Tom knew it was a set up immediately he saw Joseph cut in when Dave was talking, although he was not sure if Dave was part of the plan but one thing was sure, Joseph had a hand in this mess he had found himself. The crazy aspect was that there is no way to prove it was ruined by someone and provide evidences, he was going crazy by every tick of the clock.
“I think you should calm down Mr. Dave Lin and let’s cool down to solve this” he pleaded but Dave would not have it. He was scarily furious and his French accent took over. The more he was pleaded to, the more he was getting angrier and seeing this, Tom concluded that it would be best to reschedule a meeting instead of wasting all day to plead with him and calm him down on camera. He succeeded in calming him down at some point and told him, “Mr. Dave Lin, I promise you that we will sort this out so let’s have a talk tomorrow instead of fighting like this” making him cool down a bit.
“Even if we have a meeting tomorrow, do not think I will be settling or looking past the incident. I will make sure to cancel my contract at all cost” he declared and stormed out of the hall.
Tom rubbed his sweaty forehead both in anger mixed up with frustration. He was trying hard not to yell and kick the air as his anger level was rising beyond what he could contain. The smirk on Joseph did not go unnoticed by Tom and that proved to him that he had in a hand in it for sure.
“You seems to have lost your touch” Chairman Holland remarked and walked off in anger. The statement might have been short, but he knew that there is more to it. He now has a leash on his neck and what he could bug him with.
“Pack the cloth and make sure to store it safely as evidence, we will talk more with the team tomorrow and the culprit better be ready to confess before I fish them out by myself” he growled at them and marched to his office.
After gulping down a big bottle of chilled water to cool down his aching head, Joseph walked in briskly with his hands in his pockets and he charged at him after squeezing his anger on the poor empty water bottle.
“Did you have to resolve to such a childish trick just because you want to oust me out of the company?” he shouted at him, grabbing his collar but Joseph was not fazed a bit. He just stood there watching Tom rant in agony.
Tom knew that it surely was his doing but he had gotten him hard this time around, there was no way to point to it to him even if he ends up catching the culprit because he will have to keep quiet about his involvement. The thoughts of what his father would set to do in order to oust him while using this incident against him was all he could entertain, his only hope is to get Dave Lin’s understanding but seeing how he reacted earlier, there is a very low probability that he will ever care for his position not to talk of putting him into consideration.
Joseph who has had enough of the pulling and ranting of Tom jerked his hands away from his clothes and adjusted his suit once more. “You should blame yourself for your incompetence, why are you coming at me who doesn’t even have any ties with this company? I only came to watch the fashion show and I saw a greater show, how is that my own fault? You should have done better in managing your staffs instead of getting fucked up by them. I won’t say I wish you luck in resolving it because I honestly don’t you can resolve this, it’s too big of a mess” was what Joseph slammed him with, a smirk dancing at the corner of his lips.
He was surely enjoying the torment and agony Tom was going through and he knows he had succeeded in getting him trapped in a box, his method worked. Tom understood all he was saying and scoffed, fixed his ties and dusted his hands before giving a short laugh. “Don’t ever think I will go down this way, I have gone a long way for this to wreck me or become my leash. I will pull through” he assured Joseph who snorted and shrugged. “I will be here to see you pull through and clap for you if you succeed, I should be able to do that as your brother” Joseph remarked before heading for the door.
“Enjoy while you can, who knows? That seat might belong to someone else soon” he added with an evil grin making Tom roar before he went out through the door.
He whistled happily and did a short dance as he heads for the elevator before fishing his phone out to call Charles. “Let’s have a drink tonight, I am in a very good mood. It’s been a while I got this excited” he said to him and Charles agreed without hesitation.
***
Tom gave a very strict instruction to the staff not to ever notify Amber because he was sure she would get on the next plane to Chicago in order to come and help him out. She has a cross to bear at her own side so he shouldn’t hang over his own on her neck.
She woke up a little after eight in the morning and just finished having her bath when Phoebe showed up to pick her for the interview that was scheduled for the morning. She had brought along a sandwich for her breakfast and Amber settled down in the car to munch on it as she went over the interview script once again.
She could not go over it the previous night because she was burnt out, she didn’t even have the energy to lift up a spoon of food. She only managed to shower and slept off without checking up on any messages she might have had.
“The questions are simpler than what I expected” she remarked taking a huge sip of her drink. Phoebe chuckled lightly at her reply, “That is because Lawrence did a lot of removals, the reporters can be stupid sometimes you know. They don’t respect the boundaries between personal and work question. That is why we always want to have a script containing the expected questions before we agree to any interview for any artist under our care” she explained and Amber nodded in agreement.
It was something she was familiar with too, there is no limit or boundaries to any rude questions the press can ask so it is better to play a safe game. They got to the gallery and she was ushered in to the dressing room where she was styled and dressed up for the interview.
****
Dave arrived for the meeting to solve the issue surrounding the clothes scandal but no matter what Tom persuaded him with, he wouldn’t budge. He was hell bent on canceling the contract, thanks to the offer he had previously gotten from Joseph. He also had realized that ruining the dress was Joseph way of helping him out that he had earlier mentioned.
He knew it was never Tom’s fault but he cannot care for him at that point because he also had his own goal to achieve. For the offer with Joseph to stand then he has to be very rigid while dealing with Tom over the issue.
“We will offer a ten percent discount on all sales coming through your line for the rest of the year while also bearing the cost to make another dress. We will go as far as setting up another exhibition for the launching of the cloth too when it is done. How about this offer?” Tom explained to him in a pleading manner but Dave turned it down.
“You seems to be forgetting something, I am not even interested in the discount and compensation but the mismanagement and untrustworthy way Shellhouse is handling business. If I forget this incident and move on, what is the assurance that something like this or even worse than this wouldn’t happen in the nearest future? If you are a shopping mall that also prioritize fashion then you should be careful in handling all your clothes and not ruining it” Dave lashed at Tom who could only do nothing but apologize.
“I am sorry, I am extremely sorry for what happened to your dress but can you please not cancel the contract?” he pleaded once again but Dave’s replied was a solid “No”.
****
The interviewer was nice to her as she conducted the interview according to the script she was handed and it went smoothly. They were about wrapping up the interview when the second interviewer suddenly asked her a question she wasn’t expecting.
“Miss Amber, you are the secretary to the CEO of Shellhouse Mall right?” he asked and she was shocked to hear that from him. Her expression clearly showed that she was shocked at that revelation but the interviewer only smiled as if he didn’t realize what he had done.
She released a smile and swept her hair behind her ear, “Yes, you are right. I am the secretary to CEO Tom Holland” she confirmed and series of gasps filled the room. “But is that a problem?” she questioned and the interviewer hesitated before asking her what was on his mind.
“You must have heard about the ripped clothes incident that happened yesterday, what is your thought on the carelessness of Shellhouse Mall which is considered the biggest mall in Chicago?” he questioned further and the expression on her face turned dark.