By admin Addicted Ex 6
Chapter 6 Going Head-To-Head
“Aly, don’t believe those rumors.” On the phone, Beatrice was furious. “It’s all lies. They’ll say anything to get attention.
“You’re the one we’ve recognized as Leon’s future wife. No one else even comes close. I’ve already called Leon to give him a piece of my mind.”
But Beatrice couldn’t get through to Leonard, so she ended up venting to Joseph instead.
“Mrs. Rivera, thank you. I’m fine,” Alyssia answered calmly and gently.
Beatrice let out a deep sigh of relief. “Aly, you’re just too kind and considerate. That jerk Leonard does care about you, but he’s just got a sharp tongue.
“Don’t worry, I’ll straighten him out. Once you two are married, he’ll learn how to treat you right.”
Alyssia thought, ‘Leonard cares about me? Everyone in the Rivera family says the same thing. I used to fool myself like that too, but the reality tells me that when someone doesn’t show love, they probably don’t feel it either.
‘Otherwise, if Leonard loved me the way I once loved him, how could he have hidden it? He didn’t even care about me before marriage, and now I’m supposed to hope he’ll suddenly change after we’re married? That seems impossible.’
In the end, Alyssia still couldn’t bring herself to tell Beatrice about the breakup. She felt like the biggest letdown was to Beatrice.
However, Alyssia thought Beatrice would find out soon enough. The housekeeper and servants at Rosewood Manor didn’t exactly have the quietest mouths.
*****
“Alyssia, the Aurelius Awards are tonight. You and Nate Wright need to go to Ravendale for a business trip,” Lauren instructed.
She then lowered her voice. “Milena will be there too. See if you can get anything from her. If she admits it, let’s see if Leonard still has the guts to sue you.”
The Aurelius Awards were a joke in the film industry, and the senior reporters in the department weren’t too eager to attend.
Originally, Lauren had assigned someone else to this task, but now it was Alyssia, the newcomer. No one had any objections, and in fact, everyone was cheering her on.
Someone remarked, “Alyssia, go for it. Get the inside information and make Leonard lose face.”
Another person chimed in, “You’ve got this, Alyssia. We’re all rooting for you.”
Someone even said, “Alyssia, we believe in you. When Milena climbs into bed, you can lie underneath. As long as you get a picture of them in bed, you’ll win.”
Alyssia thought, ‘What nonsense.’
Lauren nodded. “That sounds a bit crazy, but there’s some truth to it. Alyssia, do your best.”
Although Charlie said he would take the heat for Alyssia, everyone knew the strength of Clairivera Group. The best outcome of a confrontation would be that both sides would be severely weakened.
They all thought, ‘If Leonard insists on suing Alyssia, will Vanguard Media really risk their relationship with Clairivera Group for a rookie reporter? They’ll probably throw her under the bus the moment something goes wrong.’
Lauren looked at Alyssia’s stunningly beautiful face, quietly sighing. She thought, ‘Alyssia has both good looks and talent, but no luck. Her first article was her peak, and that peak led to her downfall. Getting involved with someone like Leonard—she’s done for.’
*****
Nate had already set up the camera discreetly. Tonight at the Aurelius Awards, Milena’s mouth was firmly shut, just as expected. Reporters swarmed, trying to interview her, but her bodyguards kept them all at bay.
“Ms. Johnson, is it true that you’re in a relationship with Leonard?”
“Milena, over here. Is the diamond ring on your hand an engagement ring?”
“Ms. Johnson, the photos and videos have been leaked, and you’ve made the official announcement. When will Leonard make a statement?”
“Ms. Johnson, we’ve heard Leonard is suing the media for spreading rumors about your relationship. What’s your opinion on that?”
Milena ignored them all, maintaining the same smile, as she was escorted away by her bodyguards.
Alyssia didn’t join the commotion. She arrived first with Nate at the hotel where Milena was staying, planning to sneak behind enemy lines.
Lauren had given Alyssia this opportunity to save herself. After all, Leonard’s legal team wasn’t to be trifled with.
Alyssia looked around at the other reporters lurking nearby. She knew many others had come up with the same idea. “Even if we stay here all night, we might not get anything,” she murmured.
Everyone here was hoping to catch a shot of Leonard and Milena together. Cameras and lenses were all aimed at the window of Milena’s hotel room, with people practically wishing they could capture the silhouette on the curtains. But Leonard wasn’t even in Ravendale.
“I’ll go up and try,” Alyssia said, letting her hair down from the updo she had been wearing.
Nate was momentarily distracted by her shiny long hair before quickly regaining his focus. “Alyssia, this is the Halston Hotel in Ravendale. How are you planning to get up there?”
The Halston Hotel was a five-star members-only hotel. Without a membership card, one could only stay on the lower ten floors. Milena, however, was staying on the fifteenth floor in a VIP suite.
Alyssia pushed aside the thick branches of the greenery. “I have one.”
Her membership card had been given to her by Beatrice. It would be a lie to say there was no resentment in Alyssia’s heart as she went to investigate her ex-fiancé and his new lover’s relationship.
But Alyssia needed the job and she needed the money. Rosalie was still lying in her hospital bed, holding on to the faint hope of survival.
Alyssia knew that the more evidence she gathered, the higher her chances of success would be. She thought to herself, ‘If Leonard wants to sue me, fine. I’ll stand up to him. His lawsuit will be the launching pad for my career.’
Nate watched as Alyssia walked into the hotel lobby. Under the bright lights, her figure was slender and graceful, exuding an innate elegance and nobility. No one would suspect that she was a reporter.
Nate rubbed his eyes, thinking about Charlie’s attitude toward Alyssia. He wondered, ‘Mr. Dixon wouldn’t have sent his secret lover to the company to gain some prestige, would he?’
*****
Alyssia requested a suite on the fifteenth floor. The receptionist initially wanted to refuse, but after seeing the name on the membership card, she quickly called over the lobby manager. In no time, Alyssia’s check-in was taken care of.
Alyssia let out a small sigh of relief. Her biggest worry had been that Milena had booked the entire fifteenth floor. Fortunately, Beatrice’s membership card carried enough weight.
In the VIP elevator, Alyssia was alone. As the elevator ascended slowly, she unexpectedly received a call from Milena.
“Ms. Clairmont, I’m sure you’ve seen it.” Milena’s voice was filled with glee, carrying the pleasure and pride of a victor.
Alyssia remained composed. “Seen what?”
“The report about me and Leon being in a relationship,” Milena laughed aloud. “We went to pick out the engagement ring yesterday, and then we made the announcement. You didn’t miss all of this, did you?”
“Is that so?” Alyssia replied calmly. “But I heard he’s suing the reporters for spreading rumors. The announcement was just your word. Leonard hasn’t said anything.”
Milena sneered, and her tone shifted. She was provoked by Alyssia’s cool response. Milena said, “Alyssia, do you think the Johnson family is like the Clairmont family? Oh, I forgot, your family doesn’t even exist anymore.
“As for me and Leon, of course we’ll choose the right time to make our relationship public. He’s staying quiet now, but that’s only because he’s afraid our relationship might impact the strategic layout of both our families’ corporations.”