Chapter 7
Before I even cleared the club entrance, my phone buzzed with a bank notification.
Substantial amount.
Exactly what I was owed-N+1.
yan moved fast when he had to.
smiled with satisfaction.
Saved me a lot of arbitration time.
Jack at the office, I submitted my final evaluation report to Vincent.
lis response was typically swift and concise: “Accurate.”
understood. Crawford’s death sentence had just been stamped with Wellington’s seal.
Jext few days were quiet.
Official termination notice went out.
everal companies that had been circling like vultures received Wellington’s “friendly heads-up.”
‘yan’s funding dried up overnight.
Sure enough, his calls came flooding in like a man possessed.
let him scream himself hoarse before picking up leisurely.
Jade! This was you! Are you trying to destroy me?!”
Voice raw, like a cornered animal.
listened calmly to his ranting.
During his breathing gap, I spoke slowly:
Ryan, I’m not the one destroying you.”
nstant silence on the other end.
It’s your own enabling and incompetence. It’s Brittany’s worthless ‘caring.””
I heard him suck in a sharp breath.
‘Remember that morning at my door? I told you your girlfriend’s caring came with a steep price.”
I hung up.
Dragged his number straight to my blocked list.
Just when I thought everything would settle, more vicious rumors started spreading through the industry.
Started in the break room.
I went to get coffee.
Heard my name mixed with “sleeping her way up” and “corporate spy” floating into my ears.
Seeing me enter, colleagues who’d been chatting animatedly went instantly silent.
That afternoon, a friendly intern approached my desk hesitantly, phone in hand:
“Jade, look… someone’s definitely trying to smear you, right?”
On her screen was a hit piece from an industry gossip blog.
Headline in bold:
[Inside Scoop: Wellington’s Parachuted Beauty Director-Business Skills or Bedroom Skills?]
The photos showed me and Vincent at business dinners.
His gesture of blocking a drink for me was captured to look like an embrace.
Another shot from the parking garage where I was reporting to him-taken through the car window gap, made it look like I was leaning down to kiss him.
The cruelest part was the bank transfer screenshot.
Ryan’s severance payment to me, amount clear, timestamp precise.
Caption read: [Takes money without delivering, double-dealing-this year’s office Delilah.]
The lies were seamlessly crafted.
Said I’d been having an affair with Vincent all along, acting as corporate spy at Crawford, then taking money to destroy my old
company.
I handed the phone back to the intern: “Thanks.”
She looked even more worried: “Jade, the company chat groups are all…”
I nodded, understanding.
This tactic was too familiar.
Besides Brittany, I couldn’t think of anyone else.
She was trying to completely destroy me-not just at Crawford, but at Wellington, throughout the entire industry.
I stood up, heading for Vincent’s office.
He looked up from his documents, expression calm.
I handed over my phone, pulling up that blog post: “Vincent, regarding this…”
Chapter 7
He glanced at the headline without taking my phone: “Is it affecting the projects?”
“Not yet, but the negative publicity isn’t good for the company.”
He interlaced his fingers, leaning slightly forward: “Need legal to handle it?”
I shook my head: “This is personal. I’ll clean it up myself.”
He studied me, like assessing my confidence level.
After a moment, he nodded: “Fine. Three days.”
No unnecessary comfort, just results-oriented permission.
Very Vincent.
immediately called a tech friend.
sent over that gossip blog and several anonymous accounts spreading the rumors: “Help me trace the source, fast as possible.”
wo hours later, my friend messaged back:
IDs are anonymous, but login IPs are clustered around that ‘Elite Beauty’ spa in the west district.]
Elite Beauty.
Brittany’s favorite spa retreat.
My phone buzzed again.
opened-there were high-resolution shots.
>im nightclub lighting, Brittany pressed against some balding guy, giggling flirtatiously, holding a drink to his lips.
he man’s hand was wrapped around her barely-there mini skirt.
Word is she’s hunting for a new meal ticket, set her sights on this Mr. Wilson. Wilson’s wife is notorious for being a total ragon-she’s hunting down mistresses citywide right now.]
stared at Brittany’s face in those photos.
Girl really had no standards.
