Her Fake Lover

Chapter 62

Emmeline drove her car trembling. Her chest felt so tight, and the great anger seemed to make her explode. She really felt like Howard had stirred up all her anger, more than anything. The image of Vincenzo flashed through her head, and instantly guilt filled her feelings.

Emmeline pulled over and stopped her car. She sighed for a moment and realized, tears had trickled down her cheeks.

Emmeline tried to calm herself down, but her feelings of guilt towards Vin were getting stronger and stronger. Vin had fought very well to stay away from Howard and survive Howard's snare. Now that the company was completely in Emmeline's hands, Emmeline felt stupid for giving Howard the chance to think he could do anything about Karfis & Vin.

"I'm sorry, Vin," Emmeline sighed. "Howard has gone too far this time." Emmeline recalled the series of events that had happened to her office recently, and her suspicions of Howard's involvement. "I'm sure he's done something to our company, Vin. I'm sure of it. But I can't prove it yet, and in the meantime, bad news has been circulating wildly out there about me." Emmeline squeezed her hair with both hands as she looked down and said, "Oh, my God. What have I done? How can I give an opening and an opportunity for all of this to happen?" Emmeline regretted for a moment, feeling that she had not been vigilant.

Emmeline then thought of Darren. She felt stupid enough to think she had been busy enough to take care of Darren to neglect office matters. Emmeline then remembered about Foxxtar, and the news that the media had made. Emmeline remembered that it was Darren's place of work.

"Is this just a coincidence, or is it something?" whispered Emmeline. For a moment she remembered the anger Darren had shown when Emmeline was about to leave for Italy, and Emmeline for a moment felt a chill in her heart. "No. The employee came to Foxxtar himself, didn't he? If this was all secretly done on Howard's orders, then it wasn't about Darren. Ah, my God. What's with my brain? I have too many prejudices. And I don't know what to do now." Emmeline closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She tried to calm herself, then opened her eyes again.

Her cell phone rang. Emmeline checked the phone. A call from Chloe Levine.

"Emmeline, where are you now?"

"I'm on my way."

"You're going back to the office?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Hope you get here soon. I'm concerned about everything that's happened. There's a lot of negative opinion about us on social media. The news from Foxxtar made the situation worse."

"Chloe," said Emmeline, with a somewhat tired tone, "can't you take care of it?"

"Em—sorry, Emmeline. We know all of this can only be quelled by your explanation. I know the conditions within the company are not stable. And you can't say much to the media either. Em—or what do you think if we open Agatha's confession in public? They will know that the real problem is not on our side."

Emmeline was silent. She remembered the look in Agatha's eyes when she gave her confession. Then she remembered Agatha's daughter's face. Despite Emmeline's compassion, she felt that there was something suspicious in Agatha's confession, and although Emmeline was annoyed at Agatha's actions—which led Emmy to decide to fire her—Emmeline felt it was too early to let Agatha make her confession in public, while all of her claims are not necessarily true.

Emmeline closed her eyes again. In her mind, the image of Vincenzo flashed back to her saying, "If suddenly you are faced with something that makes you feel difficult, listen to your heart."

Emmeline opened her eyes again. She sighed. "No, Chloe. I'm not going to make Agatha do it."

"Oh?" Chloe said. "I think that's the easiest way, right now."

"Just because it looks easy, doesn't mean it's the right way," Emmy retorted. "You wait for me at the office. I don't want to talk too long on the phone."

"Okay."

Emmeline hung up the phone. She knew she was tired, but stopping at that point was impossible for her to do. Emmeline hurried back to her office. She had refused to be escorted by her driver when she left to meet Howard earlier. So now, even though her mind was in a mess, she had to try her best to concentrate on driving, finishing her commute to work.

A few moments later, Emmeline had returned to the office. Her staff greeted her every time they passed Emmeline.

Emmeline, summoned Chloe Levine to her room.

"Tell me anything you know on the pitch," Emmeline said.

"Sales numbers have decreased, Emmeline. In addition to the negative news circulating on social media, even some business entities that often ask us to be their sponsors also avoid us. I'm afraid we also can't expect much to get adequate income for our products from the high price range. That's bad, because it has to do with our prestige value."

Emmeline pulled her head back and frowned. "What? Huh!" Emmeline laughed ridiculously. "That crazy news has affected everyone?"

"I don't think it's a short process, Emmeline. I've heard that negative whispers have been around since you left for Italy, since before the news on Foxxtar came out. But I found out too late. I don't know, I feel, there is a party that has been intensely moving to bring us down. I don't know what really happened."

Emmeline was silent, with a serious expression on her face. She started to think about several possibilities, and she started to remember the slanted rumor they had before that they were bankrupt. Emmeline began to think, everything that happened was directed to justify the issue.

"You're right, Chloe," said Emmeline. "Even before that. Ever since people we didn't know were spreading bad news about us, saying we were bankrupt, and influencing the miners. From the start. We should have been aware of this from the start." Emmeline squeezed a piece of paper in her hand until it was shapeless.

Chloe looked at her worriedly.

"Howard," Emmeline whispered. It was very quiet, but Chloe could hear it.

"Ho-Howard?" Chloe repeated.

Emmeline turned her gaze to Chloe. "He met with me today to say that he wants to acquire Karfis & Vin." Emmeline wore a hateful expression, while Chloe was surprised to hear that. "He said it like he was a hero. He was talking about Vin, he was talking about our dreams. He was talking all nonsense. He said he respects our dreams? Hh! Someone like him can't understand what it means to respect other people's dreams." Emmeline shook her head faintly with a frown. "He really has pissed me off."

"Oh," Chloe trembled at that. "What mess is this? This is absolutely insane. You mean you suspect Howard was the one playing from the start to bring us down? Oh, my God. If that's true, that's really crazy. This is insane. Em—h-how about we talk about all this with Corbin, Emmeline? You still haven't contacted him? You guys still haven't spoken? D-don't you think he better know all this? He is Vincenzo's brother!"

Emmeline turned her gaze swiftly back at Chloe. It was as if she had come to her senses quickly. The Corbin case had almost disappeared from her mind because of the heaviness in her head. "Hh," Emmeline sighed. She sighed again, and closed her eyes. She then remembered Vin's lies, and also about Mr. Piers. "Em—what about Mr. Piers? Has he really returned home?"

"Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you. Yes, that's right. Mr. Piers has returned to his house. I called the doctor earlier. I think Mr. Piers is resting at his house at the moment."

"Oh, fine. I'll go see him after this."

***