Chapter 26
Man, that was freaking brutal. It was already 11, and he had less than three hours left.
Tyrone looked at Franklin, “To show our company’s commitment to philanthropy, I want you to be involved in the building of these 50 elementary schools, from start to finish. You come back when they’re done.”
Tyrone stood up, clapped Franklin on the shoulder, “Franklin, I have full confidence in you.” Damn, this was Tyrone’s way of working him to the bone. Building 50 schools on the highlands? It might just kill him.
James hurried after Tyrone into the CEO’s office, where Tyrone held out his hand. James hesitated for a moment before pulling out a white smartphone from his pocket.
Tyrone took it, the phone already unlocked, and he went straight to the gallery.
There were plenty of landscape pictures, but only a few portraits. One of them was a selfie.
A handsome guy had his arm around Quintessa’s neck, their heads touching in a quite intimate way, smiling joyfully at the camera.
James glanced at the phone, and then hung his head, wondering if the next moment it would shatter.
Suddenly, Tyrone tossed something to him, and James caught it reflexively.
“Smash it.”
James nodded promptly, “Right away.”
Stepping outside with the phone, James let out a sigh of relief. The secretary, Shirley, waiting outside with some documents, asked James, “Can I go in?” Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
James shook his head and drew a line across his throat with his hand, as if to say, “Don’t go in if you value your life.”
Quintessa returned to her rented apartment, where Violet was already waiting for her.
Violet asked impatiently, “So, how did it go?”
Quintessa collapsed onto the couch, “It was a bust.”
She stared at the ceiling, her eyes vacant, pondering over something.
Violet wanted to scold Quintessa, but seeing her like that, she softened and snapped, “Men, there’s no good one among them. From now on, we can only count on ourselves. We can’t have any illusions about them.”
Quintessa agreed, “You’re right.”
They couldn’t depend on anyone but themselves. They couldn’t trust anyone else; people had to rely on themselves.
Quintessa thought about how ridiculous she was. Who was Tyrone, and what made her think that after three years, he would actually help her?
Why should he help her? Just because of one night together three years ago? Please, as if Tyrone was short of women.
What was she to him? In his mind, Quintessa was nothing but trash. Yes, trash.
Seducing her own aunt’s man, what kind of person did that? Even if they did spend the night together, it was because she “volunteered“. It was a freebie.
Violet, being the experienced one, quickly regained her composure. She had managed to leave a comfortable job to start her own studio, which said a lot about her.
Violet said, “I’ve talked to an old friend of mine. She’s got a project that’s low budget, going for online distribution, not mainstream media. We can’t be picky right now, and I’ll
introduce you to her later.”
Quintessa nodded, “Okay.”
Violet had more to say, but seeing Quintessa looking so exhausted, she patted her
shoulder, “Get some rest. I’ll head out.”
As Violet stood up and reached for the door, she heard Quintessa’s faint voice behind her, “Violet, having the dignity trampled on, it really doesn’t feel good.”