After that, Brandon and Owen approached Eric with arrogant smirks plastered on their faces, completely brushing Chloe aside. Behind them, their three friends were snickering with their smartphones held high, clearly intending to film sothing ever since they cornered Emma, Priya, Heidi, Monica, and Laura. Brandon and Owen stood directly in front of Eric, their expressions shifting completely to intense irritation and anger.
"So you’re the one who writes their songs, huh?" Brandon asked, full of attitude.
"Turns out he’s just so nobody... you’re being played, Chloe," Owen added.
"Hey... are your dads shareholders in Chloe’s company?" Eric asked, his voice dead calm.
Hearing Eric speak up so smoothly even as they aggressively closed in on him caught both of them off guard, their eyebrows instantly knitting together. Since he was slightly shorter than Eric, Brandon had to tilt his hand upward to jab a finger at Eric’s face as he stepped ahead of Owen.
"Ha... so you’re getting close to Chloe just to get your hands on her money? Not going to happen. My old man is a major shareholder in the company, and I’m Chloe’s future husband," Brandon said, stepping right up to Eric. With a harsh "shove," he pushed Eric. "Out of the way, townie. Stay away from Chloe," Brandon mocked.
Eric didn’t budge an inch. Instead, he imdiately shoved Brandon right back, sending him crashing hard into Owen. As Brandon stumbled, sothing slipped out of his pocket. It was a student ID card for the Starwood Art Institute, located right near the apartnt complex. Brandon, absolutely furious about being pushed down, lost his temper.
"Damn you! Who do you think you are touching ? Just you wait. Once Chloe gets kicked out of the company and my dad takes over as CEO, I’m going to ruin you. I’ll make your life a living hell until you’re begging for death," Brandon barked, fueled by pure rage as he pointed aggressively at Eric.
"Oh really... so your dad is actively planning to kick Chloe out of her seat?" Eric asked, his tone cool and biting.
"Duh, obviously. My dad and Owen’s dad already managed to get rid of her parents back then. The only obstacle left is that miserable Bryan. Just wait. This whole thing is being recorded. Since you’re here, I’ve already got my influencer friends behind filming everything. A fake CEO playing in a band because she’s got a crush on her songwriter, haha! Chloe’s reputation is going to be completely destroyed online. Oh yeah... my friends already recorded the faces of the other mbers too, so you better get ready," Brandon ranted, entirely driven by emotion.
"Hey... Brandon, shut up," Owen barked, trying to cut him off because Brandon was talking way too much.
"Hey... what exactly do you an by ’getting rid of’ Chloe’s parents? Care to explain that?" Eric asked, entirely unfazed.
Hearing Eric’s question, Brandon suddenly realized he had let a massive secret slip. Biting his lip and clenching his jaw, he and Owen abruptly spun around and stord off. Their three friends, who had been holding up their smartphones to record and corner the girls from the start, quickly scurried after them.
The mont Brandon and Owen stepped into the elevator, Eric pulled out his phone and forwarded the entire recording straight to Richard. A few monts later, Richard called back. Eric took a few steps away from the girls, who were talking loudly and making a scene behind him.
"Hello," Eric said, picking up the call.
"Eric, what exactly did you just send ? Is the company they’re talking about CJR Real Estate and Construction?" Richard asked.
"Yep, that’s the one. I’m planning to head over there tomorrow to clear this whole ss up," Eric said.
Eric quickly laid out the entire situation to Richard, who listened intently. Once Eric finished explaining—
"I see how it is. So they want to weaponize Chloe joining your band as a scandal to overthrow her. But what those two kids said on the recording is highly interesting. I know a top-tier private investigator. I’ll have him look into this and dig up whatever skeletons Chloe’s two uncles are hiding," Richard said.
"Sounds good, Mr. Richard. Since Chloe holds a 45% stake in the company and I hold 40%, I’m planning to show up at the board eting tomorrow since those two are on the board. At the very least, I can threaten them if they try anything funny and keep them at bay until the investigation wraps up," Eric said.
A long silence followed on the other end of the line. Eric could practically hear the gears turning in Richard’s head as he processed everything.
"Alright. To make absolutely sure it hits ho, I’ll have Katie head over to the office with the legal paperwork in hand. What ti are you heading there tomorrow?" Richard asked.
"Probably around 11:00 AM," Eric replied.
"Got it. et up with Katie there before you head inside," Richard instructed.
"Will do. Thanks, sir," Eric replied.
The call ended. Eric slipped his smartphone back into his pocket and turned to look at the girls. But before he could even walk over to them, "vwooong," a holographic screen opened up right in front of him.
[Quest completed.]
