Henry swiftly read between the lines of Debra's words. He gave a firm nod and said, "I get the picture, Ms. Frazier. Consider it done.""Excellent," Debra replied, rising from her seat. "Freya is chomping at the bit to debut, but the truth is, Potter Entertainment doesn't have the resources to make it happen. I trust you grasp the sensitivity of the matter."Henry met her gaze steadily. "Leave it to me. I'll keep the trainees in line."Debra nodded, satisfied. "I'll be heading back. Don't worry. Your position here is secure.""Understood, Ms. Frazier. Let me show you out," Henry said, gesturing towards the door.Outside the meeting room, Eve watched the exchange, her jaw clenched tight enough to crack walnuts.Ashley, never one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot, leaned in and whispered, "How does Debra still wield so much power? I heard Juan is about to get engaged to Miss Blair. Debra's not Mrs. Nichols anymore, so why is your father bending over backward for her?"Eve's e
"A gala?"When Debra strode back into the McKinney Group's headquarters, the buzz of internal chatter reached her ears almost instantly.She tossed the invitation onto her desk. "So, why didn't this invitation land on my desk yesterday?"Ben squirmed under her gaze. "This is a big deal. All the top celebrities and big-name stars will be there. I didn't think you needed to attend, so...""Cut to the chase, Ben. Who's hosting it?" Debra demanded.Ben tried to dance around the question, but Debra's steely gaze had him pinned. He finally came clean."It's the Nichols family."A smile spread across Debra's face. She knew Ben wouldn't hide the invitation without a reason. And now, she understood. He was worried about her crossing paths with Juan.Ben trod carefully. "They're going to announce Mr. Nichols' engagement to Miss Blair."Everyone in Seamar City knew about Debra's history with Juan. Now that Juan was getting engaged to Shelia, and if the invitation had landed in his still-
As twilight deepened into night, the gala was hosted at the Nichols family's old house.Melody was against Juan engaging Shelia, but Juan, being the decision-maker, had the event implemented.Outside, Debra sat in her car, watching as a parade of luxury vehicles rolled up, each more opulent than the last. She had once dealt a crushing blow to the Nichols family when she established the McKinney Group, yet their web of influence remained firmly in Juan's grasp.Her past leniency had allowed the Nichols Group to rise again within a few months."Madam, we've arrived," Ben prompted.Stepping out of the car, Debra was greeted by a familiar, albeit unwelcome, voice. "Well, if it isn't Debra."She turned to see Eve and Ashley emerging from their lavish ride. Eve was draped in a silver lace gown that clung to her curves, diamonds shimmering like stars against the night. She was a vision of extravagance, while Ashley, in a sweet pink sheath dress, seemed almost demure by comparison.Debr
Eve was delighted. "With your silver tongue, if I do manage to win Mr. McKinney's heart and marry him, I'll make sure you get your shot at stardom.Ashley's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? Eve, you're an absolute doll!"Eve, accustomed to Ashley's honeyed words, barely registered the compliment. Her gaze sharpened as she spotted Debra entering the house."You, over there. Come here," she commanded.Joe, who had been searching for Debra at Juan's behest, paused mid-stride as Eve intercepted him. As Juan's secretary, only Juan and Melody held sway over him.Maintaining a diplomatic tone, he responded, "Good evening, Miss. Is there something I can assist you with?"Eve snorted, "Debra is just a lowly manager from the McKinney Group. What makes her worthy of being here? Have someone remove her. She's sullying the atmosphere."Eve's imperious tone made it clear she mistook Joe for a mere butler. Ashley, ever the opportunist, fanned the flames. "Exactly. This is the Nichols fa
"Indeed, Ms. Frazier," Joe acknowledged with a slight bow.He flicked his gaze at a maid standing nearby. The maid sprang into action, stepping forward and splashing a glass of ice-cold water onto Eve's face.Eve gasped, her makeup streaking down her now-drenched face. Her expression darkened like a storm cloud."Have you all gone mad? I am a guest here. How dare you treat me this way?""The Nichols family has no interest in hosting ill-bred guests. Besides, we have no record of you." Joe regarded Eve with an icy stare, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She had pulled strings through her father's connections to secure an invitation. Normally, this kind of grand event was beyond their reach.Feeling the weight of countless eyes on her, Eve gritted her teeth. "Regardless, I am still a guest. Even if I've erred, it is Mr. Nichols' place to reprimand me, not yours. You're just a secretary. Since when do you have the authority to act like this?"Ashley immediately echoed he
Eve hadn't even laid eyes on Tracy before the security guards manhandled her like a ragdoll.In the blink of an eye, a man in a crisp butler's uniform stood before her. Eve wrenched herself free from the guards' grasp, her voice shaking with rage and humiliation. "How dare you lay your filthy hands on me?"She frantically brushed at her clothes, as if their touch had left a stain. "You must be the butler. I demand to see Mr. Nichols. He should know how his staff is treating his guests."She was a rich lady, and no one had disrespected her like this before.The butler looked down his nose at her, his voice dripping with disdain. "Mr. Nichols is not for anyone to see."He signaled the guards with a flick of his wrist. "Miss Blair has expressed her displeasure with this outfit. Remove it.""Yes, sir."The guards advanced on Eve, their hands grabbing at her designer dress. She paled, her eyes wide with terror. The sound of ripping fabric filled the air as her haute couture gown was
Debra and Juan were to maintain the facade of a happy couple in public.Post-divorce, neither could have any lingering claims. She was explicitly forbidden from tarnishing the Nichols family's name. And to keep up appearances, neither party could remarry within a year.She couldn't help but laugh. "Juan, this is absurd.""I've already signed," Juan stated, his voice as unyielding as stone. "These are my conditions. Meet them, and you'll receive a ten-billion-dollar settlement."Debra knew Juan's resolve was set in stone. This was the biggest compromise he could make."And what about Shelia? Today's supposed to be your engagement announcement.""I never said today was about an engagement."Realization dawned on her like a harsh light. Juan wasn't planning to announce his engagement to Shelia. He was staging a reconciliation with her instead.Her brows furrowed. "What's your endgame, Juan?""That's not your concern. Leave it or take it."Debra stared at the agreement, the weigh
The moment Edgar strode into the room, Declan's face flushed a shade of crimson.The history between the Blair and Odom families was no secret, and the Blair family's recent actions had left the Odoms smarting from public humiliation.Declan's smile was more a grimace, but with all eyes on him, he steeled himself and extended a hand. Before he could grasp Edgar's, the latter withdrew and asked, "Where's Jade?"To the casual observer, Edgar still cut the figure of a man hopelessly in love. The room buzzed with whispers as Shelia descended the staircase.Clad in a couture gown that shimmered under the chandeliers, and dripping in jewels that could fund a small nation, Shelia commanded attention.Guests flocked to her, their congratulations echoing through the marbled hall.Having attended many events with Juan in the past, she smiled politely in poise, as if she were already the future Mrs. Nichols."Dad," Shelia cooed, sidling up to Declan.He beamed with pride, patting her hand