice.
“Mr. Barton, she’s undoubtedly the most talented young attorney we’ve had at PrimeBridge in the last two years. Of course, I’m going to defend her,” Ivan replied, his tone firm.
“I swear she’s nothing like what the rumors suggest. Mr. Barton, please don’t let a few malicious whispers ruin her career,” Ivan implored, desperation lacing his words.
Townsend chuckled wryly, his skepticism evident. “I’m not dismissing her. She just isn’t the right fit for this project at the moment. Since the client reached out to me directly, I had no choice but to remove her from the assignment. I’m sure you can understand that.”
“We’re merely switching out the co-counsel. It won’t impact your position at all. What do you think, Ivan?” Townsend’s voice softened slightly, attempting to ease the tension.
Just as Ivan prepared to respond, Townsend’s attention was diverted by another incoming call, effectively cutting him off. “Alright, I’ve got another call coming in. We’ll discuss this later.”
The moment Townsend answered, the caller wasted no time.
“Hello, Mr. Barton, this is Calvin Malone. I’m overseeing the Harris Group’s current investment and acquisition,” Calvin stated, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling around him.
“I heard someone from our company has been disparaging Ms. Moore to you. Mr. Harris is quite upset about it. Can you tell me who that person is?” Calvin pressed, urgency creeping into his tone.
Townsend’s brow furrowed, caught off guard. “Disparaging? And Mr. Harris is aware of this?”
“Yes, he’s furious and wants me to identify the culprit within ten minutes. Mr. Barton, I’ve always held Mr. Walton and his team in high regard, and I’m reaching out to you because I thought you might have some insight. Honestly, I just found out about this myself,” Calvin explained, his voice laced with sincerity.
Townsend let out an awkward chuckle, attempting to mask his surprise. “Ah, I see. I always believed Ms. Moore was honest and kind. I can’t fathom her behaving in such a manner.”
“Exactly, Ms. Moore is exceptionally talented and capable. Who was it that attempted to tarnish her reputation?” Calvin reiterated, his concern palpable.
After receiving the name, Calvin made sure to underscore Whitney’s significance once more before concluding the call.
****
Klein’s gaze flickered impatiently to his watch. ‘So it was me all along who made her upset,’ he mused, a gnawing discomfort settling in his chest.
Thirteen minutes later, his phone buzzed again. It was Calvin.
“Mr. Harris, I have the answer. It was Naomi Evans, the new girl in finance. She reached out to someone at PrimeBridge and spread the rumors,” Calvin disclosed, his voice steady but tinged with urgency.
“Why would she do that?” Klein demanded, his patience wearing thin.
Calvin hesitated, weighing how best to explain the situation.
“I just spoke with her. She mentioned that Ms. Miller invited her out for dinner a few days ago and brought up Ms. Moore,” Calvin revealed, piecing together the puzzle.
It was then that Calvin realized the tension between Emily and Whitney ran deeper than he initially thought.
Klein scoffed, “Emily?”
“Yes, Mr. Harris. Ms. Miller and Naomi have known each other since high school,” Calvin confirmed.
*****
At Harris Manor, James was slowly coming to terms with the idea of Carter and Emily being an item.
Yet, beneath his composed exterior, he still felt a twinge of unease.
It was only natural to feel unsettled when a girl he had raised as family suddenly began dating his grandson.
“Carter, when do you and Milly plan to tie the knot?” James inquired, his voice steady yet probing.
Emily’s heart soared with hope. She glanced at Carter, who wore a frown of uncertainty. His hesitation sent a wave of dread crashing over her.
Her heart plummeted.
‘What does that mean, Carter? Is he having second thoughts about marrying me?’ she pondered anxiously.
‘We’ve finally overcome all the obstacles between us. Why would Carter suddenly hesitate now?’ Emily’s mind raced, her pulse quickening.
“Carter, I’m asking you a question,” James pressed, impatience creeping into his tone.
Carter inhaled deeply, his brow furrowing. “Grandpa, there’s no need to rush. Milly is on the verge of breaking into the entertainment industry, and I want her to concentrate on her career first.”
To James, the entertainment industry was little more than a chaotic circus.
He snorted derisively but remained silent, at least until Klein entered the villa.
This marked Klein’s first return to Harris Manor since that particular incident.
“Klein, you’re back!” James exclaimed, his face lighting up with unexpected joy.
“Yeah, Dad, I came to discuss something,” Klein replied, his demeanor shifting.
“Oh, if you’re looking for Lena,” James interjected, “she just stepped out. She’s not home right now.”
Klein shook his head, his sharp gaze landing on Emily.
“Dad, actually, I need to speak with Emily.” He turned to her, his voice cold and unyielding. “Why did you ask your high school friend Naomi to spread rumors about Whitney? Even going as far as having her call PrimeBridge to slander Whitney?” Klein’s tone was direct and unforgiving.
“You took her fiancé, so how is it that she’s the villain here?” Klein pressed, his words striking at Emily’s core.
Emily cast a frantic glance at James and Carter, her voice trembling as she protested, “Uncle Klein, that’s not true! You’ve misunderstood me.”
Klein stepped closer, his tone icy and accusatory. “Oh? Then enlighten me. Which part did I get wrong?”
Emily bit her lip, feeling helpless and cornered. She had no idea how Klein had discovered the truth, nor why Naomi would betray her like this.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she decided to be forthright. “It was that day when Tina overheard Naomi talking about Whitney working at PrimeBridge, and Naomi mentioned that PrimeBridge was collaborating with Harris Group.”
“Tina was furious because Whitney got her and her mother kicked out of the Moore villa, so she urged Naomi to stir the pot out of spite.”
In just a few sentences, Emily had thrown both Tina and Naomi under the bus without hesitation.
“I know they shouldn’t have acted that way, but Uncle Klein, Whitney was the one who kicked Tina and Laura out first. It’s not fair. She started it, so it’s not like Tina and Naomi were completely out of line, right?” Emily attempted to rationalize her position.
Klein’s gaze remained frosty. “I don’t care what transpired before. No one associated with Harris Group is allowed to engage in this kind of petty behavior. Naomi Evans is getting fired, but Emily, you knew and chose to remain silent. That falls on you as well.”
His voice was sharp and unyielding. “Spreading lies about someone being the other woman? How callous do you have to be to fabricate something like that?”
Emily felt the weight of Klein’s words, each one piercing her heart.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she bit her lip, her voice breaking. “Carter, it wasn’t me, I swear! It was them! I tried, but I couldn’t stop it!”
Carter’s heart twisted painfully at the sight of Emily in distress.
Once again, he found himself standing up to Klein, all because of her.
“Uncle Klein, Whitney is just an outsider. How can you doubt Emily over someone like her?” Carter exclaimed, frustration evident in his tone.
“An outsider?” Klein raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across his face.
Carter felt the weight of Klein’s scrutinizing gaze pressing down on him. “Isn’t she?” he asked, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
“Dad, what do you think?” Klein turned to James, seeking his input.
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.