Chapter 486
The moment the celebrities grabbed their tools and donned their straw hats, they headed out to the fields under the blazing sun.
Little did they know, the moment they left, the power went out.
As soon as Herbert and Ike left, I grabbed the insulated lunch box and headed out with
Christine.
When Herbert arrived, Christine was busy in the bedroom, getting dolled up.
On our way, after I told her about what had happened, she asked, out of the blue, “Herbert and Bella… they both have the last name Taylor. You don’t think they could be related, do you?”
“Nah, that’s unlikely,” I mused. “I haven’t heard Gregory or anyone mention it.”
Logically, considering Edith married into the Taylor family years ago and Herbert is now the head of the Taylor family, there shouldn’t be anyone in the family she doesn’t know.
Plus, if Bella was really one of the Taylors, it’s hard to imagine she didn’t even have a place to stay in Vista Town before.
Christine nodded in agreement, “Right, and if she were a Taylor, Bella wouldn’t have had such a tough start in her career.”
With the Taylor family’s connections and resources, propelling someone like Bella to stardom wouldn’t have been an issue.
However, these prestigious families seem to have an unwritten rule.
-Their children are forbidden from entering the entertainment industry.
They
They look down on the entertainment industry from the bottom of their hearts.
Bella is an exception, having made a name for herself in the business world, earning a seat at the table. Most others struggle for years in the industry, only to be viewed as mere entertainers by these elite circles.
After passing a couple of traffic lights, Christine pointed ahead, “Just drop me off at the corner up ahead. I’ve got a meeting with the interior decorator at the shop.”
With a teasing glance at me, she added, “After you deliver the charity meals, come straight over.”
“Got it.”
After she got out, I drove towards SZ Technology.
It was a short ride, only taking a few minutes.
09:20
Upon arriving and approaching the reception, I said, “Hi, I’m here to see Mr. Ford.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.” I smiled, not wanting to make it difficult for her, and said, “Give me a moment, I’ll call
him.”
Just as I turned to pull out my phone, a voice rang out, “What’s going on here?”
The receptionist replied, “Ms. Ophelia, she’s here to see Mr. Ford but doesn’t have an appointment.”
“Looking for Mr. Ford?”
The curiosity in her voice was evident as she looked me over. Before I could catch it, an emotion flickered across her face, too quick to identify, “And you are? I thought I knew all of Mr. Ford’s acquaintances. How come I’ve never seen you before?”
Her words rubbed me the wrong way, chilling my tone as I responded, “I’m Jane. Since when does Mr. Ford need to run his guest list by you for approval?”
“No, you got me wrong. It’s just that Mr. Ford has never mentioned you,” she explained, her attire and tone professional yet the way she referred to Gregory was noticeably intimate. “As one of the people Mr. Ford trusts most, I was just curious. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Is that so?”
I laughed it off, unbothered, “Maybe he prefers to keep his personal and professional lives separate, not keen on introducing his girlfriend to his subordinates.”
Ophelia’s expression shifted subtly, “Girlfriend?”
I smiled, “Yes, girlfriend.”
She quickly composed herself, “Mr. Ford isn’t in the office right now.”
“Not here?”
1 was taken aback.
Before leaving, I had texted Gregory, and he mentioned being in the office after a meeting.
Ophelia confirmed, “Yes, he’s not. Didn’t he tell you?”
I clenched my fist, forcing a smile, “Silly me, thinking of surprising him, only to find he’s not here.”
“Go on with your work; I’ll head out,” I said, turning to leave without looking back.
Oh, Gregory, you’ve got some explaining to do!
Once in my car, I dialed Gregory’s number. He picked up quickly, his voice warm, “Miss me?”
I kept my tone controlled, “Where are you?”
09:20
480
“At the office,” he replied, puzzled. “Didn’t you just ask?”
I replied with a nonchalant photo sent to his phone, “Check your messages.”
After a brief silence, he spoke up, “You’re at SZ Technology?”
“And?”
“I’m not at SZ Technology.”
Gregory, sensing my irritation, clarified, “Jane, I wasn’t lying. I’m indeed at the office, just at Ford Group, not SZ.”
My heart skipped, “You went to Ford Group?”
That name, Palmer, was like a ticking time bomb in my mind.
“Yes.”
Confused, Gregory asked, “You went to SZ Technology and nobody told you?”
“Who would have? After announcing myself, I was met with skepticism. Your ‘most trusted‘ person claimed she’s never heard of me. Apparently, I’m not on your list of acquaintances,” I retorted, my voice laced with sarcasm.
Initially feeling guilty, I quickly justified my tone.
On the other end, Gregory immediately refuted, “Impossible. Who said that?”
I recalled the name, “Someone named Ophelia.”
“Ophelia?”