… At GK Group. Lucas was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, his rigid features cascaded with an icy frost, remnants of the rage from last night lingering. “M-Mr. Harrison.” Amanda walked inside. “The paparazzi are outside the company. The Shareholders demand an emergency meeting… regarding your proclaiming the AG Group as an enemy.” It had become the topic of discussion in every news channel in Phoenix City. Last night, at Zach Olsen's birthday party, not only were the paparazzi present, but they also captured everything. Lucas turned around, his murderous look scaring the shit out of the secretary. “I- I'll take my leave, I'll inform them that you're not available-” “Wait.” Amanda was about to flee and Lucas stopped her. “The day before yesterday, at NightBay Street, 10:00 p.m. Investigate what happened.” “O-Okay.” Amanda nodded rapidly and left, even though there were so many questions in her eyes. Lucas left the office. He arrived at the conference room
… At StriveStyle Co. Isla walked into Heidi's office with some reports in her hands, her face cascaded with a gloom which she tried to conceal under a stiff smile. “What's wrong?” Heidi looked up. “It is regarding the hiring of new models, Ms. Olsen. No agency wants to work with us.” “Really?” Heidi's brows furrowed slightly. Isla nodded, placing the reports in front of her. “Ms. Olsen, StriveStyle Co. Is in a hot spot due to the scandal going around between the GK Group and AG Group.” “Clearly, those agencies are afraid to offend a powerful company like GK Group. Seeing that AG Group is less intimidating, they're taking sides already.” 'Damn you! Lucas Harrison,’ Heidi pinched her nose bridge, cursing inside her mind. “Well, if they don't want to hire models for us, it's fine. We can reach out to those models ourselves, right?” “Ms. Olsen, about that.” Isla sighed. “A small subsidiary like us isn't capable of doing that. We'll have to set up an Agency, then hire staff
“You can't fire us! StriveStyle Co. can't do without us.” “The number of employees is rapidly declining. At this moment, you won't dare fire any employee.” “Even though you're the CEO, didn't you claim that you want to revive this brand?” “Believe me, StriveStyle Co. doesn't need employees like you.” Heidi walked inside the elevator, leaving the three ladies dumbfounded. “Young Miss, you must have had a long day, didn't you?” John said from the driver's seat, noticing the exhaustion in her eyes. “Not really. I'm striving well.” “Just tell me if you're tired, Young Miss-” “So you can report it to Grandpa, right?” “Haha-Hehe.” John scratched his head. “Do you believe I'm a spy, come on. The Old Master is only looking out for you. Let me tell you, Young Miss…” As John chattered on, while driving her home, Heidi's phone constantly beeped in her bag. She brought it out and saw Grandpa Winston's name flashing on the screen. “Heidi, you silly girl. When are you planning to vis
Heidi ignored his warning look, rolling her eyes and keeping her attention on Grandpa Winston. As Lucas drove the car, she sat in the backseat with the Old Man. “Heidi, remember that time we went to a dinner party? Your name wasn't on the invite list but Grandpa squeezed you in. When you suddenly disappeared from the party, where did you go, silly girl?” Grandpa Winston's intention was to rekindle old memories. However, Heidi's remembrance of that event only increased her hate towards the man sitting in the driver's seat. Hadn't Lucas pulled her out of the hall before she could even enter, then led her inside the washroom? “Hehe, you went to fool around, didn't you?” Grandpa Winston gave Heidi a knowing look, chuckling deeply. Lucas stiffened, his fingers curling around the steering wheel. His eyes darted to the rearview mirror, scrutinizing Heidi's expression and anticipating her reply. Heidi gave the man a secret glare, before faking a bashful smile at the old man. “Gran
If Lucas wasn't mad before, then he was really beyond himself this time. “What's with that look?” Grandpa Winston narrowed his eyes. “Are you not going to take her back?” “Grandpa, I will,” Lucas grumbled and left. Grandpa Winston sighed and urged Heidi on, “Hurry up. It is getting very late.” Heidi hurried after the man and caught up with him at the parking lot. Lucas scoffed, turning around, not seeing the fist flying in his direction coming. But he dodged it on time, and Heidi punched the empty air. “Are you crazy?” Lucas frowned. Heidi grabbed his collar, letting out her long-suppressed anger. “You're the crazy maniac! Lucas Harrison, don't think I'm going to forgive you for pushing me inside the pool.” Taken aback by her sudden attack, Lucas blinked then his features hardened. “Do you think I'm as petty as you? I could punish you for pushing Tracy inside the pool.” “Ha! You dared!” “Heidi.” He grabbed her arm, blocking her attacks. “I will only warn you for the la
At Carlson's Manor, meanwhile. A text notification popped on Tracy's phone. Looking inside it, the glass of juice in her hand fell to the ground and shattered. “Did you see the photo?” Stella called her immediately. “What is your job, Tracy? Why are you neglecting your duties?” “It's not like that, Stella, I- I mean…” Tracy was greatly dumbfounded by that picture, she didn't know which words to say. Her vision clouded with anger, and after Stella's last words, she gripped the phone until the screen cracked. Staring at the photo again, her eyes turned crimson with jealousy. “You do like to fool around don't you, Heidi?” Tracy's eyes glinted, her lips curling into a sinister smile. “Since you love trouble that much, why don't I give you what you want?” She pressed into the almost-unrecognizable phone, stopping at a particular contact. “It has been long, Todd. Erm, don't you have a fetish for married women?” “You told me you're single. Did you get married?” From the other end
After Isla told her what the problem was, Heidi's lips twitched. “When did they sell the cars?” “Just a few weeks ago. I've heard some employees gossiping about it the moment it went missing.” Literally, StriveStyle Co. no longer had a transit car all thanks to Aiden and Lilian. “We can go in a taxi,” Heidi suggested, putting some documents inside her bag and standing up. Isla hesitated, she didn't voice out her concerns though. She was just surprised that someone like Ms. Olsen would take a commercial ride. The appointments were booked at different restaurants at different time frames. The first restaurant they arrived at wasn't very far from StriveStyle Co. Their first appointment was with a newbie model. Apart from having good temperaments, her skin was flawless and she carried herself with elegance. “Thank you for this offer, Ms. Olsen.” Her lips pulled into a subtle smile. “I'm willing to take the job, however, considering the bad reputation of your brand, it can h
… That Evening… Heidi sat in front of her computer, going through a list of models on the web. While engrossed in her work, she was oblivious that someone was inside the room with her. “Why are you overworking yourself when you're sick, Heidi? Who even allowed you to stay at home instead of keeping you at the hospital?” Heidi looked at her father, her lips pursing in an offended manner. “You knew I fell into the pool. Were you so busy with playing golf that you couldn't call and check on me?” It had been a few days since he left home. Heidi didn't even know he traveled until his absence became alarmingly prominent. “Were you so busy with being a servant housewife that you forgot you have parents for three years?” Her father had his own comeback, narrowing his eyes at her and also pursing his lips. Heidi sighed exasperatedly. “Dad, didn't you all disown me?” “If we've disowned you, we wouldn't have allowed you into the mansion.” “Grandpa would defend me.” “Silly Girl,