Madam Collins woke up in an exceptionally cheerful mood. The morning sun stread through the curtains, casting a warm glow over her lavish bedroom, mirroring the excitent bubbling within her.
Today promised to be a triumphant day, one filled with long-awaited satisfaction. Three years! Three years she had done her best to break that woman's spirit but lanie had persisted. It didn't matter to her whether she was given a talking to or insulted in front of the servants.
lanie was like an immovable fortress, not at all bothered by her. And just as lanie had continued to endure silently, Linda Collins' urge to see her broken and lost had multiplied! That wish would finally co true today.
Everything had gone exactly according to plan the previous night, and now, she eagerly anticipated receiving good news about lanie's unfortunate losses. Her image should have been crumbled by now and the people who had agreed to help her would also be rushing to cut off ties.
Practically humming with anticipation, she slipped into a stylish outfit even as she impatiently tried to fasten her jewellery. Her heart pounded with excitent as she reached for her phone, ready to call her assistant for an update wondering what she will hear first. About her character being loose or LuxeArt being shut down due to people banning it.
After all, the 'cancel' culture in their country was quite strong! lanie should have been cancelled by now.
However, before she could dial the number, a sharp, urgent knock on the door had her frowning as she looked there. The abrupt sound sent a jolt of surprise through her, and she paused as her fingers tightened around her phone as she wondered who would co here,
Madam Collins arched a perfectly shaped brow as the door swung open and found her assistant standing there with a frantic expression.
Madam Collins, however, barely spared her a glance. She was far too eager to hear the confirmation of lanie's downfall to be concerned with whatever had her assistant so rattled.
"Well?" she asked, tapping her manicured nails against her phone as she bounced in anticipation like a little child. "How's everything going? Did Peter Berkus announce about lanie trying to copy our plan as yet? Has she been denounced by everyone? The people we hired to claim that LuxeArt was selling them cheap goods should have spent the news everywhere, right?
Lisa hesitated and her lips parted as if struggling to form the words. Instead of the triumphant news Madam Collins was expecting, she shook her head and finally spoke in a voice full of tension," Madam. Things have changed. There was a problem."
Madam Collin's fingers stilled mid-tap. Her expression remained impassive, as she repeated the word,"Problem?"
Lisa swallowed hard before she bowed her head and explained, "Peter Berkus made an announcent early this morning," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He said he will not be collaborating with FineArt."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Linda's face didn't change, but a dangerous glint flickered in her eyes. "Excuse ?What did you say? Because it suspiciously sounded like Peter was breaking off the contract?"
Lisa looked down at her tablet, as if reading directly from the statent. "He also said that since he had already chosen a few designers to ntor, he would simply take them under his wing while having nothing to do with FineArt or the anything arranged by us. He called a press conference early this morning and made the announcent."
Madam Collins blinked. For a brief mont, the words didn't make sense. The prestigious Peter Berkus—the very man she had relied on to be the final nail in lanie's coffin—had withdrawn? Not only that, but he had taken the new designers under his own guidance?
Her jaw clenched. "And why, exactly, did he suddenly change his mind?" she asked, her tone now sharp and relentless. "Does he not fear being charged for breach of contract?"
Lisa's hands trembled slightly as she scrolled through the news updates. "That's the thing," she murmured. "When asked about the breach of contract, he... he simply smiled and said that contracts are only binding when both parties act in good faith. And that his lawyer would soon contact us."
Madam Collins' entire body stiffened.
Good faith.
The implication was clear, and rage simred beneath her carefully constructed facade.
"What else did he say?" she demanded, her voice like ice. "Act in good faith? Did I not give him the upper hand in the contract and agree to all his demands? Call him! I want to know what the hell happened. Now. Why did he change his tune from yesterday to now?"
Lisa flinched but nodded quickly, fumbling with her phone to dial Peter Berkus' number. Before she could press call, however, her own device vibrated violently in her grasp. Startled, she glanced at the screen and hesitated.
"Madam. It's the PR team... They're telling to turn on the television."
A chill crept up Madam Collins' spine. "Why would the PR team intervene before she had even asked them anything? While she was still thinking, her assistant moved and said," They are saying it is urgent..."
Even as she said this, she turned on the television and played the news channel...
A news anchor appeared, on the screen. "Breaking news. Just monts ago, a shocking exposé was released regarding FineArt and its owner's alleged involvent in an elaborate sche to sabotage its competitor, LuxeArt."
"It has co to light that FineArt's owner, Madam Linda Collins, will now be facing a lawsuit filed by none other than renowned designer Peter Berkus, her intended partner.
According to legal docunts obtained by our investigative team, Mr. Berkus is suing FineArt and Madam Collins for defamation, conspiracy, and financial damages resulting from a series of orchestrated rumors that led to substantial losses for him two years ago."
Madam Collins' breath hitched. Her fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palm as she processed the words. And then her stomach twisted in disbelief, as she stared at the video that now appeared on the screen.
It was a grainy footage but she knew exactly what the video showed... She paled and felt her world collapse. How did this happen. Today was the turn day when lanie was supposed to have been ruined. How did it beco her instead?
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