6


    <b>pter </b><b>36 </b>


    Archie was fuming at how Veronica had just mocked him. He couldn’t believe her audacity.


    ”


    Before he could even process it, one of his men came running over in a panic. “Bad news, Mr. Lane! Bruce and Frank just got taken away by the cops! Ms. Tillman’s on her way to the hospital for a full assault exam!


    Archie eximed, “What?<b>” </b>


    The club manager, Jordan Cooke, was drenched in sweat and stammering, “J–Just now, I wasn’t here. Ms. Dolton tricked the front desk staff into opening that private room and caught our people we’d arranged in


    advance.”


    “Which Ms. Dolton<b>?</b>” Archie’s eyes narrowed dangerously, then he paused. “Don’t tell me it was Veronica!”


    Jordan stuttered, “I–It was.”


    Archie let out a sharp, bitterugh. He thought, “Well yed, Veronica!”


    This wasn’t the first time she had screwed up his and Eleanor’s ns. He had never taken Jocelyn seriously, treating her as just another name on his list of flings. But over the past few years, her rising


    career had be hard to ignore, and recently, she’d even begun to eclipse Eleanor in poprity.


    So, Archie deliberately got close to her. Then, he used just the right amount of charm and maniption to make her willingly be his girlfriend. After that, he used their rtionship to convince her to drop


    several projects.


    And yet<b>, </b>the one low–budget indie drama she starred in had exploded in poprity overnight. It had even challenged Eleanor’s reputation as a rising star after she won the Best Actress award.


    How could she possibly deserve to bepared to Eleanor?


    During this time, Eleanor had been in low spirits. When he asked, it was actually because of Jocelyn, just as he had expected.


    However<b>, </b>Jocelyn came from an elite<b>, </b>conservative family and had managed to keep a squeaky–clean image <b>in </b>the industry. The only time she’d trended negatively was when she was with him.


    Archie sneered coldly. He decided to destroy her. He’d found two gang thugs and tricked Jocelyn <b>into </b>the private room under the pretense of meeting family. After <b>the </b>deed, he’d pin her as a two–faced <b>seductress </b>who <b>wasn’t </b><b>as </b>innocent <b>as </b>she seemed.


    Everything was supposed <b>to </b>be foolproof. Yet, Veronica had to <b>interfere</b>.


    His expression turned sinister as he ordered<b>, </b>“Find <b>out </b>who else was in her suite<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Due to Archie’s interference, Veronica arrived at the private room just <b>in </b>time. The clients and Courtney


    were already there.


    Two men hade from the client side. One had shoulder–length curly hair and delicate, androgynous features, looking displeased. The other was slightly older, wearing a business suit with an all–business


    demeanor.


    Veronica immediately said, “I’m sorry. Something on the way dyed me and kept everyone waiting.”


    The curly–haired man put down his teacup and looked Veronica up and down, his casual superiority making others ufortable.


    He scoffed. “I thought yourpany could create works of spiritual reawakening and would surely be full of sincerity, but I didn’t expect you to be so dragging even for meetings.”


    “It’s fine, Ms. Dolton. Don’t me yourself. Please sit.” The suited man spoke up to help Veronica out of


    the awkward situation.


    Veronica nodded gratefully and sat next to Courtney. Only then did she learn the identities of these two


    men<b>. </b>


    The curly–haired man was Victor Rivera, the lead designer for the client brand Rivierre. Every design had to pass his scrutiny before moving into production. Their firm had had multiple proposals rejected under his picky standards.


    The man beside him was Oliver Kinney, the brand’s creative director.


    Their brand had once gained some online fame for a set of couple–themed athletic wear. The people wearing that couple’s outfit were these two men in front of her. Many people secretly spected about their rtionship, although it was never openly confirmed.


    While the two stepped out to the restroom, Courtney quickly filled Veronica in on the gossip.


    Veronica blushed when she heard the story.


    Courtney chuckled. “The meeting’s going well, though. Victor barely <b>criticized </b>anything, which is a miracle. I think it’s pretty much sealed. By the way, what happened earlier?<b>” </b>


    Just <b>as </b>Veronica was about to speak, the private room door suddenly opened.


    “Sorry, <b>you two</b><b>, </b>but Rivierre’s coboration with yourpany needs to be postponed.”