Two secretaries stared at each other, shocked to hear the fact that I will marry Dennis. Looking at Bernice, I continued to say, “People had better look before they leap. If I were you, Miss Miller, I will go back right now and pack up to find a safe place to live a peaceful life with your mother. You should plan for your future rather than appear at the George Group, after all, Dennis has his breaking point and nobody knows what he will do as his business is done.”
Bernice went white as a sheet, “What do you mean?”
“What she means is clear! Dennis now only forbids you from being a star, not killing you. If you keep annoying him, he may be infuriated to ruin your life,” some girl chipped in.
I was surprised to look back, to see Folly Lewis leaning against the wall. She wore a chic black business suit, arms crossed on her chest.
Folly wore a slightly arrogant smile, soon turning a big smile at me, “Four years no see, you seem fatter.”
I…
I had to say her greeting bit hurt.
I responded happily, “Life here is easeful.”
She shrugged, walking to me, “Yeah, you look good.”
She turned to Bernice whose mind went blank, “I remember you are 26. A few years of being a star has made you forget who you are. It comes to me that you were going to jump from a building and you even called some reporters. But why are you still here? Did you pretend to suicide?”
She was still direct as four years ago.
Bernice went white, with lips pressed together. “It’s none of your business. Who are you? Mind your own business.”
“Well,” Folly sighed, “It seems we Lewis family did keep a low profile these years.” She looked towards the two secretaries, with an eyebrow raised, “Don’t tell me you two do not know me either.”
Two secretaries shook their heads immediately and explained, “Miss Folly, of course, we know you.”
Folly nodded and looked at Bernice, “You are just an actress which is just a joker being made fun of. It’s reasonable that you don’t know about official and business circles.”
“You…” Bernice took on a ghastly expression.
Folly sneered, “Look at you, like a bumpkin. Since you think Clara doesn’t match Dennis, I might as well tell you something so that you will be clear why you lose.”
“Don’t go too far!” Bernice replied, “You are just a boss of a few little companies. You are nothing.”
Sometimes I thought Bernice was cute because of her naivety. I heard that Nelly Jones was her mother, which then could make things clear. After all, like mother, like daughter.
Folly sneered, feeling bored. But if the talk ended here, that would not be more fun.
Directly, she sat in the chair, propping her chin, and asked, “Since you don’t know the Lewis family in City P, let’s talk about the Kennedy family there. Miss Bernice, you won’t believe a valueless girl can marry Dennis, surely?”
Bernice was baffled, “what do you mean?”
“What I mean is, in terms of appearance and intelligence, you are not a patch on her, not to speak of family background. Don’t tell me you don’t know the gap between your family and hers. You should be grateful that Clara lets it go that you slander her. If I were her, you had been a dead bitch. I hear that Link Kennedy is a doting father. If what you do annoys him, he will send you and your mother to prison, after all, your mother has a criminal record. You’d better pray you can be released alive.”
What Folly said was just for threatening Bernice, but the poor girl took it seriously. She went white as a sheet and asked, “You said Clara is Link’s daughter?”
Folly shrugged, “Don’t you read the news? A piece of advice, go to search news of four years ago and you will know something.”
“No way!” Bernice took on a ghastly expression, “Yara George told me Clara is an orphan. She married Dennis just because Freddy liked her. She can’t be Link’s daughter!”
“It’s clear now.” Folly looked at me, raising one eyebrow, “I now understand why she knows so much of you. It’s Yara George who sows discord. I’m wondering how you offend her. You left four years ago. How can you make an enemy as soon as you come back?”
I shrugged, “It’s complicated, anyway, all about old things.”
She turned to Bernice and said with disdain, “You must be disappointed. Her parents are well. Young girl, think twice next time before acting, or you will be cannon fodder.”
Folly looked toward two secretaries and frowned, “Are you two going to stand here all day? I doubt whether staff in this company are competent. Secretaries can’t prevent somebody from breaking into the president’s office and don’t call the security either. Are you telling Dennis he should fire his secretaries?”
The two secretaries were only receptionists, who hurried to apologize and call the security.
Maybe the words of Folly worked. Bernice went out with the security absent-minded.
Folly and I left in the office, she hugged and looked at me, “You left without a word and came back with no message. Do you consider me as your friend?”
I didn’t know how to explain and had to say, “I didn’t have much time to think much then, besides, it’s not a long time since I came back to City P, so…”
“Stop!” She said, curling her lips, “I have heard about what happened, so I understand. Anyway, what’s going on with you and Dennis? You two have divorced, and why do you make such a decision to marry him again?”
I didn’t know how to explain this whole thing, so I said nothing.
She sighed and gave up asking. We went into the rest area, seated. She looked at me, “The Lewis family knows you are back. What are you going to do next? Don’t tell me you will pretend nothing has happened.”
“I have already no relationship with that family anymore, which is also what I have always expected. The reason why I came back to City P is that I hope my daughter will have a promising future, beside this, I expect nothing. Otherwise, I would rather stay in HL all my life.”