Greg’s office... The man was going through some files when his phone rang. He paused to see who called before taking the call. Reclining in the executive chair, he spoke, “Are you done?” ‘Yes, Mr Greg. It went smoothly.’ Greg turned his wrist to check the time and replied, “It was quicker than I expected. You should head home straight away and get some rest. By evening, you would likely receive an email from Sunlight Entertainment. Be sure to tell them that Glamour had offered you a jaw-dropping contract terms. That way, they would increase whatever Glamorous offered you.” ‘Yes, Manager Greg!’ Her soft melodious voice, laced with tease, tickled Greg’s heart and his lips stretched into a smile. “I may drop by later. Do you mind?” The other end stayed silent for a while, sending Greg’s heartbeat increasing in anticipation and dread with every passing second. Ever since they started working together, she had stopped him from going over unless it was unavoidable. ‘Can’t we discuss
At Greg's family's home… Earlier, he received a call from his father to drop by for dinner. As it was his father's birthday, Greg couldn't turn it down, so he attended. Sitting around the dining table with his three sisters, mother, father, Sonia, and a lady he didn't expect would be there, Rosie. Greg shot a glare at his little sister, Delilah. He knew she would have been the brain behind such arrangements, and indeed, he wasn't wrong. Delilah stuck out her tongue and made funny faces at him. So what if he was angry because Rosie was present? What can he do about it? It was their father's birthday, after all. “Lillah, don't annoy your brother,” their mother chimed in with a smile. “What did I do? He glared at me first.” She pouted, causing the father to laugh lightly and shake his head. “I thought your birthdays were only attended by family? How come you have strangers sitting around the dining table this year?” Greg casually stated in a bid to communicate his dissatisfaction.
Walking to the garage, Greg opened his mouth. “Rosie, I have something to discuss with you– ““I'm sorry for my nonchalance in the previous months, Greg. You're a businessman yourself, so you know how these things work.” She suddenly cut him off. Months ago, after the family function, Greg's parents sent Rosie's dowry to her family, in preparation for their wedding that was supposed to happen in a month, just like the Matriarch of the Carl family wanted. However, Rosie was too busy with her business, as she was making arrangements to put up a branch in Africa. So, because of that, the marriage was postponed. It seems that the Carl family doesn't care about what Greg thinks. “I mean to tell you, Rosie, that I have someone I'm interested in. I want to make her my wife. But that person is not you.” Rosie froze, her face turning pale. Greg is the man she had always loved, right from when they were kids. Everyone around her knew it. She had stayed away from men because she thought Gre
By the time Meera returned to Greg's office with the coffee, he was already in, reading a document. Meera paused by the entrance before walking in. “I'm sorry, Mr. Greg. The coffee maker was faulty, so I had to go downstairs to – “Meera froze when he raised his head. His face was dark and the look in his eyes were ones she'd never seen before. She was told by his other assistant that it was his tradition to have his coffee before starting his day. Was he angry because he started his day without coffee? Meera didn't know why but she felt a pang of pain in her heart. She was a bit disappointed. A part of her thought he wouldn't treat her as a mere employee after months of knowing each other. With her gaze lowered, she walked briskly to the desk and quickly put his coffee down. With her back turned and ready to leave, she suddenly heard his suppressed voice. “Why didn't you fight back?”She froze. Fight back, what was he talking about? She turned to face him. “Why did you let the
Stella blinked. What was she talking about? “Since I'm good at tattle-taling trivial matters to the CEO, you should answer every single question I ask you.” Meera addressed her and asked again. “Stella, did I steal your money?” “No,” she replied. “Did I steal your man?” Stella shook her head. “Do we share the same parents?”“Why are you asking me these stupid – ““Answer me!” Meera thundered, startling Stella and everyone present. She's always been calm and didn't look like one who would fight back when stepped on. “No.”“Are we in any way related? Scratch that. Am I hindering your progress at work, or slashed your salary?” “No!”“Then, where is your hatred coming from?” she asked. “Don't play dumb! Sonia was fired because of you!” The other of Greg's assistant chimed in. Meera raised her gaze, “Did Mr. Greg tell you that? If I were the reason, would she have been suspended or rather fired?”“You– ““Was I here when Sonia was fired?” she smirked at Stella’s baffled face and
