Chapter 37
[ 497 words ]
Chapter 37:
Drained to the core, I ended the call and let myself fall onto the bed, swallowed by helplessness.
My phone started ringing again almost at once. Thinking it was Ethan, I answered and snapped, “Are you finished yet? I already told you I’m quitting.”
“Lianne? It’s me.” Frank’s voice came through, soft and faintly concerned.
I froze, and the anger inside me vanished in an instant. “Sorry… I thought it was some nuisance call.”
“It’s okay.” Frank gave a light laugh. “I saw those comments online. Ivy’s fans are kind of out of control. Are you alright? I’ve been really worried about you.”
“I’m okay,” I said, forcing my voice to sound light even as tears stung behind my eyes. “Those rumors can’t do anything to me.”
But Ethan could.
I hurriedly steered the conversation elsewhere and congratulated him on getting a part in a major production.
𝗧𝗵e 𝗆𝘰𝗌𝘁 𝗽ор𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘳 n𝘰𝗏еls o𝗻 𝗴𝗮l𝗻o𝗏𝗲𝘭𝗌.𝖼о𝘮
Frank spoke with quiet conviction over the phone. “I’m going to work until I win Best Actor. Just wait and see. When I get that award, I’ll bring you with me to the ceremony, okay?”
His words soothed the ache in me, even if only by a fraction.
I agreed. “Okay.”
A few days later, my ankle was mostly better, so I went back to the company.
At the elevator lobby, I had the bad luck of crossing paths with Ethan.
We traded a couple of curt greetings, and I quickly stepped away as though I were dodging disaster.
Close to noon, the desk phone rang without warning.
“Come and have lunch with me,” Ethan said, his tone making it clear this was not a request. “I already had the restaurant send it over. It’s all your favorite dishes.”
I was about to refuse, but then he added, “Don’t make me come downstairs and get you myself.”
I drew in a slow breath and waited until the staff had all wandered off to the cafeteria before I rose and made my way to his office on the top floor.
The table had already been laid out with a refined meal, and the rich smell of steak drifted through the room.
Ethan sat at the head of the table and motioned toward the chair across from him. “Sit.”
He passed me a delicate gift box, and inside lay a one-of-a-kind brooch, its diamonds flashing beneath the light.
“This is for you,” he said.
“Thank you,” I replied blandly, setting the box off to one side.
During the meal, he unexpectedly placed food on my plate and even asked about my injured ankle.
While cutting into his steak, he spoke without lifting his eyes. “I’ll take care of Ivy. She won’t trouble you again.”
“It’s already over,” I said evenly, chewing without appetite, unable to taste anything at all.
“You’ve been under too much pressure lately.” Ethan looked at me, and there was something in his eyes that resembled repayment. “If the Sparkle project is too much for you, you can hire a few more assistants to help out. If there’s anything you need, tell me.”
My fingers tightened around the fork.
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