[Reward: Three-item gift bundle received.]
[Would you like to open the gift bundle now? [Yes] [No].]
Without hesitation, Eric selected yes by thinking it in his head. The holographic screen displayed a gift box wrapped in a ribbon popping open with a "Congratulations!" ssage. Then, two gold stars and one silver star shot out from inside the box.
[Reward: Platinum Unlimited Credit Card received in system inventory.]
[Reward: Single-use Miniature Class A Motorho received in system inventory.]
[Reward: x10 Lifeti Free Amusent Park Passes received in system inventory.]
Eric opened up his system inventory, and sure enough, there they were—the three rewards he had just received.
"Wow... I got a luxury motorho... I can totally use this to travel the country and go on tour, haha," Eric thought to himself.
"Hey... what are you laughing at all by yourself?" Emma asked, her face suddenly popping up right in front of Eric’s.
"Whoaah... don’t scare like that," Eric replied, nearly jumping out of his skin.
Eric saw that all the girls had gathered right in front of him. Every single one of them was there, and he noticed Chloe’s face was still flush with anger and looking highly irritated.
Eric imdiately walked over to Chloe and filled her in on everything. He also forwarded the recording to her phone so she could listen to it later. After that, he turned to the rest of the group.
"Let’s head back up," Eric said.
"Yeah... let’s go. But is what just happened going to be a problem?" Monica asked.
"Don’t worry about it, it won’t be an issue," Eric answered.
"Man... we really need to be careful whenever we go out from now on. Tomorrow we have to dress the part if we’re going anywhere," Priya noted.
"Hmm... sothing that makes us look fierce so people don’t try to ss with us," Laura said, deep in thought.
"Agreed, I already have a pretty good idea of how we should style our outfits," Heidi added.
With that, they all headed back upstairs to put their groceries in the fridge and have dinner together.
***
Back in the present, Chloe turned around to look at the back seat, giving her identical-looking friends a cold stare.
"So this was your idea of looking fierce and not getting ssed with? You guys just look like my bodyguards," Chloe said dryly.
"Yep... exactly. Don’t worry, we’re going to shock everyone in that eting room," Monica said confidently.
"How about you guys just wait quietly outside the eting room?" Eric suggested.
"Uh... why?" Emma asked, confused.
"Because I don’t want you disrupting the eting. Your outfits draw way too much attention," Eric replied.
"Ugh... you’re so an," Emma said, annoyed.
"Yeah, seriously... it wasn’t exactly easy getting dressed up like this, you know," Priya chid in.
"We’re all wearing high heels," Heidi added, lifting her foot.
"Alright, alright... fine, you can co along," Eric said, too exhausted to keep arguing with the girls in the back.
They pulled up to a towering skyscraper and drove into the entrance lot. Chloe rolled down her window and called over a trusted security guard to valet-park Eric’s car. Once everyone piled out in the lobby, they marched inside, taking all attention to them.
Chloe looped her arm through Eric’s, who looked every bit the professional in his suit, which made Emma, Priya, Monica, Heidi, and Laura feel a bit irritated and left out in their bodyguard attire. Even so, they completely beca the center of attention in the packed, bustling building lobby
When they reached the custor service desk, they spotted a familiar face standing next to another man.
"Good morning, Katie," Eric greeted her.
"Hey Eric, based on the recording you handed over to Mr. Richard last night, we’ve already filed a police report and issued a subpoena for the footage they shot. So right now, I’m carrying our official docuntation alongside lawsuits for harassnt based on that recording and intent to defa. The investigation has officially begun," Katie said with a smile.
"Perfect, we’re covered then. And who is this?" Eric asked, looking at the man in the suit standing beside Katie, who was dressed in a sharp blazer.
"This is Norman, an intern at our firm. He’s here to learn the ropes of corporate law... oh, and he’s also the one who handled your recording from last night," Katie introduced him.
"Nice to et you, Norman. Thanks for the help," Eric said, extending his hand.
"You’re very welco, Mr. Eric. It’s a pleasure to et you as well," Norman replied with a smile, shaking his hand.
"Let’s head to Bryan’s CEO office first," Katie replied.
"Spot on," Eric said, turning to look at the girls. "Let’s head up," Eric said.
But then he froze, noticing the expressions on the faces of Chloe next to him, and Emma, Priya, Monica, Heidi, and Laura standing right behind her. They were all cold and pouting.
"Wait, what’s wrong with you guys now?" Eric asked, completely bewildered.
They didn’t answer, but they were clearly glaring at Katie, who was flashing a playful, teasing smirk that practically scread, "Look who’s back, the single, older woman from law firm."
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