hapter 30
Chapter 30
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Charlotte stared at her phone, seething over Isabella and Cassie’s viral livestream success. The enigmatic Tyrant Panda account captivated viewers, sparking rumors of a connection to the Monroes, even though Evan had already made his support clear with a generous $1,000 gift during the broadcast.
Fortunately for the curious netizens, Tyrant Panda’s account wasn’t private. Upon investigation, they discovered the user followed only Isabella Prescott. This revelation led many to believe Tyrant Panda was a wealthy admirer devoted solely to
her.
The news didn’t sit well with Charlotte. Jealousy burned as she thought, ‘How did Isabella manage to find a supporter like that?‘
A soft kiss on her neck snapped her back to the present. She turned to find Jake staring at her with a sly grin.
“Keep an eye on Isabella for me,” Charlotte ordered as she slid out of bed, dragging the blanket along.
Jake frowned, his tone tinged with exasperation. “Aren’t you tired of obsessing over her? What’s she done this time?”
Charlotte’s expression darkened. “She terminated her contract with Golden Stage, and I need to know what she’s up to. I thought her career would collapse after the company released that damaging statement, but those five lawyers she hired are too good. They’ve already sent warnings to our office. If this escalates, we’ll end up paying Isabella more than she paid to break the contract.”
Jake stretched lazily across the king–sized bed. “So why not just let her go? Let her live her life.”
“Because I want her to suffer,” Charlotte snarled. “Are you stupid? Isabella will pay for what she did–for the rest of her life. This is her fault!”
Jake’s smirk deepened. “Her fault? Or is that the story you tell yourself?”
Her eyes flashed with barely contained rage. “Shut up, Jake!”
He chuckled, leaning closer. “I’ve kept quiet for eight years, haven’t I? But remember our arrangement. As long as you keep me satisfied…” His voice dipped as amusement flickered in his eyes. “Your body is mine, Charlotte.”
Charlotte gritted her teeth, suppressing the urge to lash out. She needed Jake–for now. His knowledge of her past, her true nature, and the deeply rooted hatred she harbored toward Isabella kept her bound to his terms like a prisoner to her chains.
A week after her agreement for Jake to investigate Isabella, troubling news reached her ears: Isabella had been appointed as the head manager of the entertainment agency, SummitGlow Talent.
But what shook Charlotte the most was a detail that sent her pulse racing–Isabella was wearing the very necklace that she and Jake had spent the last eight years desperately searching for.
Her hands trembled as Jake handed her a stack of photos documenting Isabella’s recent activities. And there it was–the necklace, its distinctive design haunting her like a ghost from the past.
“Damn it!” Charlotte exploded, glaring at Jake. “Are you absolutely sure she doesn’t know anything?”
Jake leaned against the desk, unfazed by her anger. “I don’t know. Why?” His lips curved into that infuriating smirk. “Are you scared?”
Charlotte’s voice wavered as the possibility struck her. “What if she knows? What if Isabella was there that night, and this clueless act is just her way of toying with us?”
Jake was indifferent to whether Isabella knew the truth about the necklace; what mattered to him was that he had spent the last eight years successfully pulling Charlotte’s strings.
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Chapter 30
“I can’t just sit here!” Charlotte snapped, pacing the room. “We need to act, and you’ll help me.”
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Jake ran a hand through his dark hair, clearly doubtful. “What if you’re wrong? What if it’s just a coincidence? What if the necklace is just a replica? It’s been eight years, Charlotte. Think about it–what if she had made a new one?”
His words cut through her panic, forcing Charlotte to pause.
“You could be right,” she admitted through gritted teeth.
But her mind refused to settle.
‘That doesn’t mean I’ll do nothing.’
She needed certainty–whatever the price.
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***
Isabella
The news spread quickly through SummitGlow Talent: I was taking over as manager. The talents were already nervous, and this announcement only made them more anxious.
head
In the glass–walled meeting room, department heads sat around the polished conference table, their face masks of carefully controlled disdain.
“Seriously, is this some kind of sick joke?” Mr. Brown, the acting general manager, slammed his palm against the table.
“Maybe she slept with Mr. Blake,” a woman whispered under her breath, loud enough for me to hear. I shot her a sharp look.
“Don’t take offense, Ms. Prescott. You’re just a lowly actress, not even close to a class–A celebrity. What could someone like you possibly do for our company? You know we’ve just come out of bankruptcy. What could you possibly contribute? Dragging the talents under SummitGlow through the mud?”
“Are you all done?” I asked, calmly ignoring their bitter remarks.
“No, we’re not! We’re calling Mr. Blake. This is unacceptable!” Mr. Brown shouted.
“Go ahead.” I leaned back in my chair, a ghost of a smile playing on my lips. “But before you do, let me be clear: I’m not here as entertainment. In fact, I’ve already called the police. They’re waiting downstairs. That’s how serious I am about this job.”
The room went quiet as my words sank in. The officials looked at each other, confused about why police officers were at the
agency.
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