Chapter 698
Despite not being fond of the group, Donny couldn’t help but agree with their sentiment. He believed Stellar Stage Entertainment was set for stardom under Ms. Haywood’s guidance.
A smile crept onto his face unbidden. “Ms. Haywood’s got game, for sure. If anyone can turn the tide, it’s her. Plus, she’s got a heart for the crew. I’m all in on trusting her.”
The others eyed Donny’s expression and let out a knowing sigh.
“It’s not just that, kid. You don’t get it, do you? Well, we do. From now on, if Ms. Haywood says jump, we won’t even think about sitting.”
In Brielle’s absence, their loyalties blew as freely as dandelion seeds in the wind. Feeling out of place among them, Donny excused himself and left.
The remaining group shared a look, their faces alight with aspiration. They had contacts at Dorsey International, which was how they received the photo of Mr. Dorsey kissing Brielle so promptly.
Although they were aware of Mr. Dorsey’s special treatment of Brielle, they couldn’t gauge the depth of their relationship. After all, despite her talents and looks, Brielle wasn’t born with a silver spoon – a significant disadvantage when mingling with high society. While there were tales of stars bridging the class divide, their marriages often seemed less than joyful once the novelty wore off. The young heirs would eventually replace their starry–eyed brides with fresher faces, leaving their wives to suffer in silence, bound by pride and the absence of a powerful lineage.
But Max and the Dorsey family weren’t your run–of–the–mill elites, and he was far from ordinary. Despite the liberal overseas tabloid culture, he had remained scandal–free without so much as a girlfriend. And while there had been whispers about him and Miss Alivia, nothing concrete had ever surfaced.
However, with Brielle, the public displays of affection were undeniable. They were convinced she was destined to be Max’s wife, and they were eager to ride her coattails to glory.
Unaware of their scheming, Brielle had gathered the necessary documents. It was time to see Max. His silence over text, his refusal to answer calls – even Patrick’s – and his absence from Dorsey International left her with no choice but to avoid the Premier Palace.
Brielle entered her car with a heavy heart and drove to Dorsey International, parking an hour later. She ascended to the top floor, but she ran into Annie as the elevator doors opened.
Annie, clutching a stack of documents, looked surprised to see Brielle. “Looking for Max? He’s not here. We’re about to head out for a business lunch with the CEO of InnovTech Solutions. Dorsey International is looking to partner up. Max is down in the parking garage, ready to leave. I just came to grab some papers.”
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Brielle.
“Ms. Brielle, maybe give Max a call? Or you can come with me to the garage.”
“No, I’ll wait in his office,” she replied, masking the bitterness of being avoided.
“Alright, I’ll let Max know about it. Given that today’s gathering is rather important, you might want to give him a call if it gets late,”
Brielle couldn’t tell Annie that Max was declining her calls, so she only replied with a “Thank you.”
Annie and Ricardo were natural actors, effortlessly slipping into character. There was an eerie conviction with which they carried their performances. So much so, they would often blur the lines between actor and character.
Annie smiled at Brielle before excusing herself, “I’ll head out first then.”
Brielle responded with a nod, then shifted her gaze away. She made her way to Max’s office. It was done up in monochrome tones, an aesthetic that conveyed a bleak loneliness.
To avoid the disappointment of not finding him there again, Brielle found herself dialing Wesley’s number for some assurance. Wesley confirmed that Max had been keeping late hours at the office recently, often working well into the night. This reassured Brielle, and she eased herself onto the sofa, much more relaxed now.
