Chapter 70
No.1
Suspecting sabotage, Melissa ordered Victoria to try again.
This time, Evelyn answered.
"Why are you ignoring Melissa's calls?" Victoria demanded.
"Poor subway signal," Evelyn replied evenly.
"Get here now! Your supervisor approved it!"
"Sorry, the train's already heading the opposite direction."
"Stop lying! This is critical!" Victoria finally realized the game.
No.2
"Can't do it." Evelyn's refusal was crisp. "I've been transferred. Want my help? Transfer me back first."
"Come now—we'll discuss the transfer later!"
Evelyn chuckled. "After years leading teams, you have no backup plan? Sending someone alone to interview Vincent Sullivan?"
Victoria froze.
The words sounded eerily familiar.
Then it hit her—she'd said this exact phrase while reprimanding Martha Nash.
Gritting her teeth, Victoria tried reasoning. "This was always your assignment. It's only right you finish it."
No.3
"Didn't hear that during my transfer." Evelyn laughed outright. "Sorry—not—coming."
The line went dead.
Victoria stood stunned.
She begged Martha to intervene.
The reply came swiftly: No chance.
"Victoria, Evelyn must have unique access to Vincent. Replacing her was a mistake... Not that my opinion matters as editor."
Martha hid her satisfaction. Victoria's constant undermining had finally backfired.
No.4
Swallowing pride, Victoria called Evelyn again.
"Evelyn, I was wrong. I apologize. Please help Horizon—help me."
"Gladly." The sudden agreement startled Victoria.
"When can you come?"
"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."
No.5
"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 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."
No.6
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."
"Can't you come directly?"
"It's on my way."
As Victoria prepared to grovel further, her phone vibrated.
No.7
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.
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.