Spencer scrolled through the countless ssages flooding his phone and let out a frustrated groan. He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttered a curse under his breath before jabbing at his mother's contact yet again. The call rang twice before she declined it. Again.
"Unbelievable," he growled, resisting the urge to throw his phone across the room. Why was she like this? Why did his mother insist on repeatedly antagonizing lanie? More importantly, why did she refuse to follow his carefully crafted plans?
He'd been clear—crystal clear—when he'd told her not to interfere with lanie's ntorship Program. Peter Berkus had already been furious with lanie and was practically gift-wrapping himself to FineArt.
There was no need to waste their energy undermining her further. FineArt was still trying to establish themselves and as such theuy needed to focus their ti on securing clients and expanding their market presence. Having Peter Berkus of course guaranteed them a certain clientele but that was about it. They needed to find soone who would connect with the younger and newer audiences as well.
But no, his mother had gone ahead and done what she wanted anyway. Instead of now focusing on their market strateegy, they were going to focus on training new designers!
Finally, after what felt like an eternity redialing the sa number, his mother answered.
"Mother! What is wrong with you?" Spencer all but roared the mont the call was answered.
"Spencer! Calm down," Madam Collins scolded even though he could sense the smugness in her voice. It provided as a fuel to his anger... Why was his mother so clueless intent on being an enemy to his plans!
"Calm down?" he snapped. "Mother, I specifically told you I had a plan! I told you I needed soone close to lanie, soone who could keep an eye on her—soone she wouldn't suspect. But instead of listening to , you went ahead and pulled this stunt! Now you've made her suspicious!"
"Oh, Spencer," Madam Collins scoffed at his words, still unperturbed by his anger, "You're overthinking things. She won't suspect that person—I'm sure of it. And even if she does, what can she really do?"
There was a short pause before her tone turned even more gleeful as she recounted, "Besides, haven't you seen the latest headlines in the business circles? The gossip about her? How everyone's saying her success at ABC was all thanks to her... sleeping around? And now they're claiming she's trying to pull the sa stunt at LuxeArt."
Spencer closed his eyes, feeling his temples throb. "That's irrelevant. I don't care about—"
"Oh, but you should have seen her face today!" Madam Collins interrupted, practically giddy. "She was pale as a ghost when Peter signed the contract with us. You should've seen the way she froze, completely humiliated! It was delightful." Madam Collins let out a small laugh, clearly relishing the mory. "Watching her squirm... now that was satisfying. Peter had set the scene up so perfectly."
Spencer clenched his jaw tightly enough to make his teeth ache. Why did she have to be so stubborn! "This isn't a ga, Mother," he said coldly. "You don't seem to realize what you've done. If lanie starts connecting the dots before she runs through the loan money..."
But he did not get a chance to complete his sentence as Madam Collins cut in breezily, "Oh, stop worrying so much. lanie isn't half as clever as you give her credit for. Trust , darling, everything's under control."
Spencer gritted his teeth. Sohow, he doubted that very much. But then he took a deep breath. What was done was done. He could not undo it. The best option was to warn his mother to take a step back. So he gritted his teeth and spoke slowly," Mom! For now, please do not do anything else. I need lanie to lower her guard to launch my attack! If you keep antagonisign her she is going to remain alert."
Madam Collins, feeling a high after the incidents today, agreed with her son easily," Okay okay. I will not pay attention to her for now."
***
While Madam Collins was rejoicing in her win for today, Peter Berkus sat in a high-backed chair, his eyes closed and fingers steepled in thought inside his quiet office.
His assistant stood nearby, clutching a file uncertainly. She had been holding the file for a while now. After a mont, the assistant finally spoke up. "Sir... what should I do with this file? Should I throw it in the trash. Anything given by them can be worth of nothing else."
Peter barely moved, but his voice was sharp as he questioned. "Who said those things about her? About sleeping around to sign deals... I don't recall giving that directive."
The assistant froze and shifted uneasily before hurriedly clarifying "I... I'm sorry, sir. It... it was suggested by Madam Collins. And I acted without consulting you. For that, I apologize. But..."
The assistant hesitated, clearly reluctant to continue but wanting to defend herself, "I wanted to avenge you as well. Even though no one believes you plagiarized that project, the breaking of that partnership has always been a stain on your na. And a silent comndation that they did not believe you. So... I just wanted her to feel that sa sting of unfounded accusations as well."
"So if soone slings mud at us, we should get in the mud pit and throw it back at them?" Peter Berkus asked making the assistant shuffle on her feet.
"I am sorry, Sir. Next ti, I won't do sothing like this."
Peter Berkus nodded and then extended his hand.
The assistant hesitated before realizing that he was asking for the file that Miss lanie had left behind. "Sir, this file is a waste of your..."
Before the assistant could continue, Peter Berkus sent her a look that had her turn quiet and pass the file to him imdiately, keeping her apprehension to herself.
However, as the older man opened the file and checked the contents, he stood up angrily and roared," What is the aning of this?"
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