Chapter 39
Forty minutes later, Kylie rolled into the police station’s parking lot, her tires coming to a halt just as Ethan’s call buzzed through.
“Kylie, where are you at?” Ethan’s voice was a mix of relief and a hint of a victory lap.
“Outside the station. I’m about to go in and file a report. What’s the scoop, Ethan?” Kylie responded with one hand on the door handle.
“Hold up on that.” Ethan said, his tone turning upbeat. “Some new videos hit the web, showing Craig and Melanie at a ho and on restaurant dates. Some of them were even from your high school mates spilling the tea. It’s blowing up, pushin those Lampard stories off the radar”
The word about you getting silenced is out, too. We’re gaining momentum; it’s their turn to sweat, Ethan added, his words tumbling out
Kylie ended Ethan’s call and checked the buzz online. Just as he’d said, the new dirt was burying Melanie’s old lies.
Could it be that people are sick of the rich manipulating the narrative? The Lampard family had everything locked down last night, but now the truth is breaking through. How did that happen? Kylie pondered.
Jessie’s call interrupted Kylie’s thoughts. “Kylie, I’m not sure if it was our little campaign, but the truth is out and the Lampard family can’t keep it down. Justice is served. Melanie’s holier–than–thou statement is a joke,” Jessie fumed
And that jerk Craig’s saying you’re just jealous of Melanie. I’d love to get my hands on him. I never liked him when he came to our college. Remember how many guys were after you?” Jessie asked.
“Anyway, it’s been almost a month since we last hung out. You were always busy with the Lampard family or sick from all that blood donation stuff. But now you’re free, right?” Jessie’s voice was a mix of anger and concern.
Tm free as a bird from now on. You pick the spot, and it’s on me Kylie said, a smile tugging at her lips and her eyes glistening. She had lost so much time with her friends and family for the Lampard family, but she would waste no more
time on them.
“Today’s my hubby’s birthday, and I’ve cooked up a feast. I’m just waiting for him to get home. Tomorrow, at six o’clock, let’s hit our spot for some seafood boil, and then I’ve got a surprise for you, Jessie promised.
“You’ve turned into quite the homemaker, Jessie,” Kylie teased.
“Today, I’m all about home and hearth, but tomorrow, I’m your ride–or–die girl, Kylie. Not the type to ditch friends for a guy, Jessie said.
After talking with Jessie on the phone, Kylie headed to Vintage Market.
Ethan, on the other hand, was met with a flurry of messages in the group chat as soon as he wrapped up with Kylie
[Ethan, did you hire a PR dream team or something?]
[This is next–level stuff. The Lampard family’s PR team can’t keep up.]
Besides, the evidence is all over the place, and it’s solid.]
When did you get connected like this, dude? You were just talking about what to do yesterday, and today, you’ve got all this in motion. You’re playing it cool, but you’re on fire!]
Ethan scanned the messages, his brow furrowing as he typed a response. [Not me, this isn’t something we can control. Kylie and I don’t run with any PR heavy hitters.] If they did, he wouldn’t have been up all night stressing.
ΠΑΙ
12:04 Thu, Oct 17
Chapter 39
[No way I’m in PR. Ikiw the score. The voices coming out now are influencers and marketing accounts, and the evidence is all laid out. Someone’s been prepping for this.
| And it’s all happening so fast, An hour ago, the Lampard family was on top, and now, in the blink of an eye, everything turned around. They must be freaking out.
[This kind of speed is like something the Walters Group would all off.)
Ethan’s brow only furrowed deeper as he listened to his friends, Kylie harl been so calm, and after she left the Lampard residence, no one knew where she stayed.
‘Could it be that, after being burned by Craig, Kylie hooked up with some big player? And mom mentioned she gave her money, Ethan thought.
With years of life experience, Ethan knew the score. Kylie had always been a looker, and with the recent mess with C the Lampard family, a terrible thought crossed his mind.
Ethan stood up abruptly, his expression fierce, which gave his coworker pause. “Ethan, let’s not jump the gun. Austin’s got ties in Jardora, and we don’t have proof that he plagiarized your essay. Maybe we should just start fresh, or confronting him could do more harm than good.” his coworker advised.
“Everyone knows he took your work, and he won’t be able to throw his weight around anymore. He wouldn’t be in our company if it weren’t for the Lampard family,” the coworker added.
Ethan looked at his colleague, his face set. “I’m not going after him. He can take my paper, but he can’t take my experience. Just wait until the experiments start; he’ll fall on his face.”
was so scared there for a second. I thought you were going to go after him. His colleague breathed a sigh of relief.
Ethan picked up his phone again. He was about to call Kylie and then thought better of it. It was all speculation for now. He’d wait until after work, have dinner with Kylie, and get the story straight from her.
At Walters Group, after the meeting, Trevor checked his phone. Noreen had called, but he’d missed it with his phone on silent. He dialed her back. “Is everything okay, Grandma?*
“Why can’t I call my own grandson just to chat? Do I need a reason?” Noreen’s voice was sharp
Trevor rubbed his forehead, used to her curt retorts. “Grandma, you can call me anytime.”
“Skip the hospital today. Some old friends are coming over with their grandkids. If you show up, I’d be mortified” Noreen
said.
Trevor, no stranger to her disdain, simply agreed. “Fine, I won’t come.”
“Why don’t you take Kylie to the hot springs today? Spend the right at our family’s hotel and get closer. Maybe I can get some great–grandkids to brag about next year, Noreen said.
Trevor frowned. “Grandma, I’ve g
got a ton of work today”
“Is Walters Group just a bunch of slackers? You’re almost thirty, and you need to make time for important things,” Noreen cold him.
