Her Fake Lover

Chapter 58

Emmeline Karfis was in her office, faced with a bouquet of flowers sent by Howard Silas Ashbluff. Emmeline looked at it in disbelief. Chloe was also in front of her.

A bouquet of yellow roses.

"A friend of mine once said that yellow roses symbolize friendship. Em—it's a bit bad if you interpret it like the ancients, because people used to think of it as a symbol of jealousy. But that meaning has shifted. I-I don't know. I'm not a flower expert. I-I don't know what Silas HA's boss means. I—"

"This is bullshit!"

"You mean me?"

"No. Silas. Howard Silas Ashbluff. What's the point of sending me flowers like this? He's just trying to make fun of me. He wants to—" Emmeline was silent for a moment, then, "hahh!" she looked more and more annoyed.

"I thought you looked like a best friend in need of a boost, and then he said, 'hey, come on cheers! Remember, there's me.'" Chloe paused, trying to control herself.

"And that's satire," said Emmy. Chloe let out a sigh of relief, grateful that Emmy wasn't angry at her words that sounded more like a child narrating a drama. "Or maybe, Chloe ... this is a sign of something?" Emmy seemed to think for a moment. "Hhh! I don't know what he wants! Howard can drive me crazy!" Emmy slammed the flower on the table. Chloe flinched, but didn't dare comment.

Emmeline went to the window. Her gaze was fixed on the outside, with her arms crossed.

"Chloe," Emmeline called. Chloe swiftly approached. "Find the person who has been the source for Foxxtar. That designer and the man who damage production machines are closely monitored. That way, I'm sure someone else has done it."

"Um ... you don't think ... maybe Justin did it?"

Emmeline was silent for a moment. "No. He didn't do it. I just visited him, and we were talking. I feel I see honesty in his eyes, Chloe. More than that, it would be ridiculous if Justin did his thing—if he really did it and has bad intentions towards us—with this way. It's more like a deliberate commotion. To create chaos in the office, so that if a piece of news came out, it would sound natural because someone from our company could say 'yes, there has been chaos within the company'. The public would be confused, and while they don't really understand what's going on, a bad label has already been put on Karfis & Vin. And I can't lie to you. I can't help but suspect Howard Silas. If you remember, he also caused problems when Vin was still life. Silas kind of has a personal dislike for us. Maybe he's hurt that Vin left him and then together with me started a new business. His act of sending me flowers today has reinforced that impression. He actually wanted to insult me."

"Oh, my God," Chloe sighed. "Um, fine. I'll try to get some information on that Foxxtar source." Chloe turned to leave Emmeline.

"Wait!" said Emmeline. Chloe suddenly stopped. "The two troublemakers we arrested yesterday were two of the three new hires. There was one more person who signed up and started working at this place at the same time as them, wasn't there?" Emmeline furrowed her brows as if remembering something.

"Em–yes, you're right. Ah, do you suspect the one remaining person?" Chloe asked seriously.

"Check him out. We have to be on the lookout for anyone at times like this."

"Okay then." Chloe was obedient.

Chloe Levine had left Emmeline. Now all that was left was Emmeline, who looked out the window again.

She then returned to her chair after a while, to resume her work.

But something suddenly stopped Emmeline's activities. Something crossed her mind. Emmeline then called Chloe to bring her the files of the three new employees they had been talking about. Chloe came back shortly after.

"What are you going to do with these files?" Chloe asked.

"Of course check them out. You go back to work. Don't forget to investigate the one remaining employee of these three."

"Um—all right then."

Emmeline was now faced with the files of the three new employees which seemed mysterious to her. Emmeline, go through the files one by one. She researched it well.

Emmeline's attention stopped at a document belonging to the jewelry designer, a woman named Agatha Zervas. Emmeline had spoken to her before, but now something else drew Emmeline's attention to her.

"I think I can find something else about this woman," she muttered. She re-examined Agatha's documents, but there was nothing special about her CV, other than a pretty proud achievement, which was the reason she was accepted at Karfis & Vin. But Emmeline wasn't satisfied with that yet.

Emmeline returned to check up. Not a quest she could find quickly. It took a few moments of concentration, going through several sources, and contacting a handful of people, until Emmeline finally found what she described as a useful information.

Emmeline finished her examination just as the late afternoon was running out. She had been very tired by then, but her discovery could not make her calm down and just go back home.

Emmeline took her car keys. She decided to go somewhere.

Emmeline refused to be accompanied by anyone, neither her driver nor Chloe. Emmeline went alone to the woman's house. Agatha Zervas' house. Emmeline did not convey the purpose of her departure to anyone.

Some time passed. Emmeline stopped her car in front of the house. There was another car there, and what made Emmeline frown was that she seemed to know it.

"This is Justin Ford's car," Emmeline whispered. Emmeline looked at the house standing in front of her with a thoughtful expression. "What is Justin doing here?"

Emmeline wasted no time. She hurriedly continued on her way, and then found a commotion in the living room. Emmeline paused for a moment. Emmeline could hear Justin lashing out at Agatha.

"You have tarnished my name! You have slandered me!" Justin said, and it went on for quite a while.

Emmeline continued on her way. She knew she should have knocked on the door. But at that time, with the condition of the door open, and the commotion going on inside had also caught Emmeline's interest, Emmeline temporarily ignored the rule and just walked in. Her arrival surprised the two people inside.

Justin suddenly stopped talking, and just like Agatha, he looked very surprised by the sudden arrival of Emmy.

"Miss Karfis?" said Justin.

"Miss Karfis," said Agatha too. She stuttered, and she looked pale. Then they stood up quickly.

Emmeline, looked fixedly at Agatha.

"If you can't get her to confess, Justin. Maybe I can," Emmeline said. The words startled Justin, then Emmeline, walked over to them.

***