By admin Leonard froze as Alyssia pressed on, “When did he come to Clairivera Group? Does he have any connection with the former Tausar Capital and InveSight Capital?”
Seeing Leonard momentarily stunned, Alyssia let out a soft, mocking laugh. “You just punished him and kicked him out in the crudest way possible… Well, if that’s the explanation you’re giving me, I suppose I should be satisfied with it.”
“He used to work at InveSight Capital…” As soon as the topic shifted to Alyssia’s parents, Leonard’s voice faltered. “I’m talking about that senior executive–that’s how he got your parents‘ photos.”
“He didn’t even pass probation!” Alyssia’s voice turned sharp with anger. “He left a full year before my parents‘ accident–where on earth did he get those photos? And you just believed whatever he told you?”
Alyssia thought bitterly, ‘Of course, it wasn’t his parents who died. His family wasn’t the one that was shattered.
‘He’s given me this kind of explanation–I should be content. So why am I still hung up on it…?‘
“So,” Leonard broke the silence, “you suspect someone deliberately gave him those photos and sold them to Vanguard Media’s Finance Department, knowing you might see them?”
He locked eyes with Alyssia, as if trying to peer into her very soul. “You know who it is, don’t you?“.
Alyssia knew Leonard was anything but stupid.
With just a few words from her, he’d already laid bare every thought in her mind.
‘But… he just wouldn’t dig any deeper.
‘He clearly could, if only he wanted to…
‘Forget it,‘ Alyssia thought.
Alyssia quickly let it go. After all, they’d already broken up,-what more could she ask for?
“I don’t know.” She gave Leonard a practiced smile–an exact replica of the ones she used to give him.
Because there was no evidence.
Leonard had no intention of investigating. Alyssia knew that with her current abilities, she was powerless against them.
But Alyssia never expected that her deliberately casual smile–so practiced and perfunctory. Yet, it provoked Leonard’s sudden… possession.
Without warning, he kissed her.
Alyssia froze for several seconds, completely blindsided. She didn’t see that coming at all.
He kissed her with fierce, urgent intensity, as if he meant to devour her whole.
Only when his hand seized her thigh and began sliding upward did Alyssia abruptly retaliate…
Leonard winced, his brow furrowing.
Alyssia bit him hard.
Alyssia shoved him away, both shocked and furious. “Stop the car!”
The driver ignored her. Desperate, Alyssia yanked at the door handle–heedless of the car racing at full speed down the highway..
Leonard lunged forward, pinning Alyssia’s hand down as they struggled. “What the hell are you doing?” he demanded.
‘Is she trying to get herself killed?‘ Leonard thought.
Alyssia struggled in vain against his superior strength. Leonard dragged her into his arms and locked her in an iron grip, rendering her completely immobile.
“Rocco, raise the partition…” Leonard commanded in a hoarse voice.
The sleek silver partition slowly slid up between the front and rear seats, sealing them off in a tense, confined space.
Danger mounted in the claustrophobic confines, tension thickening the air.
“Leonard,” Alyssia bit her lip, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “If your dare lay a finger on me, I swear I’ll throw myself in front of the next speeding car!”
Leonard’s gaze was as deep as a midnight abyss as he locked eyes with Alyssia. His hand, clamped around her arm, froze in place.
The car pulled to a stop at the Vanguard Media building, and Leonard finally released his grip.
He watched as Alyssia scrambled out of the car in panic, as if fleeing a monstrous threat, and hurried away without a backward glance.
As the partition lowered, Leonard commanded, “Rocco, investigate exactly where Samuel Edward obtained that photo.”
Rocco didn’t dare say more–he merely replied, “Yes.”
Though the partition was soundproof, Rocco could still see, through the rearview mirror, just how thunderous Leonard’s expression was…
Rocco thought to himself, ‘Leonard looks totally… sexually frustrated!‘
Joseph might not be the brightest, but he was thick–skinned! The upside of being so slow–witted? He never worried about knowing too much and getting silenced!
“Alyssia!” someone called out from behind.
Alyssia quickly composed her expression before turning around.
It was Cian Porter. After his transfer back to the Entertainment Department, they were reunited as teammates.
For today’s interview with William, the department assigned Alyssia an assistant–Cian, who volunteered for the role.
Cian usually got along well with Alyssia and rarely ever tried to throw her under the bus in public, so she really had no reason to
turn him down as her assistant…
Cian walked up beside Alyssia as they waited for the elevator. “Alyssia, when are we heading over to William’s place?”
Cian stole a discreet glance toward the building’s exterior, making sure no one noticed.
‘The car was already out of sight.
‘That wasn’t Charlie’s car.
‘Damn it, I was too focused on confirming it was Alyssia getting out of the car to catch the license plate number,‘ Cian thought regretfully..
“Let’s head up and freshen up before we leave,” Alyssia said calmly, gazing at her reflection in the highly polished elevator doors, seemingly oblivious to Cian’s furtive glances.
Alyssia stepped into William’s ancestral home for the second time and was warmly received.
William inquired with concern about Alyssia’s recent situation, especially asking if she’d been wronged in any way, while barely acknowledging Cian standing beside her.
Yet, Cian’s hands were still trembling ever so slightly from his nervousness.
He was both thrilled and terrified to have this opportunity–he hadn’t slept a wink last night and ended up gorging himself at breakfast out of sheer nerves.
The physical toll? His nerves and that heavy breakfast left his stomach in knots.
Throughout the interview, Cian dashed to the restroom four or five times. By the time he finally left Williame’s place, he looked utterly drained–pale as a ghost.
“I really held you back, Alyssia,” Cian said, his face full of remorse.
Alyssia gave Cian a gentle, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it. I even faint
That was exactly why Diana had assigned her an assistant.
during an interview myself o
Diana said she was worried there might be another incident like last time–and no one in the department could afford to take that responsibility.
Alyssia was known for her lightning–fast turnaround on articles.
First thing in the morning, Alyssia sent William the draft she’d worked on all night.
After ironing out a few details between both parties and with the department pitching in, they quickly settled on the final draft.
Now, all they had to do was wait for the magazine to hit the stands and go live on digital platforms.
The timing was impeccable–she caught the final proofing deadline. The department swiftly adjusted the layout and sent it straight to the printing line.
With everything wrapped up, Diana kindly gave Alyssia a couple of days off.
However, Alyssia had barely dozed off after getting home when Lauren’s call jolted her awake.
“Wake up! All hell’s about to break loose!” Lauren’s opening words instantly snapped Alyssia to attention.
Lauren said, “I’m sending you something–burn after reading, got it?”
Lauren was always a bit of an alarmist, so Alyssia didn’t take her seriously at first. But after reading it, her face drained of color- worse than ever before.
Alyssia called Lauren back. “Lauren, you know where the printing plant is, don’t you?”
Lauren hesitated for just a second before briskly replying, “I’ll send it right now! But Alyssia, no matter how this goes, don’t rat me out!”
“If you pull this off, I’ll make you department head!” Alyssia vowed fiercely.
She hastily threw on some clothes, dashed downstairs, and ran out of her apartment complex–just in time to spot a taxi pulling up across the street.
Alyssia waved frantically while dashing across the street toward the taxi.
The taxi slammed on the brakes, tires skidding loudly right next to Alyssia,
The screech of sudden brakes pierced her ears.
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