Chapter 1736

No.1

"Not today. My desk's buried. Tomorrow depends—if Melissa's stockings don't run, if colleagues order correct milk tea, if skipping one article doesn't double my workload..."

"I already cleared it with Melissa!"

"Meaningless." Evelyn sighed. "Finance works me harder than Entertainment. Interviewing Vincent would triple my tasks."

"I swear it won't!"

Evelyn's laugh was light. "Melissa outranks you. Why would she listen? I'm entering a store—"

"Wait!" Victoria's voice turned pleading. "Where are you? I'll fetch you myself!"

The department head sounded utterly diminished.

No.2

"No need. I'll come when free."

"Evelyn, I'm begging you..." Victoria trembled. "I've never begged anyone... Evelyn? Are you listening?"

Store chatter interrupted as Evelyn ordered: "One pair in this shade... Victoria? Continue."

Humiliation burned. A department head, toyed with by a junior employee?

"Evelyn, please... My family depends on me..."

Evelyn nearly laughed aloud. Where was this concern when Victoria forced her transfer and stole her bylines?

"Fine. I'll come after submitting documents."

No.3

"Can't you come directly?"

"It's on my way."

As Victoria prepared to grovel further, her phone vibrated.

The screen flashed three damning words:

Crown Prince.

Evelyn Sinclair sensed something amiss the moment she stepped into the Financial Department.

The usually noisy workspace had fallen eerily silent.

No.4

Even keyboard strokes were deliberately softened.

A suffocating tension hung thick in the air.

She walked straight to the manager's office and knocked lightly.

"Manager Lee, I found the stockings you wanted." She deliberately raised her voice. "It took five different stores to locate the exact same style and shade—"

The door swung open abruptly.

Julian Ashford's icy expression greeted her.

"Editor-in-chief?" Evelyn feigned surprise.

No.5

Over Julian's shoulder, she glimpsed Victoria Henn's livid face.

"Isn't Ms. Henn supposed to be with Mr. Sullivan?"

Victoria's eyes burned with venomous fury.

Visit Vincent Sullivan again?

And risk another public humiliation?

Julian's gaze dropped to Melissa Lee's legs hidden beneath the desk.

"Stockings?" His voice could freeze hell. "Is this why Horizon Media hired you? As a personal shopper?"

No.6

Evelyn smiled innocently. "Manager Lee has very specific requirements. Last time—"

"Evelyn Sinclair!" Melissa snapped.

Julian turned his glacial stare on Melissa.

"Can't function without stockings?"

Melissa flinched.

She'd never seen Julian this severe.

"Does your paycheck cover personal fetishes?" His words cut like knives. "Hire a maid if you need errands run. Don't disgrace yourself here."

No.7

Melissa turned ghostly pale.

"That's not—"

"Then what?" Julian sneered. "Abusing authority? Settling personal scores? Is this all a department head is capable of?"

Melissa collapsed into her chair.

The elegant man she admired was now shredding her dignity with cruel precision.

All for Evelyn Sinclair!