Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
“Stay put.” Jeremy went up to help his friend settle back down, though his face remained stoic.
“Would you wheel me around if my legs get paralyzed, Jeremy?” Landon asked pitifully.
“Ask one of your hundreds of girlfriends to do that for you,” Jeremy scoffed, “Paralyzed or not, so long as you can still talk, you’d still have women putty in your hands.”
“Hmm… Well, you’re not wrong. I am still pretty attractive.” Landon grinned.
Jeremy couldn’t help but roll his eyes at that remark. Landon’s appeal lay primarily in a way that made women see dollar signs.
“How did this happen, by the way?”
“You’ll have to ask Laurie,” Landon scowled. “I got hurt like this because of her. She should be the one wheeling me around if I lose my legs!”
“What are you saying, Landon?” Jeremy’s face fell.
“Your sister snuck into the hotel last night but got found out by some guards. If I didn’t help her out, who knows what they would’ve done to her.”
“Lauren came last night?” Jeremy was surprised. It finally dawned on him that this was the reason Landon had called him.
“I helped her change her clothes too.”
“You what?” Jeremy growled out, a murderous glint in his eyes.
“Hey, hold up there! My secretary did, not me! I only bought the gown!” Landon cried, not wanting to lose
Landon continued, “I brought her to meet Ada Kingsley afterward, but then she ran out like she saw a ghost. I was afraid she might get in danger being all alone that late at night, so I followed her.
“I pushed her out of the way, and she narrowly avoided being hit by a car. That’s why I’m so banged up and out of shape.”
“What about Lauren? Was she hurt?”
“I… No? She got up and ran off while I was hurting and in pain on the ground. I’m the victim here!” Landon rambled on.
“I’m warning you now, Landon. Don’t cross the line with Lauren.” Jeremy’s expression was dark. “I understand what happened during my grandfather’s birthday was an accident, but there must never be a next time. You two are in entirely different worlds, never to mix together. Understood?”
“Hey, can you make some fucking sense? I’m like this right now because I saved her. It’s fine if you don’t want to thank me, but can you not make me into some fucking monster?” Landon argued with all his might, looking like a turtle trying to extend its neck as far as he could.
“Who told you to bring her to the hall or change her clothes for her? Why did you make her stand there in front of so many strangers?”
“What are you saying?”
Jeremy’s heart ached as he remembered his youngest sister’s demeanor, marked by meekness, timidity, and vulnerability.
“Lauren has a severe phobia of people and crowds, coupled with autism. She’s genuinely terrified of strangers and any large social gatherings involving lots of people.”
“Autism?” Landon’s heart ached at that thought. No wonder Lauren behaved so strangely. Though she was 22 years old, she still had the behavior of a young, naive child.
No wonder Sophia never let her out of the house.
“Did you ask her what she thought about those things you did for her? Whether she wanted you to do them or not? Did you ever step in her shoes and think for a moment?
“No, because you’re not capable of that.” Jeremy’s breathing was intermingled with a dull pain in his chest. “All she ever wanted was a peaceful, quiet life. Don’t go ruining that for her now. You’ll only make things worse.”
Landon was silent for a moment. He asked hoarsely, “Can she be cured?”
“Do you think she’d still be like this today if she could?”
Landon thought about how frightened Lauren was last night, his heart pounding painfully behind his ribcage.
Just then, Jeremy’s phone rang. He crinkled his nose but still answered. “Dad.”
“Come back to the office right now. We need to talk.
The call was then hung up.
Jeremy stared darkly at his phone, a sneer appearing on his lips.
Were they truly father and son? Sometimes, he wished this relationship between them didn’t exist. At least that way, his reasons for hating this man would be justified.
The president’s secretary opened the door for Jeremy when he knocked, nodding courteously. Jeremy was shocked to see someone else in the room-Betty.
He narrowed his eyes just the slightest. Something was up.
“Jeremy,” Betty called out in a feigned affectionate tone, as if they were intimately acquainted.
Jeremy nodded flatly, never bothering to be too courteous to this sister of his.
Javier began, “I’ve heard all about what happened last night with Ada Kingsley and the ambush at the hotel from Betty, Jeremy. I’ve also seen the news online.”
Javier clasped his hands together, his eyes cold as they turned to his son. “What is your plan now that the public has lost their faith in the hotel?”
“I’ve had the PR and Networking Department rushing to clear things up since last night. All news about this should cease to exist by tonight.”
Betty spoke up, “Even so, the damage is done. You cannot stop gossip from taking root and spreading now. It’s honestly pretty embarrassing to the company..
Javier gritted his teeth upon hearing this. “No matter what unfolds, this is the nature of business. There will always be a mix of favorable and unfavorable news circulating, and some we cannot control.
“As long as we emerge victorious in these challenges, the negative reports will eventually fade away. It’s imperative to maintain a long-term perspective on these battlegrounds, or else we risk losing in the grand scheme of things.”
Knowing Javier was taking a jab at her, Betty gritted her teeth angrily.
Suddenly, the secretary knocked and entered the office. “Sir, there’s something you need to see!”
He quickly showed Javier something on his phone. It made all the rage in his being rush up to his head.
He roared, “Switch on the news channel! Now!”
The secretary swiftly turned on the television and tuned it to the 3 o’clock news.
Jeremy bristled, having flashbacks to the Verdane Valley project.
“Welcome to the 3 o’clock news, providing you with the most up-to-date afternoon updates.
“Last night, the renowned international actress Ada Kingsley made her entrance into Solana City, sparking immense enthusiasm among her fans.
“According to sources, her visit to the city is to honor her mother’s request, which was to have her wedding held here in Solana.
“The Berenike Hotel and KS World Hotel in the city have engaged in a fierce competition, vying to be selected by Ada Kingsley as the venue for her wedding.
“After several days of intense rivalry, Madam Ada Kingsley has made her decision.”
Jeremy couldn’t keep his eyes off the screen.
“At 3 o’clock news, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to KS World Hotel for their successful efforts in securing Ada Kingsley’s endorsement and being chosen as the venue for her wedding!”
Something burst inside Jeremy’s mind.
Meanwhile, Betty couldn’t hide the look of glee on her face. The more the winds sailed against their favor now, the higher her chance of removing Jeremy from his position.
The screen then displayed Ada, who had consented to an interview with the 3 o’clock news.
“While it’s true that both Berenike Hotel and KS World Hotel are formidable players in the industry, I opted for the latter based on personal preference, rather than any reputation-related factors…”
Javier couldn’t take it anymore. He switched off the television and flung the remote forcefully onto his desk. “There’s no use looking at the long run now. We’ve utterly lost!
“Not only have you lost the chance to host Ada Kingsley’s wedding, but you’ve gained attention far and wide for helping our enemy win this war. What do you have to say for yourself now?”
Jeremy was about to speak up when Betty beat him to it. “Breathe, Dad. Don’t overexert yourself.”
Betty had learned her mother’s tricks since she was young, knowing that if she spoke up for Jeremy now, it would only make her father hate him more.
Betty said, “Ada’s said it’s her personal preference too, so it really has nothing to do with our hotel’s capabilities. I’m sure Jeremy’s done all he could, too. We only have Alyssa Taylor to blame for this. She really is a cunning, evil woman.”
“There is no such thing as cunning or evil when it comes to business,” Jeremy retorted. “She has done no wrong. It’s our own fault for not having planned out well.”
Betty nearly sneered. She thought that if they were divorced, they should act like it. Nevertheless, Jeremy’s attitude would only lead to his own downfall.