Her Fake Lover

Chapter 35

The next morning. In the offices of Karfis & Vin, Elderville-Bryxton. Emmeline Karfis, was feeling better. She was sitting in her room, facing some work, and a smile had fallen more and more lightly on her lips. She was feeling better, she felt, because of the conversation she had with Corbin.

Just in the previous day, she felt as if she was carrying the weight of the world, because she felt alone with all of it. But after Corbin expressed his agreement to let his name get involved a little further in the pretense they had started, Emmeline felt a little calmer.

Chloe commented on the situation saying, "That's because you can come to him and drag him down any time you need to, after he's given his consent." Emmy widened her eyes, as if to rebuke, but Chloe didn't care and continued to say, "In other words you're not alone. This is what I was saying at the start. Your letting Corbin off after dinner wouldn't be a good choice."

Emmeline pursed her lips. "Everyone is getting smarter than me nowadays."

"That's because you're so ridiculous about this one thing. I don't know. It all started with your frenzy against that creature called Darren."

Emmeline didn't retort.

"Now tell me, are you really willing to attend the interview?" Chloe asked.

Emmeline was silent for a moment.

"Some appreciation to the public will improve your image—well, although you usually do it with pleasure too, full of personal nuance and not just in the name of business. It also has to do with the success of yesterday's fashion show. I'll only take the most important ones if you're still feeling emotionally exhausted. Business magazine and broadcasting stations owned by The Bryxtoner which usually cover Karfis & Vin's activities. How about we give a special portion for them? The leader is also your father's friend, right?"

"Yes. You take care of that matter. They also only focus on business matters. I don't have to worry about unimportant things. Arrange everything properly."

Only a few moments later. Chloe's cell phone rang. Chloe was still talking to Emmeline until the phone almost reached her ear, "Hello," she said. Chloe seemed to be listening for a moment. "What? Are you serious? Huh?!" Chloe covered her slightly gaping mouth. Looked very surprised. Emmeline clearly took the gestures seriously.

"What happened?" Emmeline asked.

"Someone just told me something. And sorry, I can't tell you right now. I'll be out for a while, and be back in a few minutes."

Emmeline could only watch Chloe leave in disbelief. Chloe really didn't give her a chance to ask further.

Emmeline tried not to be swayed. It wasn't clear to her what had happened anyway, so Emmeline forced herself to calm down, although it wasn't easy. Yes. It's really not easy. Emmeline kept looking at the door, waiting for Chloe to return to her room. Some shocking things that happened yesterday made her more anxious, and she realized it in that second.

The wait came to an end. Chloe, come in. Immediately after closing the door to the room, she hurriedly walked over to Emmeline. Just as she was in front of Emmeline she said breathlessly, "Sorry, Emmeline. You have to prepare for the next surprise. Corbin was right—what you told me earlier—life is full of surprises."

Chloe advanced slowly, while Emmeline was silent with her heart racing. Her face turned pale for no reason, and when Chloe said as she placed a magazine in front of Emmeline, "Read it," Emmeline raised her eyebrows at the title of an article printed on one of the pages that Chloe opened.

'The Screenplay Behind the Drama of Harmony in Beauty, Karfis-Valestylez Fashion Show.'

'Harmony in Beauty, Karfis-Valestylez' was the title of the fashion show they organized with Avant-Garde Valestylez.

Emmeline highlighted the title, and found it provocative. Not to mention when Emmeline read what was conveyed in the news. She gaped in surprise.

"What is this?" Emmeline said. She was still looking at the pages of the magazine she was reading. She read sentence by sentence in disbelief. She put down the magazine with a look of disbelief in her eyes after that. Meanwhile, Chloe Levine, stood before her trembling.

The news contained misleading information. A combination of facts and opinions that lead to unpleasant slander. It was told there about the success of the fashion show organized by Emmeline's company in collaboration with Mrs. Valerie's fashion house. Then also about the dramatic moment in the middle of the show, about Anna and Emmeline. But what was surprising after that was the revelation of another fact—which Emmy initially thought no one knew, not even her family knew—that Anna was Corbin Valsecchi's sister. This fact was juxtaposed with information obtained from Lea's upload that Corbin was Emmeline's boyfriend.

The news writer then began to include the misleading opinion that all the drama in the middle of the fashion show was a deliberate fabrication from the start, as a new way to attract everyone's interest. The promotion strategy of the new model, which unfortunately, made a personal impression that initially touched the hearts of many people, faded and was destroyed. Emmeline was nothing more than a soap opera performer than an inspiring businesswoman.

Emmeline frowned. "How did they know that Anna is Corbin's sister?" Emmeline asked.

"That, um ... I can explain it to you," Chloe said.

Emmeline looked at Chloe swiftly. Didn't expect Chloe to know something about it.

"What's wrong? What happened?" asked Emmy.

"That ... Anna was the one who made information about herself and Corbin available to others."

Emmeline furrowed her brows, looking at Chloe in disbelief. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"E—em .... " Chloe Levine, then told about the incident when Anna, saw the photos that Lea had uploaded, then accidentally said an important sentence that her brother, Corbin, is Emmeline's boyfriend. She actually mentioned it in shock at the time, summing it all up from the photo caption Lea had written. She uttered those affirmations only to ask afterward if it was real.

However, the statement containing classified information was heard by a reporter who was nearby without them knowing, who originally intended to approach Anna to interview her regarding her appearance at the fashion show. Chloe recounted all the events in detail.

"I threw the reporter away right away after that. But now I'm sure he heard what he shouldn't have heard. I forgot about this little incident before, because my mind was full of other problems. And that's why I didn't think to tell you. Ah, I didn't think this would be a problem. It's outrageous," said Chloe.

Emmeline was silent. She let out a silly sigh at all of Chloe's explanation. Everything seemed so funny to her, that she couldn't help but laugh at herself. Seeing all the things that had happened to her, and finding the situation had developed and was simply spiraling out of her control. Emmeline only said after that with a sigh, "Okay. We'll see how this all affects us."

***