“M– Mr. Greg!” the co-assistant called, frightened at the possibility that they heard what she said. “Cousin, why didn’t I know that your new assistant is so savage? Say, I give you two persons from my team in exchange for her… what do you – “ Greg shot a glare at Hudson who immediately closed his mouth. Sweeping his gaze through the mini crowd that had their heads down, he casually stated. “When did the rules of the company become so lax? How come I didn't know that the company now has a place for bullies?” The HR manager stepped forward and apologized, “The company’s rules are still very much against bullying. I’ll take care of this immediately.” He sharply turned to Meera and barked, “You’re fired with no salary!” On their way here, they only heard Meera’s savage words and from the look of it – a fellow employee kneeling in front of Meera while others looked scared, Meera was obviously the bully. Even though she was one of the CEO’s assistants, the company’s rules also apply
The HR manager didn’t see anything wrong, but the bullies couldn’t swallow their saliva as they felt their throats go dry all of a sudden. They wished they could stop Hudson but he had already left. Stella began to think, did she say anything that would warrant her getting fired? Revisiting her words, she realized that she didn’t speak out of line, so she immediately spoke the truth.“Mr. Greg, actually, Meera is innocent… I was only kneeling to apologize to her for what I did earlier. I also thought that she tattle-taled to you, which resulted in my superior making things difficult for me.” She began to cry pitifully. “Then these people took it the wrong way and began to sully your reputation. Then, Meera couldn’t take it and put them in their places…” she confessed everything as it was but made sure to leave herself a way out. She couldn’t be fired. There are lots of lives which depended on her salary for survival!Meera raised a brow, not expecting Stella to speak up for her. Bu
Because of the impromptu announcement Greg made at the canteen, Meera handed delegated her work for the day to other assistants and hurry off to Sunlight Entertainment. The imposing building stood tall with dignity, embracing the sun as it basked in the glory of people's awe-stricken stares. Meera alighted from the car with her assistant, Candice. Together, they made their way into the company. Whether Meera would become Sunlight Entertainment artist, today they would know, because the previous time, after she signed the contract, Glamour Entertainment exposed her true identity to the higher ups of Sunlight Entertainment, hoping that she would be driven out. Moreover, the CEO of Sunlight Entertainment, Mr. Collins is a weirdo. Unlike before, Meera didn't wear makeup. After all, her identity as Anime Barbie has been blown, so there was no need attending the meeting with a caked face. With Meera’s face bare of her usual thick makeup, she looked soft, innocent, and cute, yet it did
As she was about to step out of her dress and hug Greg again, he gave her a once over and smirked, “There is nothing to be desired. Your body does not impress me.” A woman's body is her pride. Commenting negatively about her body could cause her mental and emotional breakdown. This, Greg knew too well, but still did it. He turned and began to put on his clothes. He believed that after disrespecting her, she would respect herself and leave like he wanted. He didn't intend to hurt her, but he had no choice. Sonia froze. Her face paled and her heart shattered into million pieces. The stabbing pain in her heart was unbearable, like a dagger twisting deep within her. She felt humiliated, rejected, and utterly devastated. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and her mind raced with shock and anger. She couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't breathe. The room seemed to spin around her, and her entire world came crashing down.Greg's harsh words and dismissive behavior had stripped her not onl
Sonia’s heart froze with fright when Greg turned around. Her mind jolted to the threat he made the last time she barged into his room like this. “Sonia, consider this your last warning. If you ever burst in on me like this again and catch me off guard, there’ll be consequences.” Sonia snapped out of it and took a step back in shock and dread. Standing in the room was Greg in his full glory, holding a white towel as he stared back at Sonia with darkening eyes. Behind Sonia was Meera whom nobody knew when she arrived. Meera’s eyes bulged at the sight of naked Greg. The size of his length choked her. She suddenly felt her heartbreat increasing tremendously. Her cheeks burned scarlet and her lower region tingled with excitement. She raised her gaze to stare at his face. Her eyes betraying her heartbreak. She didn't want to think that Greg lied about not having a woman, but if not, how could he show Sonia his nakedness so brazenly. Was she not present, wouldn't he have laid with her?
