Chapter 148 Wanting the Boss to Become the Lewis Family's Son-in-law
"Layla, have you thought it over?"
Layla turned on the speakerphone and glanced at Thalia sitting in front of her. "Is it time already?"
"Didn't you say before 10 o'clock? It's only 8. What's the rush?"
Kian was taken aback by Layla's response, then pretended to stay calm. "We just didn't want to keep you waiting. After all, you're the client. We're just calling ahead to check in."
"Really?"
"I thought you guys were dying to get your hands on the money."
On the other end, Kian had been lounging in his chair, but at Layla's words, he sat up straight. Who in Emerald City's entertainment circle didn't know about Layla's methods?
Years ago, she had worked her way into the entertainment industry and climbed to the position of top agent. Then she went home to have a child, retired, and started her own company. Later, because her ex-husband offended some big shot, he was set up and sent to prison, and they lost everything.
In an instant, Layla fell from her respected position and became poor.
She had nothing left.
Around that time, Thalia had just graduated from college and wanted to enter the entertainment industry. Hayden felt bad for Thalia and, worried that someone with her personality would get trampled working for someone else's company, simply opened one for her.
And as it happened, Layla was desperate and applied for a position with Hayden, becoming Thalia's agent just like that.
Thalia became an instant hit when she debuted. With Hayden and his money backing her, plus Layla's tactics.
In less than six months, she became famous through a web series, and then various collaboration opportunities came flooding in.
"Layla, that's a bit harsh. We entertainment journalists have professional ethics too."
"Your professional ethics involve using other people's photos to blackmail and extort them?" Layla shot back.
"Isn't 'blackmail and extortion' a bit much? Everyone knows this is just how the entertainment industry works."
Layla let out a cold laugh. "Just wait!"
Then she hung up.
On the other end, in the living room, Kian cursed at his disconnected phone.
"How'd it go?" the woman next to Kian asked.
"How do you think? Have you forgotten who Layla is?"
"We'll wait! We said 10 o'clock, and there's still an hour and a half to go!"
.......
"Ms. Smith, I checked the surveillance from the bar that night. There's no clear footage."
"Can you see me and Evelyn standing in the alley?"
"It's very blurry." Thalia had asked John to look into this first thing in the morning. Just as Layla hung up, John's call came through.
Hearing "very blurry," Thalia's expression darkened.
"Got it. Come back."
"Have I offended someone recently?"
Hearing Thalia's question, Layla couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Like you haven't offended enough people?"
Thalia: ........ "Ever since my dad got sick, I've been keeping a low profile, okay?"
"Speaking of your dad, didn't they say he was dying last time? It's been a week. Is he going to die or not?"
Hearing this, Thalia felt a bit strange inside, but right now, her focus was on her career, not on whether Hayden would die.
Whether he died or not, she had already married William.
Her career was more important.
As Thalia thought this, suddenly... she thought of... William.
"I'm going out."
"Where? At a time like this, you won't even stand by me, and now you're running away?"
Before disappearing, Thalia left one sentence: "To find someone to help."
Layla: ..........
.... Law Firm ....
Brian had just walked out of William's office with some files when he saw Thalia rush out of the elevator with her limited edition bag.
Her hurried steps were like those women in TV dramas catching their husbands cheating.
Before she arrived, her voice came first: "Where's your boss?"
"In his office, but he has a visitor."
"What visitor?" Thalia frowned with displeasure.
Brian looked at Thalia with some difficulty. Seeing his hesitant expression, Thalia suspiciously pushed open the office door behind him and sneakily peeked inside. There was no one at the desk facing the office door.
Probably thinking this was a bit rude, Thalia pulled back her hand, about to close the slightly opened door.
A sweet voice came through.
Thalia's mind went into chaos. This was... Scarlett?
Seeing Thalia's expression change, Brian instinctively wanted to leave, but Thalia grabbed him: "What's she doing here?"
"Mr. Lewis has his eye on Mr. Brown."
"So?"
"He wants the boss to marry Ms. Lewis. Ms. Lewis heard what her dad said and came to find Mr. Brown."
Thalia laughed—laughed in anger. Anyone dared to steal her man. Never mind that she and William were married; even if they weren't, she wouldn't allow Scarlett to defile William.
The office door was pushed open. Thalia leaned lazily against the doorframe and said, "Oh? Did Ms. Lewis get her voice done?"
"Is technology really that advanced now? Not satisfied with just doing your face, now you're doing your voice too?"
William stood by the window, a cigarette between his fingers. When he saw Thalia push the door open, an invisible smile spread through his eyes.
Hearing Thalia's voice, Scarlett felt disgust rising within her: "What are you doing here?"
"That's an interesting question. Is this your territory? I can't come?"
"Not necessarily, but everything has a first-come-first-served order. Shouldn't Ms. Smith wait outside?"
"First-come-first-served? Hasn't Ms. Lewis heard that the latecomer can surpass the first?"
Not only did Thalia not leave, she stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
She leaned against the glass door, looking at Scarlett and William. When her gaze fell on Scarlett, it was challenging; when it fell on William, it was warning.
Looking for women behind my back?
Just wait!
"You........"
"How about this—for old times' sake, I'll just sit here quietly and wait for you to finish talking."
"Thalia, have you no shame?"
"Didn't I learn that from you?"
William's hand shook as he tapped his cigarette ash. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Thalia walk up to Scarlett, lean in close to examine her face, and even presumptuously lift her chin with her index finger to look at it from different angles.
"Which hospital did you go to? Look at these obvious marks. I suggest you switch hospitals. Other people's skin gets thinner with procedures, but yours gets thicker. The technique's no good. Let me recommend a doctor for you."
Scarlett swatted away Thalia's hand with considerable force. The sharp sound echoed in the office, and William's brow furrowed.