Chapter 296 Shocked by Thalia's Unreasonableness
"What happened to your face? It's all swollen." Thalia got teased by Layla as soon as she walked into the company.
She touched her face, feeling a bit helpless. "I drank too much water last night."
"Go reduce the swelling first. Have a coffee and then ice it. If that doesn't work, I'll have them give you a facial treatment. Tonight's a sportswear event - if you don't take care of it, you'll look bloated and puffy."
Thalia nodded.
When she got to the treatment room, she saw someone inside.
The staff explained, "We used to have two treatment beds, but one broke a while ago. Layla hasn't had time to buy a new one yet. Should I ask the newcomer inside to come out so you can go first?"
"No need, let them go first," Thalia said.
The other person seemed conflicted. "But..."
"It's fine, I can go somewhere outside. They're new and have ideas, but no financial support. Why should I fight with them over something I have other options for?"
After saying this, Thalia turned and went to Layla's office. "Want to go out for a treatment together?"
"What about the one at the company?" Layla asked.
"There's a newcomer using it."
Layla paused, knowing Thalia wasn't the type to compete with others. "You go by yourself. I'm busy coordinating."
Before Thalia even arrived at the evening event, she received updates from colleagues at the scene, saying the place was packed tight, and the mall security could barely hold back the crowd.
Layla told John again to make sure to keep Thalia safe.
Thalia asked, "When did I get this popular?"
Layla replied, "You weren't this popular before. Thanks to Gregory - he brought you tons of couple shippers."
"They went on one variety show, and fans edited it into a whole love story."
Thalia touched her head. William couldn't find out about this, or she'd be done for.
"Don't touch it, you'll mess up your makeup."
Thalia got scolded by Layla and obediently put her hand down.
"Let's go!"
Surrounded by staff, Thalia pushed through the crowd and got on stage.
As soon as she stood up there, waves of screaming rose one after another.
Thalia waved at them with her official smile.
"Why are you looking at her? She's just an actress, not even top-tier in the industry. Was it worth coming here early in the morning to wait?"
Michael leaned against the railing with a cup of coffee, his elbow propped up, and chuckled. "You don't understand."
"Don't tell me you've gotten interested in the entertainment industry lately?" someone nearby teased.
Michael thought to himself, 'The entertainment industry?'
The entertainment industry wasn't worthy of his attention. What he wanted was never those things that were easy to get.
If beautiful things are too easy to obtain, what makes them beautiful?
Chasing fame and fortune ultimately comes down to controlling power.
The person beside him glanced at Michael, seeing starlight flowing in those deep blue eyes, feeling somewhat puzzled. This heir of the Jimenez family was far from as simple as he appeared on the surface - he might very well end up playing everyone for fools.
This kind of scheming should be kept at a distance.
"I'm going to the restroom," Thalia said.
"Be careful."
After the event ended, as she was preparing to leave, Thalia went to the restroom.
The mall's men's and women's restrooms shared one entrance - you just went left for men and right for women once inside. Thalia washed her hands and shook the water off her palms. Just as she looked up.
A clean-cut man bumped into her from the opposite direction, spilling a cup of Americano all over her.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to. Are you okay?"
Thalia looked at the coffee stains on her clothes. Luckily, she was wearing a light green sportswear set today, so it wasn't too obvious.
She looked up at the man. His apology didn't sound the least bit guilty.
"Really?" Thalia asked coldly. "This is the first time I've seen someone carrying coffee into a restroom."
The other person gave an awkward laugh. "First time here, not very familiar with this mall's layout. Couldn't find a trash can."
"Really? Why don't you look behind you and tell me what that is at the entrance?" Thalia's gaze swept over the trash can by the door. There was one at the restroom entrance and another at the smoking room across the way, yet he claimed he couldn't find a trash can. What a lame excuse.
"Your trick is a bit outdated. Move aside," Thalia said coldly.
"I'm not the kind of person you think I am. How much are the clothes? I'll pay you back."
"Sure! One hundred million dollars."
The other person was stunned. "Are you sure it's worth a hundred million?"
"It's not worth a hundred million by itself, but now that I've worn it, that's what it's worth. Plus, you offered to compensate me - don't I get to set the price?"
"Haggling over the price - looks like you're not that sincere after all!"
Michael was shocked by Thalia's unreasonable attitude. Truly a rich girl from Emerald City.
"But..." Michael mumbled.
"John..." Thalia was too lazy to keep talking to him and called John in.
She signaled John to block him while she left.
"Who is he?" John asked.
"Don't know him, but from the way he deliberately carried coffee in to bump into me, he doesn't seem like a good person."
Layla looked at the coffee stains on her clothes, her expression serious. "Your mom called me recently."
"She said you should stay out of William's business."
Thalia's steps halted. She turned to look at Layla. "What does she know?"
"You should be asking what everyone else knows that you don't."
...
At the police station, it was noisy and chaotic.
Reporters blocked the entrance completely. People kept coming to pick others up, and when they left, none of them dared use the main entrance.
When Kurt arrived, he was held back.
They told him to wait outside. Zephyrine and her secretary were being questioned separately.
"There were seventeen guests total. Almost everyone in the front hall was affected. Mrs. Lowe, only you and your secretary weren't. Should I understand this to mean that you two were the ones behind this incident?"
Zephyrine argued, "I was just busy entertaining guests and didn't have time for a drink. How does that make me the mastermind? What's the basis for what you're saying?"
"Didn't drink?" The other person pulled out a phone and showed her a surveillance video. "Then what's this?"
In the footage, Zephyrine was holding a glass and toasting with someone. This was her "didn't have time for a drink"?
Zephyrine's face went pale. Wasn't the on-site surveillance supposed to be disabled? How did the police get the footage? Could there have been an outsider at the scene?
"Mr. Lowe is already waiting outside. You should think carefully about what you're going to tell us. We're not in a hurry anyway. The media has been staking this out since last night. Every extra minute you stay here is another minute of danger for you."
Hearing that Kurt was outside, Zephyrine tensed up. He must already know that she was the mastermind behind this.
If...
"Mr. Lowe, Mr. Brown is outside and would like to see you."
Kurt was somewhat shocked when he saw Finn. William wanted to see him?
"Where?" Kurt asked.
In a black stretch Lincoln, William sat across from him. When Kurt got in the car, he saw several documents laid out.
"Mr. Brown..."