She Asked For A Divorce, He Panicked

07

As cool as ice, Remi shot back, "That's a valid concern. But let me be logical: if I were truly getting kickbacks, wouldn't I at least try to make it look like I wasn’t? What type of fool uses their own account? You think I was a business development manager for years with my head up my ass? This frame job is for amateurs. But now this has turned into a media circus, ruining my reputation. And where's the Web Group here? They didn’t support me so I have to deal with this on my own. Once this dumpster fire dies down, I'm thinking about new career paths." Remi used the media to attack the Web Group without getting her hands dirty. And had her name cleared.

The reporters could smell blood. What began off as a shady transfer was growing into a big deal, and the Web Group was under a lot of heat.

"Ms. Puth, are you saying that someone in the Web Group set you up?"

Remi blinked, trying to be cool. "Never said that. I was knocked down cold when that transfer happened. It could be a hacker messing around.”

A voice like liquid nitrogen cut through the noise just as the vultures started circling. "You know what's going on, whether it's the work of a hacker or you're using us as a stepping stone for this little soap opera." It wasn't loud, but it hit hard. Everyone's heads turned to look at a Maybach parked nearby.

Remi didn't move when the door of the car opened.

Lacy slouched back in that fancy chair like he owned the place, crossed his legs, and gave Remi the coldest side-eye ever. "Web Group isn't ignoring anyone. Some folks are just going too far ahead of themselves. Ms. Puth, you're telling the public about big career news before giving your boss a memo? What do you think?”

That was a real classy move. Lacy moved his wrist while he talked. Bodyguards appeared out of nowhere, pushing back the reporters and surrounding Remi and Finn.

Protection detail? It's more like a power play. Finn couldn't help but grin. "Mr. Web, they took Remi right in front of you. You could have stepped up then if you genuinely wanted to help. Why wait for me to be the hero?”

These so-called adversaries were acting more like old friends who drink together. Finn kept talking, grinning like a Cheshire cat, but Lacy stayed quiet.

"Why all the drama if Remi is thinking about leaving? Just give me the go-ahead, and I'll hire her for my business without asking any questions. She's one of the best, after all. For years, I've been watching her and wanting her to join my team.”

Everyone in Sky City knew these two were fighting and business rivals, but here they were, pulling Remi back and forth like she was the last woman on earth.

Lacy stayed calm and even smiled.

"That's funny that you say that. People are questioning every project she was in charge of because of all the reports about her being involved in economic wrongdoing. Since you trust her so much, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and check them all? While you're at it, clear her name.”

Finn’s face fell. His little game of chicken went horribly wrong. He grinned through tight teeth and then turned to Remi, pouting a little.

"Wow. Your man has teeth that are sharp enough to cut through titanium.”

The cameras suddenly focused on Lacy, and everyone turned to look at him. Remi got near to Finn’s ear and whispered. "Don't burn bridges. Take the chance he's giving you to improve your company's reputation.”

Finn frown only lasted a second before he got the idea. He had been a big shot for years, so he had to give Remi credit for being able to think quickly. His eyes lit up with admiration.

Lacy was going crazy with jealousy as he watched them whisper and cuddle up like that. He nodded to his bodyguards.

One of them stepped in front of Remi and Finn like a wall in a second. "Ms. Puth, this circus is getting out of hand. We're taking you back right now for your own safety!” He grabbed Remi’s arm and pulled her away from the noise before she could even blink.

Remi couldn't get away, and two additional bodyguards soon pushed Finn out of the way. He was stuck in the media frenzy and could only see Remi get into Lacy’s car. The barrier went up, and the automobile door banged shut.

Lacy’s fingers, which were as sharp as knives, sank into Remi’s shoulder as he asked, "What's going on between you two?"

Remi leaned against the window and gave him a death gaze while smirking. "None of your damn business."

His face turned dark like a thunder cloud, and his grip got tighter. "Being coy? Are you protecting him?” He went in with a frigid snort of contempt. "So you already have your backup plan ready to go. It's no surprise that you wanted a divorce. But I believed you had found someone better... That Finn? Really?“

But Remi’s smirk got even worse. "Do you honestly think you're better than him? I quit because your business is going down the tubes. You're attempting to frame me with this crazy drama now.”

Lacy spit. "That's crazy! You believe he could have gotten you out today if I was actually behind this? I'm starting to suspect you set this whole thing up just so the media would feel sorry for you.”

Remi looked at Lacy’s face. She could tell that he was quite angry. ‘Frame job is really not for him. He probably just wanted to see me work hard’ she thought.

"Since you really want to know, here's the tea," she shot back. "That money was sent the night before Ian’s birthday and the very day your mistress, Bernice put up a post on i********:. Ian, who usually acted like I had the plague or something, suddenly wanted to share my bed with me. I was out cold and he had my phone by the time the transfer went through. So who do you really think did it?”