By admin The Ex Who Became His Obsession Novel Ch 64
Diana was frantic.
Back when Alyssia was in the Entertainment Department, she always seemed meek and submissive–just doing whatever she was told
Even when she was transferred to the Finance Department this time, she didn’t make a fuss and just signed the agreement immediately.
When Diana was kicked out by William, she smugly assumed that just one phone call would send Alyssia scurrying over to clean up her mess–just like always.
Never in her wildest dreams did she expect Alyssia would actually hang up on her.
Diana had no choice but to call Brianna.
“Brianna, get Alyssia to drop whatever she’s doing right now! I’ve got an emergency here…” Diana barked, her voice tight with urgency.
“Don’t worry,” Brianna reassured Diana, though her own voice betrayed a hint of panic. “I’ll call Alyssia right now and have her go over.”
But when Brianna called, Alyssia’s phone… was unreachable?
Brianna’s gut told her something was wrong, so she tried calling several more times in a row.
Most calls didn’t go through. On the rare occasion when Alyssia picked up, the line would cut off after just a few words.
Brianna wasn’t sure if Alyssia was playing games, so she had Diana try calling her again.
This time, Alyssia actually picked up.
Diana snapped, “Why didn’t you pick up when Brianna called just now?”
“I’m on the subway, so the signal’s spotty,” Alyssia explained casually.
Diana commanded, “I’ve already got your supervisor’s approval. Get over here now!”
“Afraid that won’t work,” Alyssia said casually. “I’m actually on the subway, heading away from Mr. Harlow’s place–can’t exactly turn around mid–ride…”
“Cut the act, Alyssia! This is urgent–I need you now!” Even Diana wasn’t dense enough to miss that Alyssia was doing this on purpose.
“No can do,” Alyssia refused flatly, dropping all pretense of teasing. “I’m no longer with the Entertainment Department–all my responsibilities have been handed over to Brianna. If Ms. Parker wants me to do Entertainment Department work again, she’ll have to transfer me back first.”
“You… Just come back first, and I’ll handle your transfer later! This is an emergency can’t you show some flexibility?”
Alyssia chuckled. “Diana, you’re leading such a big team in the Entertainment Department, and you didn’t even prepare a Plan B?
“As an industry veteran, how could you send just one person alone for such a crucial interview with Mr. Harlow? Didn’t you anticipate any contingencies or have a backup plan?”
Diana froze–these words sounded eerily familiar.
And then it hit her…
Wait a second–weren’t these the exact same words Diana had used when Alyssia botched the Archer interview and Diana called Lauren into her office for a lecture?
Little did Diana expect Alyssia to now throw her own words back at her—almost verbatim.
1/3
Chapter 64
Diana gritted her teeth.
But now, the tables had turned–she was the one doing the pleading.
She had no choice but to swallow her pride.
Diana pleaded with Alyssia, “Alyssia, let’s put everything else aside–this interview was your responsibility from the start. It’s only right that you come back and finish it.”
Alyssia nearly laughed out loud. “Funny, Diana, I don’t remember you saying that when you reassigned me. Sorry, but–I’m–not–coming
She hung up on Diana for the second time.
Diana stood frozen in utter disbelief.
After a moment’s hesitation, Diana called Lauren again and asked her to persuade Alyssia.
No idea what Lauren said to Alyssia, but she got back to Diana soon enough with a simple message. [No can do.]
“Diana, no offense, but if Alyssia managed to land an interview with Mr. Harlow, she clearly has something special. When you replaced her so casually back then, I already had my doubts…
“Well, no point being a Monday–morning quarterback now. Anyway, if even you as department head couldn’t convince her, what chance do I have as just an editor?”
Lauren had been fed up with Diana for a long time.
Diana had been targeting and undermining Lauren at every turn–nitpicking her performance reviews with flimsy excuses, and even reassigning their team’s key projects to Chris for no good reason.
Now that Diana was defeated, Lauren was delighted to watch the drama unfold.
Diana had no choice but to swallow her pride and turn to Alyssia again.
This time, her attitude finally softened.
Diana pleaded, “Alyssia, I was out of line before–I failed to recognize your true worth. I’m sorry. Please, could you come and interview Mr. Harlow? We desperately need your help to get Vanguard Media through this crisis.”
The interview topic could always be changed, and there’s no guarantee William would even write the follow–up piece for them.
But Nathan on William’s side has already threatened to take this straight to Charlie.
Diana started to panic.
“Alright,” Alyssia agreed with unexpected readiness this time.
Diana’s face lit up with relief. “That’s wonderful! So, when do you think you can come over…?”
“Today’s definitely not gonna work–I’m swamped, still have dozens of drafts to proofread.
“Maybe tomorrow… Well, that depends: if Brianna doesn’t snag her stockings, if no one messes up the coffee order, and… don’t end up with double the workload just because they took one article off my plate–then maybe I’ll come by.
“Otherwise, it’ll have to wait till the day after.”
Diana was furious,
“I already told Brianna you could go!” Diana exploded.
2/3
Chapter 64
“It won’t make any difference,” Alyssia sighed resignedly. “Diana, you have no idea the Finance Department is way more brutal than the Entertainment Department. Endless proofreading every day, running errands for the entire department… If I dare help you interview William, my workload would
double tomorrow…”
“I’ll talk to Brianna about this I swear your workload won’t increase,” Diana vowed, her voice laced with desperate assurance.
Alyssia scoffed dryly.
“Doesn’t Brianna outrank you, Diana?” Alyssia said bluntly. “I seriously doubt she’d listen to you. Anyway, I’m heading into the mall… gotta go.”
“Wait! Alyssia, hold on!” Diana blurted out desperately.
The line went dead.
Gritting her teeth, Diana called Alyssia again.
- “Alyssia, where are you? Please let me come pick you up.”
Her pleading tone was a far cry from her usual high–and–mighty demeanor as a department head.
“Oh Diana, that’d be too much trouble for you. Really, you don’t need to come–I told you, I’ll go for the interview when I’m free” Alyssia’s tone was so perfectly polite that there was nothing Diana could object to.
Diana pleaded desperately, “Alyssia, I’m begging you–I’ve never begged anyone in my life, you’re the first. Alyssia… Alyssia, are you even listening to
me?”
“Yeah, I’ll take a pair in this shade…” Alyssia’s distracted voice came through the phone–she was clearly talking to someone else. Then, as if suddenly remembering Diana, she said, “Oh, Diana, I’m listening–go ahead.”
Diana burned with humiliation.
As a department head with several editors and dozens of reporters under her command, when had Diana ever endured such a deliberate snub from a mere junior staff member?
“Alyssia, I’m begging you–please, I’m on my knees… It would mean the world to me if you could help. I’ve got elders and kids depending on me–I really can’t afford to make such a terrible mistake.” Diana pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.
Alyssia almost laughed at the irony.
When Diana forced me to transfer, demanded I hand over my Williamh contacts, and put her name before mine on the byline–did she ever stop to think if she could afford the consequences of those mistakes?‘ Alyssia thought.
“Alright, alright,” Alyssia finally threw Diana a bone. “I’ll head back to hand these things over to Brianna first, then come straight to you.”
Diana pleaded desperately, “Couldn’t you come over right now?”
“Look, it’s not like that. I’ll be passing by the office anyway, so I might as well just pop in and drop the stuff off with Brianna.” Alyssia’s logic was, surprisingly, sound.
But Diana didn’t get another chance to plead with Alyssia–her phone suddenly lit up with an incoming call…