Chapter 741

The turn of events was so sudden that neither man could quite process it.

The manager was the most bewildered. Just that morning, his boss had specifically told him to take good care of Miss Lockwood. He’d said her backer was Felix Quigley, and that getting on her good side was tantamount to getting on the good side of the entire Quigley family. It would be a ticket to a soaring career. He had even hinted that this Miss Lockwood might be the future Mrs. Quigley.

That was why they had been so protective of her. But now, the tables had turned so drastically he couldn’t figure out who he had offended. And who was that woman who had kicked Madeline into the pool? With a single phone call, she had cost two people their jobs.

There was no time to think. They scrambled over to Noreen and Claire to plead for their jobs. It was a complete one-eighty.

“Miss Chase, I’m so sorry. There must have been a misunderstanding. Please, could you put in a good word with my boss? If I lose my job at my age, I’ll be finished,” the manager begged, all his previous arrogance gone.

The director wasn’t faring any better. “Miss Chase, we’ve worked together so many times. Please, just give me another chance,” he pleaded, clasping his hands together.

Claire only asked the brand manager one question. “Was signing Madeline your idea, or was she pushed on you?”

The manager stammered for a moment before admitting, “Mr. Quigley’s assistant discussed it with our boss.”

So it had been Felix’s doing. She had told him how much this brand meant to her, that it held a special significance. And what had he done? He’d turned around and shoehorned Madeline in as another ambassador, with a title even higher than hers, despite her four years with the brand. Madeline had been parachuted in as the global ambassador.

The original commercial script had been completely rewritten to give all the highlights to Madeline, while she was made to look like a clown, a mere backdrop.

“We discussed this with you beforehand. The pool water was supposed to be heated,” Noreen confronted them.

The director immediately shifted the blame. “That had nothing to do with me! It was Miss Lockwood. She said she was having an allergic reaction to the water temperature lately and demanded we not heat it.”

Madeline again. So she had deliberately tormented Claire, deliberately dragged out the shoot so Claire would have to stay in the cold water.

Noreen was furious. “I’m going to settle this with her right now!” She couldn’t let this go.

She had just turned when Felix appeared, his face a dark storm cloud. “We need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you, and besides, we don’t know each other that well,” Claire said coolly, reminding him of their contract’s clause about maintaining distance in public.

Felix grabbed her by the wrist and started pulling her away. Noreen blocked his path. “Let her go.”

“This is a private matter between the two of us,” Felix said coldly.

Just as Noreen was about to protest, Claire gently pulled on her arm. “Noreen, it’s okay. I’ll be right backIt was true. There were some things an outsider couldn’t interfere in. Maybe letting them talk alone was the only way to resolve it.

Noreen reluctantly let go, watching as Felix led Claire away.

He pulled her into a stairwell. Claire yanked her arm free, her voice laced with disgust. “If you have something to say, say it!”

Felix’s first words were an accusation. “Claire, if you have a problem, take it up with me. You don’t have to take it out on Madeline.”

His words shattered what little composure Claire had left. She could no longer

remain indifferent. “I took it out on her? Is that what she told you?

“She didn’t say anything,” Felix retorted, his tone still aggressive. “I figured it out myself!”

Claire stared at him for a long moment, gathering the strength to speak. “Fine. Since she’s playing the innocent victim, I’ll tell you what happened. She’s the one who stole my role and my endorsement She’s the one who had them turn off the pool heater. And she’s the one who deliberately messed up the takes over and over so I’d have to stay in that freezing water.”