Chapter 55 The Show is in Trouble

Chapter 55 The Show is in Trouble

"Ms. Martinez, something terrible happened!" Dahlia's voice was shaky and fast, almost on the verge of tears. "The show's in trouble! Ralph and Aurelia were photographed together, and the pictures are trending! They're saying they spent the night together last night!"

Amelia paused mid-bite of her sandwich, her expression darkening, though her voice remained calm. "Take a deep breath and tell me everything slowly. Who posted the photos? Is there any solid evidence? What's the public reaction right now?"

"It was posted by a marketing account. The photos are blurry, but you can clearly see Ralph and Aurelia going into the same room and not coming out all night." Dahlia's voice trembled. "People online are tearing Ralph apart, and some are calling Aurelia desperate. Their bed photos are almost in the top ten trending topics. The show's team is freaking out and asking what to do!"

Amelia took a deep breath, walked to her car, and began giving instructions methodically over the phone. "First, tell the show's team to pause today's live broadcast and filming, citing equipment issues to calm the audience. Second, get in touch with the PR department to investigate the background of that marketing account and see if someone is stirring up trouble. Also, push the narrative of 'blurry photos' and 'malicious hype.' Third, contact Ralph's agent and have him reach out to Ralph to find out what really happened last night. See if there's any evidence to clear their names. Fourth, keep a close eye on public opinion. If any new marketing accounts post similar content, inform me immediately."

Her voice was steady and clear, and Dahlia's emotions gradually stabilized. "Got it! I'll handle it right away! Ms. Martinez, when will you be back at the show?"

"I'll be there as soon as I can, probably around noon." Amelia hung up the phone and turned to see Henry leaning against the car door, watching her with a smirk.

"What's up?" Amelia walked over and put her phone in her pocket.

"Nothing much." Henry straightened up and opened the car door, his tone carrying a hint of mischief. "Just thinking, my wife is pretty impressive when handling things. Reminds me of myself."

Amelia shot him a glare and got into the passenger seat. "If you leave out that last part, I'll take it as a genuine compliment."

Henry started the car, his eyes briefly glancing at her tense profile before he chuckled. "Ralph and Aurelia got caught spending the night together?"

"Yeah." Amelia nodded, her tone serious. "The situation is tricky. Ralph was just gaining some popularity. If this turns out to be true, the Phillips Group will take a significant hit."

Henry didn't respond immediately, his fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel. Suddenly, he turned to her, a playful glint in his eyes. "Strange, why hasn't anyone exposed that we sleep together too?"

Amelia's cheeks flushed instantly, and she swatted at him. "Henry! Can you be serious for once?"

Henry laughed softly, the car speeding along the mountain road, sunlight filtering through the windows, casting a rare warmth over them.

Perhaps even they hadn't realized that this partnership, which began with calculated intentions, had unknowingly developed into something more.

Henry paused, half-jokingly asking, "Aren't you worried about our scandal being exposed?"

Though she knew he was joking, Amelia wasn't in the mood to banter. She glanced at him coolly. "Don't worry. If our scandal ever breaks out, I can handle it."

Henry's grip on the steering wheel tightened momentarily, his left hand steadying the wheel while his right hand hung loosely by his side. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze was sharp. "How would you handle it?"

"That's not your concern." Amelia looked away, her fingers holding the remaining half of her sandwich, her eyes fixed on the rapidly passing bamboo forest outside the window.

"What if you can't handle it?" Henry pressed, his tone carrying a hint of challenge, as if deliberately trying to provoke her.

"I will." Amelia's voice was flat but carried an undeniable certainty.

Henry chuckled, the sound low and teasing. "So confident? Looks like I can do whatever I want then."

Amelia turned to look at him, her eyebrows raised, her gaze sharp. "Before you do whatever you want, consider if you can handle the consequences. The Phillips Group's stock just stabilized; it can't afford any more scandals. If you want to give Hayden more leverage against you, go ahead and try."

Her words hit Henry's weak spot. The smile on his face faded slightly, his knuckles tensing on his knee, his jaw clenching, but he didn't argue back.

Amelia was right. At this critical juncture, he couldn't afford to give Hayden any more ammunition.

Seeing him fall silent, Amelia didn't push further. She checked the time, and her tone grew more urgent. "The dating show needs to be dealt with quickly. We need to get there soon." The implication was clear: she wanted Henry to stop talking and focus on driving.

Henry understood her meaning but chose to do the opposite. He glanced at the sandwich in her hand, his throat bobbing. "I'm hungry."

Amelia was taken aback. "Didn't you have breakfast earlier?"

"I did, but I'm hungry again." Henry's tone was unapologetic, his eyes fixed on the half sandwich, his intention clear. "Give me a bite of your sandwich."

"You're driving. You need to focus on safety." Amelia frowned. "Unless I feed you."

"Then feed me," Henry said it so matter-of-factly, his left hand steady on the wheel, his right hand reaching towards her, his posture relaxed. "I'd be more than happy."

Amelia looked at his shameless expression, then at the brightening sky outside, and finally relented.

She held the sandwich by the edge and brought it to Henry's lips, keeping a deliberate distance to avoid touching him. But when Henry opened his mouth, his lower lip intentionally brushed against her fingertip, and his tongue quickly flicked against her finger. The warm sensation shot through Amelia like an electric current.

"Henry!" Amelia quickly pulled her hand back, her fingertips still tingling from his touch, her cheeks burning.

Henry, unfazed, chewed the sandwich, his tone casual. "The sandwich is tasty, and so is your hand."

Amelia ignored him, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes, her mind a chaotic mess.

She actually wanted to discuss their partnership with Henry. After all, they had just reached an agreement and would need to face the Phillips family's challenges together. She didn't want this ambiguous atmosphere to affect their cooperation. But seeing the smug smile on Henry's face, she swallowed her words.

Henry, still basking in the ambiguous pleasure, seemed oblivious to her thoughts.

The car sped along the mountain road for two hours before finally arriving at the filming location. As soon as the car stopped, Amelia pushed open the door and quickly walked inside.