A headline shot to the top of the trending list hours later. [Remi Puth, the Web Group's business development manager, is in a scandal about financial crime]
The Web Group was trending for all the wrong reasons in only one afternoon. Mason’s stomach was in knots as he watched the narrative go from bad to worse. His phone was ringing off the hook with calls from different companies. He ran inside Lacy’s office like his butt was on fire.
Lacy hardly looked up from the files in front of him, and his voice was calm. "What's got you all worked up? Is Remi still in jail, or did she find a means to get out?”
Mason pushed his phone into Lacy’s face. "Ms. Puth's arrest is all over the news! Now everyone is doubting every project she ever worked on.”
Lacy scowled, which was an obvious sign that he was upset. "What's Remi up to? Is she attempting to get back at us?”
Mason shook his head. "Mr. Web, the police got her. The police are probably still questioning her. She can't plan this kind of thing.”
Lacy’s face relaxed. "That makes sense. She doesn't have the guts either. I helped her get to where she is now. What is her status? If she's not behind this trending mess, I guess she still cares about her job. That divorce? Just a trick.”
Mason couldn't believe how calm Lacy was even though things were getting worse. He pushed on with anxiety. "Mr. Web, people are asking us to look into everything Ms. Puth has done. We're getting a lot of pre-sale returns, and it will cost us a lot of money to have another inspection.”
Lacy didn't care. "Don't be afraid if you have nothing to hide. If this little drama has you racing in here and screaming like a chicken with its head cut off, you might want to think about this job again.”
Mason stopped talking right away. ‘I wonder whether Mr. Web is just doing what he's doing with Remi out of pure spite. Years of being forced to marry, and he loves making her life miserable.’ He thought.
"Got it, Mr. Web. I'll tell the PR to get ready for the investigation.”
Lacy’s face went dark just as Mason was about to take his phone from him. Mason had clicked on a livestream by mistake.
Remi was leaving the police station, and reporters were crowding around her like vultures. She had a calm smile on her face that made her look like she didn’t nothing wrong. A towering person next to her was acting as a bodyguard, obscuring cameras on all sides. They were talking in low voices.
Lacy’s cheeks became red as soon as he saw the guy. It was Finn Garvey, the person he had the most trouble with in business. His business rival for years now. The live conversation from
people watching was going completely crazy.
[Hey, look at this! Word is that Remi is free to walk because Finn Garvey pulled some strings]
[For real! He gave her lawyer some game-changing proof! He’s a hero]
“Wait, isn't Web Group's business development manager already married? Where is her man? Wait a minute... is Finn her husband? Seeing the way he even got her out quick, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s her husband.” Someone said amongst the crowd.
“Stop with the cap. Finn has been single for a long time. Remi has a husband.”
“Then who is Mr. Garvey to Ms. Puth?” Another person asked.
Lacy’s eyes went killing mode when he saw Remi and Finn get intimate on live. ‘She is definitely attempting to get me upset, just like when she talked about the divorce.’ He thought.
“Could Mr. Garvey be her secret lover and now been exposed?”
Finn turned and smacked the camera with his arrogant grin, as if he could smell the drama. "Y'all need to calm down with the speculations. I'm not her secret lover or whatever; Ms. Puth just deserves better.”
Lacy’s anger reached its peak. What does Finn think he is, showing off like that?
He typed in the comments in a fit of arrogance, "Her husband is Lacy Web.” His comment stood out from all the comment.
[Oh my God! No way in hell!]
[Stop it! Web Group is run by Lacy Web. Do you really think you can make up things like that? If truly she’s married to Lacy, wouldn’t he be the one to bail her and not let her be in the hands of another man. Her secret lover allegedly though]
[Exactly. With the way both Mr. Garvey and Ms. Puth are close, I can’t help but think they’ll make a great couple. Mr. Garvey didn’t even hesitate to get her out and you’re saying she’s married? Oh please cut the crap]
[Even if Ms. Puth is already married. Team Garvey all day—look how close they are]
After reading through the comments, Lacy threw Mason’s phone back at him with his jaws clinched. These individuals are crazy!
Lacy yelled, "Get your ass to the station and bring Remi back here.”
Mason stood there in shock. Then he took out his phone to view the webcast, but he accidentally opened i********:.
Remi’s updates were right in front of him. Her resignation post, together with Finn’s comments, drove Lacy crazy.
Lacy’s face got dark. He rushed up and got his coat. He yelled at Mason, "I'm coming with you."
Reporters were all over Remi outside the police station, shoving their mics in her face and showing no respect for her personal space.
"Ms. Puth, you're in the news for some white-collar crime, and our sources say it's true. If this sticks, Finn can't help you. What is going on between you two?"
The sticky questions made everyone eager to hear Remi’s response. People were looking at Remi like she was on trial. But she didn't even move. She confidently pulled out her phone to show the chat logs.
"Listen, I'm here because a factory owner says I received bribes and gave them bad products. But look at these—just his dramatic loss in money, no more dirt. The police were able to get the data back. I didn't remove anything. Finn not posting my bail today doesn't mean I wouldn’t be free in less than 24 hours anyway because I'm clean!" Her voice was loud and clear, cutting through the stress.
Someone in the back started to throw shade. "Please, who doesn't have a fake account these days? Do you really think those simple receipts will get you out of trouble? Are you kidding me?"