Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
“You just focus on drawing. I’ll deal with the rest. No way in hell we’re letting this slide.”
“Thanks.”
Someone brought me a replacement tablet, still warm from the box, and a lunch tray I didn’t touch.
I shut my eyes.
Two ideas had been fighting for space in my head earlier.
I’d gone with the safer one.
Now I had a chance to sketch the other.
But the clock was brutal.
I drew in a few deep breaths, held the last one, and opened my eyes.
The nerves didn’t vanish, but my grip on the stylus stopped shaking.
I didn’t give a shit what Dubois thought I’d done I’d deal with her later.
Sebastian held the Aureate Awards program open across his lap, scanning the list of sponsors.
Up ahead, the freshly built stage gleamed under the overhead lights.
Contestants would be presenting their concepts there once the clock ran out.
A rehearsal was in progress-host on stage, production crew scattered, checking mics and blocking.
Rows of folding chairs faced the platform, half of them still empty.
Only a few audience members had filtered in this early.
“Sebastian!”
He looked up at the sound of his name.
Octavia jogged up, out of breath.
“Your wife’s getting screwed over and no one’s doing a damn thing about it! The organizers aren’t even pretending to investigate. They’ve already decided Eleanor has cheated-and that I was in on it.”
Sebastian asked her to sit.
“Slow down. Start from the beginning.”
“She’s being set up!” Octavia relayed what had just happened in Eleanor’s room.
He stood.
“Who’s the person in charge?”
“Dubois. Dr Ali?nor Dubois. She’s the one pulling strings. I tried escalating-called the investors. They’ve got no clue what’s happening backstage.”
Sebastian picked up the program, flipped past the judges” bios, and landed on a block of fine print near the back.
Tristan Hadley. Competition director, overall in charge.
Not a familiar name.
But above Hadley’s name was the Lumina Omni Holdings logo.
He reached into his jacket and took out his phone Octavia leaned over.
“You actually know this Tristan guy?”
“I don’t,” Sebastian said, “But I know his boss.”
Sebastian dialed.
The line rang three times before a groggy voice answered.
“Sebastian? You’re calling at this bloody hour for what? It’s morning here. I was asleep.”
Kian Al-Ahmad, Lumina’s CEO, sounded half-awake and fully annoyed.
Sebastian ignored it.
“I need something handled.”
He gave a clipped summary of the situation.
Kian swore.
“The what awards?”
“The Aureate. Jewelry design.”
A pause. Then a tired grunt.
“Never heard of it. If it’s under one of mine, it’s probably buried somewhere in a sub-division. I’ve got too many companies to keep track of small fry like this. And you’re calling me for it?”
“My wife’s involved. They’ve screwed with her. I’m not wasting time chasing interns. You’re the fastest option.”
That got Kian’s attention.
“Your wife? Like, for real? When did you get married? Hell, why didn’t I get an invite? Don’t tell me our years in Wessexia meant nothing to you. I-“
“Act now, reminisce later,” Sebastian cut in.
“I want a name, a reason, and an outcome. I’m at the venue right now.”
Kian cleared his throat.
“Alright. I got this. I’m getting out of bed now. It’s six in the bloody morning, by the way. If that’s not friendship, I don’t know what is.”
“Good,” Sebastian said.
“Get the facts straight first.”
“Got it.”
Four minutes later, Kian called back.
“The guy running the show, Tristan Hadley, is over in Riverbend, other side of town. I’ve asked him to haul ass back to the venue. Told him not to mess around. From now on, he reports to you. Run the event however you want. Shut it down if that’s what it takes.”
“Got it. Appreciate it.”
“Good. Remember that when you get married next time and need to pick a best man. Now, unless you’ve got more problems, I’m going back to sleep.”
Sebastian hung up.
Octavia had been openly eavesdropping.
“Well?”
“We wait for Tristan Hadley. First, he finds out who’s behind this.”
Less than thirty minutes later, Hadley arrived.
Mid-forties, balding, in an ill-fitted blazer.
He jogged in, forehead soaked, eyes darting.
He stopped short in front of Sebastian and bent slightly at the waist.
“Mr Laurent, I’m Tristan Hadley. I’ve reviewed the situation. I’ll get someone on the CCTV footage right away.”
When Sebastian didn’t reply, Hadley blinked and adjusted his glasses.
Sweat gathered again at his temples.
“If there’s anything specific you need from me, I’m at your full disposal.”
“The footage was tampered with internally. Whoever you send will find exactly what the saboteur wants them to. I want the person behind it. Not the scapegoat. I want the name of whoever directed Dr Ali?nor Dubois.”
Hadley swallowed audibly.
“Understood. I’ll keep it discreet. I’ll find out who’s pulling strings.
Sebastian gave a faint nod.
“You’ve got two hours. That’s when the event ends. If I don’t have an answer by then, I’ll go straight to Mr Al-Ahmad.”
Hadley flinched.
“That’s, uh, that’s not necessary, Mr Laurent. Mr Al-Ahmad is busy. I’m sure, we don’t need to bother him with such a trivial matter.”
“Then you better act fast.”
“Of course, of course! I’ll have your answer within two hours.”
Hadley bolted, half-running, half-tripping, until he disappeared backstage.
“I’ll go keep an eye on that Dubois woman.” Octavia rose.
“Make sure she doesn’t try anything again.”
Sebastian stayed in his seat, unmoving.
He considered doing what Kian suggested and just pulling the plug on the entire competition.
But Octavia had made it clear that Eleanor had insisted on finishing.
Even when the odds were stacked against her.