Chapter 108
I had been completely focused on designing my Star series these past few days. I was basically not involved in company matters at all.
Nola and John's romance was going strong. Nola used to gossip alone; now, they were doing this together.
Levi had been treating me better and better, which actually made me a bit uncomfortable. This discomfort, as Nola put it, was just how people were sometimes - we were never satisfied. When someone treated us well, it was a problem. When they didn't treat us well, that was a problem, too.
That was exactly how I was right now. I couldn't handle it when Levi didn't care about me, but I also couldn't handle it when he did.
Faye and I made plans to try out a new seafood restaurant tonight. Nola said it's also one of John's family's restaurants. She's been there and gave it five stars.
I was taking my time packing up my things and sent Levi a message, telling him to come home early to keep our daughter company since Celestia might get upset if we went out for dinner.
"Blair, big news, big news!"
Nola rushed in, excitedly pointing at her phone.
"What happened? Did John text you a marriage proposal?" I'd gotten so used to her excited gossip mode that I found it pretty ordinary now.
"What are you talking about? It's Cleo's ex-husband - he's opened a new jewelry company."
Nola came over and showed me the news report. In the pictures, Michael looked pleased with himself, not at all like someone who'd been through a divorce.
"That doesn't make sense. Levi pulled out of all projects related to him. He couldn't handle the company affairs and already declared bankruptcy."
Levi had told me about this and asked me to keep it from his sister, worried she'd go crazy again and say he had no compassion.
"Well, if that's true, it really shouldn't be possible for him to start a new company. Maybe there's some big shot backing him?"
I thought hard but felt it was unlikely. The affair showed what kind of person Michael was - no one should be willing to fund him.
Plus, Levi pulling out was a clear signal. No one should want to get involved in that mess.
"I just found out Michael was actually our senior at school. He doesn't seem to have any notable works, though, does he?" Nola didn't know much about Michael either, just like me.
I smiled. "He got married to Cleo shortly after graduation. She really loved him and got him all the good resources from her family. Levi alone supported him quite a bit."
"So he never really worked in his field. Now this is like starting over. I heard he's already created a new series and is holding a press conference this morning."
"That fast? Maybe it's just a gimmick."
I run my own company, and it's almost impossible to get things done properly in such a short time, unless he had some really mature designs from before.
Nola giggled. "Whether he's got real skills or not, we'll know if we go check it out."
"I'm not that bored. New products come out all the time in this world. Plus, I have no interest in this guy - I actually find him disgusting."
"Yeah, cheating is really gross."
I checked the time. "Ms. Skye, shall we get to work?"
"Blair, I really want to go see. He's making such a big deal of it; it looks like he wants to compete with the whole industry."
"Well, yeah, we're all competing with our peers anyway."
I thought it was strange, but I didn't want to see Michael.
Nola put her hands behind her back and said to me with a smile, "Blair, just satisfy my curiosity. Besides, he'll be competing with us in the future. Know your enemy, and you'll never lose, right?"
"Are you just being nosy, or do you actually want to understand the competition?"
"Come on, let's go check it out. I heard he spent a lot of money on a spokesperson. I'm so curious."
After she kept pestering me, I finally gave in. She was going to camp out in my office anyway, and I wouldn't be able to get anything done.
Understanding the competition could be a learning experience, too.
...
We arrived at the hotel conference room Michael had rented. Since it was under John's family's business, getting into the venue was easy.
John said the press conference had just started a little while ago.
On stage, Michael was speaking. I looked closely and was shocked to see Jessa sitting next to him.
Nola tugged at my sleeve. "Blair, this is insane. Don't tell me the spokesperson he spent big money on is her!"
I was truly stunned too. Michael had thrown Jessa under the bus before to clear his own name, and Jessa had a really ugly falling out with him over it.
So how were they mixed up together again?
Wasn't Levi's help completely wasted? She was basically slapping him in the face.
"You probably know about their scandal before, right? I heard they had quite a nasty fight." John liked gossip, but he wasn't interested in this kind of thing.
He'd only heard bits and pieces, but even those bits were enough to show how people couldn't understand this situation.
"Maybe they're just not playing by the rules. Some people like to take risks to get attention." I thought Michael was crazy and would do something like this.
Nola kept exclaiming, "This is crazy..."
I watched Jessa's expression. She occasionally forced out a slight smile.
Michael talked about his products and answered media questions one by one. It was just a way to promote his new company.
The press conference ended quickly, and people began to leave.
Jessa's agent was escorting her out when I saw Cleo stride straight toward her.
"You bitch, how could you do this behind my back? What are you doing being his spokesperson?" Cleo grabbed Jessa's collar.
"Cleo, let go. Let me explain."
Jessa tried to pry her hands off, but couldn't.
"My agent took this job for me, said the pay was really good. I've been so busy these past few days, I didn't ask much about it. If I'd known it was working for him, I never would have agreed."
Cleo glared at her. "Don't give me that useless talk. For money, you really have no shame at all!"
"Calm down. There are reporters who haven't left yet. Do you want both of us to make the news?"
It looked like Jessa really didn't know. Her agent was standing nearby with a red face - this was probably not discussed with Jessa beforehand.
Otherwise, if it were just about taking money to do a job, Jessa's expression earlier wouldn't have been so bad.
"Don't try to scare me. How much did he pay you to make you cave?"
I saw Michael coming back. They were bound to argue again. I wanted to step forward to mediate, but Elliot stopped me.
"Ms. Ember, what are you doing here?"
I turned to see Elliot. I was even more surprised - what was he doing here?
"You..."
Elliot was carrying a briefcase. "I came to see if the press conference went smoothly."
"Huh?"
I didn't quite understand. Was he here as Michael's friend to support him?
"We invested in Michael's new company and hold the majority stake. The company sent me to check it out."
WR invested in Michael?
While I was puzzling over this, Cleo and Jessa got tangled up together.
"I really don't believe you have nothing to do with him. If you're lying to me, may you be struck by lightning!"
Jessa covered her head. "Cleo, I really didn't know. Let go of me..."