“Greg!” Meera heard a female voice calling out to Greg as she approached the room she was in. Greg had excused himself after bringing her to his bedroom in order to get ready for the ball. “Greg, I'm here– “The door suddenly swung open and Sonia stepped in, only to be shocked at the sight of a gorgeous woman she didn't recognize. Her brows furrowed at the sight of the stranger in Greg's bedroom and couldn't help but ask, feeling annoyed. “Who are you and what are you doing here?” Meera’s brows knitted slightly. Who is she? Why would she barge into a man's room without knocking?“Has the cat got your tongue?... Who the hell are you?!” Sonia's mind reeled with a sense of crisis as her mind conjured few ideas. The stranger in front of her looked ravishing in her red mermaid dress that outlined her curves. Her makeup was flawless and her hair was styled perfectly into a high ponytail. The stranger's gaze locked onto Sonia's, eyes sending sparks, and for a moment, they just stared at
Greg shook his head, “Glamour Entertainment’s artist had an affair with Sunlight Entertainment’s artist. However, when the artist from Sunlight Entertainment was caught, the company took advantage of your situation and together with Glamour Entertainment, increased the flame under you. They didn't care what the outcome of your struggle would be. All they cared about was maintaining the image of their artists.” Meera gasped. “You mean both companies have a hand in what I'm going through?”“Hm. With your ex-husband and his mistress's fanbase, they wouldn't have been able to stir so much wave. I knew something was fishy when the videos suddenly blew up the internet in less than 10 minutes, so I had someone look into it and found out both Glamour and Sunlight Entertainment bought the top spot on every media outlet.” Meera’s grip on her spoon tightened. No wonder Mr. Collins immediately believed her. But there was something she wasn't clear about. “If that's the case, why do both compan
Inside the car speeding down the road, Meera was staring at the scene outside the window as they zoomed by, however her mind was trapped in the event that happened earlier. It's been six months already, yet people were still hacking on her matter and wouldn't let go. She sighed for the umpteenth time, suppressing the dull ache in her heart. Suddenly, a phone appeared in her view. She turned her head and saw that Candice had extended her phone and she wouldn't talk. It seemed Candice was still annoyed. Looking down at the screen, it was Greg calling. Meera took the phone and placed it on her ear. “Hey,” she said but her voice was hoarse, barely making a sound. ‘I saw the videos. Are you alright?’ Meera shifted her gaze back to the window, swallowed and gently nodded, “I have to be.”‘I asked the driver to bring you straight to my villa, outside the city.’ After a slight pause, he explained so she doesn't get the wrong idea. ‘Paparazzi must be following you everywhere and the repo
Inside the elevator, Meera finally felt she could let out the steam she had been holding. “How could he do that? After all I've been through, Kelvin is just going to go scot-free?! I'm not happy! I'm mad!”Candice pursed her lips. She also didn't understand why Greg would let Meera be an artist here, knowing her enemies were here. Still, she had to say something to comfort Meera. “I'm sure Mr. Greg knows what he's doing.” Meera frowned. Indeed, Greg wasn't one to make such blunders. He may really know what he's doing. With that, her heart relaxed a little until the elevator arrived at her doom's door. Just when the elavator arrived at the ground floor and opened up, Meera was shocked to see an outrageous crowd waiting for her, their phones raised, furiously taking pictures and videos of her like, like uncultured reporters. Unbeknownst to her, the moment she entered the company, many people had already went online to drop spicy gossip and every jobless netizen was already waiting
Meera, Candice and Mr. Collins was left in the meeting room. The man observed Meera for a while then said:“I know you're innocent of the accusations…”Meera’s head whipped up, stunned. It's been a long time since anyone said they believed she was innocent. Before she could rejoice, he broke her bubble. “... However, I don't know if your womb had indeed been taken out or not.”“That is not an appropriate topic to discuss with my Miss!” Candice snapped, her brows furrowing deeply. However, Mr. Collins smiled, “I'm not trying to fish for gossip. I'm just stating what I believe, so she doesn't get it twisted.”Even with his excuse, Candice still rolled her eyes. She didn't give a fuck about his excuse. Although her face remained how it was - emotionless and unfriendly, she was angry. Meera quickly got involved, smiling nervously. “That's fine. The media made things up.” “I see,” Mr. Collins nodded like realization just dawned on him and then, he asked after a while. “The trick you pu
Meera was fighting internally to not break down with the amount of heavy words that were being used on her. Finally getting an opening after waiting for everyone to spit out what they had bottled up, she said. "I dare because I have the proof, gentlemen. And I will not be silenced or intimidated. You may have thought you could sweep this matter under the rug, but I assure you, the truth will come to light." She was only bluffing. She had no evidence, whatsoever. The executives' faces turned beet-red with rage, their mouths opening and closing like goldfish, as they struggled to respond to her bold challenge.All these while, Mr. Collins didn't utter a single word and was only watching Meera’s reaction closely. He saw how she stiffened when she was getting criticized, yet maintained her ground and stood firm. His eyes lowered to his fingers that were rhythmically drumming the table and his lips curled up ever so slightly before he spoke. “Miss Ford, our artist, Kelvin Morris is ou
Leaving the office, Meera’s legs gave way and she almost fell. “Careful!” Candice swiftly supported her and made her rest her weight on the wall. A lone tear slipped down Meera’s eyes. It's been almost six months since her reputation was ruined, yet the pain and fear in her heart hasn't subsided. All this while she was hiding behind the wall of thick makeup, she thought she had grown a thick skin, but now, she realized nothing had changed at all. She still has mental breakdowns when they verbally attack her. “Miss Ford, are you okay?”Meera shook her head, she wasn't okay and couldn't lie about it. “C – can I ever be able to defeat my fears?” her lips trembled. “If you put your heart to it, you can.” Looking at Candice with her teary eyes, she felt the urge to ask her what she thought about her. She'd been afraid to ask this question ever since Candice became her assistant, because she feared what her reply would be. Candice was bluntly honest and sometimes, her honesty could