Chapter 23 It’s All BS
In the restroom, Alyvia called Randall, and he picked up after quite some time. “Dad, why didn’t you give Melvin the project this time? You won’t help your future son–in–law?”
“I don’t get to call the shots about the project alone,” Randall said impatiently.
“But you’ve worked with him a few times before,” she argued.
Randall scoffed. “That’s because some higher–ups asked me to. Or do you really think the Jimenez Group gets to work with Radiance Group?”
“Then now…
“Now, the instructions are to cancel all the collaboration with the Jimenez Group and blacklist him.” Actually, Randall was puzzled, too. Who exactly did Melvin offend? Some top brass at Radiance Group actually requested specifically to blacklist him.
It had almost never happened since Radiance Group was established years
ago.
Alyvia’s legs went weak. She asked in great disbelief, “So, those several times of cooperation before wasn’t because of you?”
“I told you I couldn’t.” Back then, Melvin was still married, and he disliked Melvin from the beginning. Of course, he wouldn’t help Melvin.
He gave Melvin those projects per the higher–ups‘ instructions.
Though Melvin had divorced, and he had tacitly approved of Melvin’s relationship with Alyvia, the higher–ups had blacklisted the Jimenez Group. He couldn’t help even if he wanted to.
Alyvia fell silent. Randall had told her before that those collaborations.
didn’t happen because of him, but she didn’t believe it; she thought he just didn’t want to take credit.
But…
“You know what? Via. I think you should dump him. Now that the Jimenez Group has been blacklisted by Radiance Group, he won’t have much of a future,” Randall kindly reminded Alyvia; she was his daughter
after all.
But she bit her lip, feeling a bit unwilling. “I believe in him. Even without. Radiance Group, the Jimenez Group can still into a major company under his lead.”
She hung up the phone, pulled herself together, and went back to the
table.
“Well? What did Mr. Duarte say?” Melvin asked eagerly as soon as he
saw her.
She took a sip of wine and then said, “He said the group has been under strict scrutiny these days, so he can’t pull strings.”
“But before…”
“It started recently,” she interrupted him.
Noticing his gloomy face, she added, “No need to feel disheartened. He said that after everything dials down, he’ll find a way to get the project for
you.
“Don’t worry. I’m the only child he has, and he dotes on me. He’ll definitely help you. After all, you’re his future son–in–law, right?”
Melvin still looked unhappy, remaining silent.
She held his hand, comforting him, “It’s OK, Melvin. Even without
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Chapter 20 mts AlLBS
Radiance Group, you can achieve something great.”
He nodded, saying nothing.
Deep down, he sneered, thinking. “Alyvia has nothing but a sexy figure. She’s just eye candy. If it weren’t for the connection with Radiance Group, I wouldn’t have been interested in her at all.
“Tianna is better than her, at least Tianna has a pretty face.”
Though thinking this, he still sweet–talked Alyvia. No matter what, he had to lean on Randall. Without Radiance Group, the Jimenez Group was definitely doomed.
***
The second day, as Tianna stepped into the office, she sensed that people were all looking at her strangely.
She was confused when Evelyn came to her and said curiously, “Gee, Tianna, you’re actually involved with Matty?”
“Who? Matty?” Tianna failed to react.
“Yeah. Matthew Bennett.” Evelyn sat down beside her and clicked on her phone screen.
The news on the screen was, “Breaking news! The latest romantic relationship of a popular young idol has been exposed, and his girlfriend. is suspected to be an outsider in showbiz…”
Tianna was stunned.
Then she saw the photo attached to the news, which was the scene where Matthew shielded her as they left the hospital last night.
From the photo, they did seem intimate. The actions and eyes with which he protected her while she was getting into the car were so sincere;
As she scrolled through the comments, she saw nothing but nasty words.
Basically, it was Matthew’s fans hurling insults at her.
Matthew was currently a rising star, and most of his fans were girlfriend fans or wife fans who all had a crush on him. Of course, they couldn’t deal with the fact that he had a girlfriend.
Feeling helpless, Tianna gave Evelyn her phone back. “It’s all BS.”
“So, what’s your relationship with Matty?” As both a fan of Matthew and Tianna’s colleague, Evelyn was thrilled to get the inside scoop.
“Guess.” Tianna smiled, finding it hard to understand what those fans were thinking.
Matthew and she shared the same surname, but they rather took the paparazzi’s words for it and believed they were a couple instead of considering the possibility that they might be siblings.
What could she possibly say?
She didn’t take the news seriously as she supposed it’d soon be taken down. The netizens were gossipy, but that was all. As time passed, they’d forget about it. If she explained, however, it would look like she was trying to ride the coattails of the gossip.
Besides, she didn’t have time for this. Her entire focus was on Randall. Especially after what happened yesterday, she didn’t want to waste any more time at all.
She was glad to see Mariyah and Joseph because they were her
breakthrough. With them, she was confident that she’d soon get the proof of Randall’s corruption.
As for the sniper… Of course, she’d make him pay.
Her eyes turned cold.
Near noon. Alyvia walked into the Purchasing Department with Melvin following her. She walked up to Tianna. looked down at her, and said triumphantly. “Melvin and I are having our wedding this Saturday. You’re welcome to attend.”
She placed an invitation on Tianna’s desk and emphasized, “Do attend.”
Tianna picked up the invitation and saw the wedding photo of Alyvia and Melvin. She nodded slightly. “I’ll be there.”
After all, she had prepared such a big gift for Alyvia. It wouldn’t be any fun if she didn’t show up.
Alyvia went on to hand out invitations to others, but Melvin still stood by Tianna’s desk. “What’s your relationship with Matthew?”
Unlike those clueless, stupid fans online, he had his own speculation.
Hearing this, Tianna looked up at him and said coldly, “What’s it to you?”
“Are you … family?” he probed based on the fact that Tianna and Matthew shared the same surname.
This time, she was surprised. She nodded and said, “I underestimated you before. Turns out you aren’t that stupid.”
Melvin could tell she was mocking him, but he didn’t retort. “I know you’re mad about the divorce, but I had no choice.
“Via is the reason why I got to secure the deals with Radiance Group. Without her, the Jimenez Group wouldn’t be where it is today.”
At first, Tianna didn’t bother to respond to him, but upon hearing this, she couldn’t quite hold back. “Are you saying that it’s because of her that the Jimenez Group got to cooperate with Radiance Group?”
Chapter 23 It’s ABS
“Of course. Mr. Duarte is the director of the Purchasing Department. You know that.” Who else but Alyvia?
Tianna wanted to laugh, but she couldn’t.
She glanced at him coldly before looking away. “I take back what I said about you not being entirely stupid.
“Melvin, you’re as stupid and arrogant as ever.”
