Chapter 13
“Money can give you a sense of security, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of your health.” The stress Lianne undertook since getting the position as the CEO’s executive a**istant was most vivid to Tyler and Sierra
During the many midnight wakes, they would find Lianne talking in her sleep about work.
Tyler and Sierra had persuaded Lianne more than once to stop pushing herself so hard. Their comic studio was doing well, so she could still live a comfortable life without her job as the CEO’s a**istant.
Nevertheless, the last thing Lianne wanted was to leave herself without anything to do, as her mind could wander to the dark place in those idle moments.
Only by working continuously and making money for her savings to grow could her mind be at ease.
Lianne wiped away her tears. “Oh, my. I have to stay away from alcohol. It makes me cry.”
Tyler shuffled her hair. “Just let it out. It’s not embarra**ing to cry your eyes out.”
Lianne responded with heaving.
Tyler gave her back another pat. “How much did you drink?”
Her belly was upset as she did not have much to eat tonight. There was nothing for Lianne to throw up. 1 didn’t drink much, but I had a few sips of white wine, red wine, and champagne.
Tyler was too angry to give her a lecture. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
“Yes, home. Help me move the stuff on the floor into the car Lianne bobbed her head, not forgetting the task from her boss amid her drunkenness
“What are these things?” Tyler helped Lianne into the front pa**enger’s seat and buckled her up before moving the stuff.
“My boss told me to take care of the gifts that weren’t given away I plan to sell them and give the money to him. The things cost over a million dollars altogether, so there was no way Lianne was going to throw them away. Since Lianne would not take things that did not belong to her, the best approach was to turn the items into cash to return to Zane
After moving the stuff, Tyler sat behind the wheel, wanting to give Zane a piece of his mind. “He abandoned you while you were drunk and made you work. Is he making you his slave?”
Her priority was still money despite Lianne’s alcohol-induced mind. “It’s a lot of work, but the money good. A million-dollar annual income will no longer be a dream if I do a good job.”
Tyler did not want to talk to Lianne, as all she could think about was money. He took out his phone and sent a text message to Sierra. “Sierra, Gummy had a lot to drink. Make a little something that she can have for when she gets back.”
Sierra wrote back, “Sure. Watch over the gummy worm,”
While driving. Tyler would check on Lianne every now and then. She looked straight ahead, and her vacant eyes pulled on his heartstrings. “What’s on your mind, Gummy?”
“I’m thinking about my parents. Would my life be different if Mom didn’t leave my dad due to my difficult birth, and Dad did not get into a car accident while picking up a graveyard shift for extra money to give me a better life?”
Lianne was not the type to show her vulnerability to anyone, including her best friends
She smiled. “The stars are so bright tonight, Ty. Do you still remember when we used to lie on the rooftop and look at the stars?”
Instead of calling her out on changing the topic, Tyler said, “Those are our most precious memories engraved on our minds. How could I possibly forget?”
Lianne suggested, “The three of us should go on a road trip to Weston once I save more money. I heard the stars there are beautiful.”
With money coming back into the conversation, Tyler recalled a piece of good news to share. “Gummy, your ongoing comic about patriotism and romance is getting good traction. We have a few film and television companies interested in acquiring its cinematic copyright.”
Lianne’s eyes lit up. “What companies are we talking about?”
Tyler replied, “One of them is Scenematics Production.”
“No way! Really? Really?!” Hot with emotions, Lianne had to ask a few times
There was a saying online that Scenematics Production always guaranteed a blockbuster.
The film and television production company could not only secure high TV ratings and box office, but Scenematics had the credibility to show for as well. It was rare for a cinematics company to have such a great standing in its community.
Tyler added “A representative of the company wants to meet with us. We know you’re busy, and weekends are the only time you can make it. It says enough that they are willing to talk with us on a weekend.”
“Alright. When is it happening?”
“This coming weekend. I’ll get Sierra to book the flight if you’re okay with the date. We’ll fly to Highsea on Friday at the end of your shift.”
Lianne considered Zane’s itinerary for the next two days before confirming she was free for the weekend. She replied, “Alright.”
The following morning, Lianne was back to her old self, picking up a spring in her footsteps.
She got weird looks as she stepped into the office building Lianne’s enthusiastic morning greetings to her colleagues were met with avoidance and chatter behind her back.
It was the same case on the floor of the CEO’s office as her circle of close colleagues huddled in gossip. Everybody went silent the moment Lianne showed up
Amid Lianne’s bewilderment, she got a text message from Yvonne. “Lianne, take a look at the company. intranet’s chat forum.”
“Sure.” Lianne texted back, failing to notice Dave approaching with vile intentions and malicious eyes. Lianne shifted her head to the side, following the sense of danger. While Dave’s cup of boiling water did not splash on her face, Lianne was not so lucky when it came to her ears and neck.
With the hot water burning her skin, Lianne shook and hissed in pain.
I’m sorry, Liarine. I didn’t see you there. Were you burned?” He apologized in a loud voice as his hands Ined to tug open her drenched collar
Lianne slapped his hands away and angrily yelled, “What are you doing?”
Getting up in Lianne’s face, Dave smiled wickedly and sinisterly
want to end you. I warned you not to steal the position from me, but you wouldn’t listen. I’ll make you leave the Atlas Group in the saddest way possible”
“You, of all people? You got nothing” Lianne wasted no time with him as she returned to her office to turn on the computer. Without needing to look for the post Yvonne mentioned, a notification popped up on her screen the moment she entered the company intranet.
“Lianne’s scandalous secrets.”
Lianne clicked on the notification, leading to a post of pictures without captions.
The first three photos were of her back as she chatted with Morgan at the Quays” residence.
Due to the angle of the camera, her two-foot distance from Morgan made it seem as if she was snuggled up against the man.
The fourth picture was her falling into Tyler’s arms. Tyler’s head was down as if he was kissing her.
The fifth photo was Tyler intimately running his fingers along her hair.
The sixth photo was of Tyler standing outside the front pa**enger’s seat while she was seated. Anyone would think they were locking tongues, but the truth was that Tyler was fastening her seatbelt.
The last photo was taken in a supermarket Lianne was picking out a bottle of seasoning, and a random man with a shopping cart next to her had somehow become part of her harem.
Not one man out of all the pictures had a clear shot of their faces, but Lianne’s face was in plain sight. Even the tiny mole on her ear lobe was visible
Compared to the photos, Lianne found the comments most horrifying.
Those fools, in the dark of the truth, were calling her names in the name of justice.
