The next day, Tatiana decided to visit King’s company. Catelyn was right; the earlier, the better.
“Paisley is not only a bitch to herself and everyone, but she is also a bitch to her own son. How could she get into her little boy’s head just because of her selfish self…” Jolene wouldn’t stop talking after hearing Dylan’s words from Tatiana. “Maybe we should change his school. If Paisley knows about Dylan, then the bastard Nathan knows about him too.”
Tatiana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I knew I shouldn’t have come to this country, but I don’t have a choice. That’s why I need to tell him soon.”
“He’ll probably be a little mad, but I think he’ll be cool. Mr. King is cold but not to you, I guess.”
“He said I’ll face the consequences. Of what exactly? I didn’t steal anything from him.”
“You stole his heart,” Jolene teased.
“I’ll cut your tongue,” Tatiana warned, and Jolene chuckled. Tatiana’s phone buzzed, and she quickly pulled it out, thinking it was Cassius, but it was an unknown number.
“Hello, Tatiana?” Maya’s trembling voice sounded from the phone instead.
In the next twenty minutes, Tatiana’s car stopped in front of a quiet restaurant. She asked Jolene to wait in the car and went inside. Her eyes scanned the place, and she spotted a familiar figure in disguise.
Almost all her body was covered.
“Maya?” she called lightly, and Maya looked up, her face pale, eyes swollen with suffering swirling in them.
Tatiana took a seat before her, her cold gaze observing her older sister, Maya, carefully, and her blood slowly boiled.
“Uhm… I don’t know where to start and I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing, but I can’t take it anymore,” Maya’s voice trembled a little, seeming to be in pain.
“He did this, didn’t he?” Tatiana asked, her jaw clenching.
“I’m not surprised you knew.”
Tatiana scoffed, her tongue rolling in her mouth, something she did whenever her head spun in anger.
“It’s been nine years you’ve been married to him, Maya. Don’t tell me-”
“We were okay at first, but after two years, he slowly changed, and now he-” Maya’s voice trailed off as she remembered Mason’s beastly acts on her. “I can’t take it anymore. He’ll kill me; he’s getting worse every day.”
Tatiana stayed silent, her expression unreadable.
“I’m so sorry about what I said about Isabella. You were right; she needed justice, and I hated myself for saying such a thing.”
“You know something, don’t you?” Tatiana asked, and Maya bit down on her lips, her mind recalling what she had heard.
“Only if you help me will I tell you what I know… please, I don’t know what to do,” Maya pleaded.
—
After discussing with Maya, Tatiana headed straight to King’s company but was informed that Cassius wasn’t around.
“When will he be back?” Tatiana asked.
“He won’t be around today, ma’am. You should come back in two days,” the woman at the front desk replied.
“Thank you,” Tatiana sighed disappointedly.
“Idol!!” A loud voice called out, making her halt. A man in his late 20s walked quickly to her with a smile.
Tatiana recognized him-Hudson, Cassius’s assistant, according to her research. Why was he calling her “idol,” anyway?
“Tatiana, finally I got to see you in person,” Hudson chuckled, his smile warm enough to melt anyone’s heart.
“Idol?”
“Oh, I’ve watched all your movies. *Shadow in the Night*, *The Devil’s in the Details*, *Paranoid*, *Secret Smile*, *Crazy for You*, and so many more… I’m a huge fan of yours, and I can’t wait to see more of your work. Sorry, am I talking too much?”
“No, actually, it’s really nice to meet you,” Tatiana said politely.
“I’m Hudson, by the way.”
“Who wouldn’t know Mr. King’s assistant?” She chuckled.
“Are you here to see him?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty urgent.”
“He’s not available right now. He has been busy and has an event tonight. I can send you the address if you want to come,” he said, and Tatiana nodded.
As they spoke, Indigo watched them from afar, her assistant busy cleaning her nails. Her expression was curious as it focused on Tatiana.
—
As the evening drew near, Tatiana received the address from Hudson, along with a message from Director Felix, requesting her to come to the same event to talk about the movie and meet some producers.
Great, two birds with one stone.
She wore an elegant, glittering dress, her makeup light, making her look stunning.
“Is this a date?” Catelyn teased upon spotting her.
“Hudson asked me to dress well; it’s an important event,” Tatiana replied. She bid Dylan and Catelyn goodbye before heading out, without Jolene.
Unknown to her, an attack was set up for her…
She reached the hall in no time, and as soon as she stepped out, she froze at the scream of the reporters.
“There she is!”
They all turned their gaze to her, and Tatiana quickly recognized the hatred in their eyes.
Eggs and stones were thrown at her, but she was fast enough to get back into her car. They gathered around her car to prevent her from driving.
Insults, humiliation, and curses filled the air.
Cassius was discussing something with business partners when his phone buzzed, and a video came in. His eyes darkened, and his aura changed.
He silenced the men around him with a finger, his jaw clenched as he made a call.
“Get every name of those reporters assaulting the woman outside the hall and ban them all. Paint their names black as long as I remain King.”
Meanwhile, Tatiana was still trapped in her car, surrounded by a hostile crowd. She tried to start the engine, but they were all over it.
Aren’t reporters supposed to ask questions? Someone definitely paid these reporters to act this way.
One of the reporters suddenly received a message, and her eyes widened in terror. Banned. She fainted from the shock.
Another received a message and froze. One after another, their phones beeped, and their attacks ceased.
Tatiana slowly raised her head from the steering wheel and found them all staring at their phones, most of them even crying.
A team of hefty men in black suits appeared, forming a protective circle around Tatiana’s car. Her face contorted in confusion until she received a message from…
Him.
“Get down from the car. You’re safe now. Little Rebel.”