Chapter 100
No.1
"Why wouldn't they?" Alexander adjusted his cufflinks with deliberate slowness. "You seemed so certain of Miss Sinclair's guilt."
Cold sweat trickled down Melissa's spine.
The trap snapped shut around her.
"Lord Alex," she forced calm into her voice, "this is our company's internal—"
"Is it?" Alexander rose, his towering frame radiating menace. "Then why did Orange approach me for testimony?"
The words struck like a sledgehammer.
Melissa's knees buckled.
No.2
"T-testimony?"
Alexander strode toward the bathroom, voice glacial. "Evelyn Sinclair was with me that night."
Dead silence engulfed the room.
The shower stopped.
The door cracked open, revealing Evelyn's damp face. "You're still here?"
Her gaze swept over the pallid faces before settling on Alexander.
"What did you tell them?"
No.3
His lips curved. "The truth."
Melissa's phone vibrated again.
Her father's caller ID flashed.
She answered with shaking fingers. "What have you done?" roared through the speaker. "Julian Ashford secured board authorization to investigate this frame-up!"
Melissa's lips lost all color.
"Dad, I—"
"Get back here now!" The line went dead.
No.4
Evelyn emerged, towel-drying her hair. "Still need my cooperation, Director Lee?"
Melissa's nails bit into her palms.
Her glare shifted between Evelyn and Alexander—sudden understanding dawning.
"You two—"
Alexander's icy glance silenced her.
"Let's go." She spun on her heel, her investigative team scrambling after her.
The door clicked shut.
No.5
Evelyn exhaled.
"Thank you," she said.
Alexander caged her against the wall, his body inches away.
"That's all?" His gaze burned into hers.
The faint scent of ambergris made her pulse spike.
"That night..." His voice dropped. "You truly don't remember?"
Evelyn's lashes fluttered.
No.6
She remembered.
The rainy night Alexander rescued her from reporters. The private club. The alcohol...
"I remember vomiting on your suit," she deflected.
His eyes darkened.
"Evelyn." He gripped her chin. "You owe me far more than a ruined jacket."
Sunlight streamed through the window, tangling their shadows.
Meanwhile, Horizon Media's headquarters erupted in chaos.
No.7
Julian Ashford stood before floor-to-ceiling windows, staring at his phone's breaking news alert:
[Exclusive: Kingsley Group's Alexander Kingsley Breaks Silence on Relationship with Horizon Reporter]
Melissa Lee's fingers trembled on her phone screen.
She couldn't believe the headline: [Orange Media Official Statement: Horizon Reporter Innocent, Our Journalist Misreported]
The top trending topic stung even more: [Orange Media Issues Public Apology to Horizon Reporter Evelyn Sinclair]
...
Evelyn pushed open the bathroom door, water droplets still clinging to her hair.