The meeting was over. Lynn turned to look at her. “Summer, come to my office.”
“Okay.”
Summer could already partially guess what he was up to. Lynn’s eyes lit up when he heard someone propose to use Adams as their product ambassador.
When she exited the conference room, Vicky stood in her way outside.
“May I help you, my dear sister?”
Summer moved half a step back, her nostrils attacked by the strong smell of Vicky’s perfume. She did not show it on her face, but Vicky could still sense the disgust in her mind. Vicky’s face darkened as she shouted, “Summer, don’t show me that smug face just because you’ve convinced Leonardo to help Jarrett Group and Daddy likes you now. Don’t forget who gave you all of this!”
She must have felt that her sense of presence in the company was close to zero. People had started to butter up Summer, and Lynn was ignoring her. Now the freest person in the Project Department, she was feeling a strong sense of crisis.
“You mean, you gave me all of this?” Summer smiled, and her voice was soft. “It was Grandpa who arranged the marriage, while Dad and Mom gave me my life. I’m thankful for everything they have given me. I will not forget who’s given me everything.”
“Summer!”
Vicky’s face was distorted from anger. Summer had always been a foil for her since they were little. Back then, when Karen forced Summer to marry into the Emerson family, she thought Summer was going to die in the hands of Leonardo, the monster. Never did she expect that Summer would rise over her head someday, and it upset her a lot. How could an ugly bumpkin go ahead of her and steal all the limelight from her? She just could not get over it.
“My dear sister, you don’t look very well. Ask Mom to cook some comforting soup for you.” Summer shoved past Vicky. “Dad is still waiting for me in his office, please excuse me.”
Vicky watched as Summer walked away, her hands clenched into fists. She was unaware that her lip was bleeding from her own bite.
…
In Lynn’s office.
“Dad, is there anything I can help you with?”
Summer had guessed what Lynn was up to, but she played dumb. Lynn was silent for a few moments before he spoke.
“Summer, it was all because of you that the company has survived this time. I’m very grateful to you.”
“Dad, didn’t you say that we Jarretts are family? It was my duty to do so.” She looked down, hiding the contempt in her eyes.
Lynn was not stupid either. He knew very well that he had mistreated Summer in the past, and he was now a little worried that she was still resentful of him. He also knew that Summer had a soft heart judging from how she treated Karen. Yet, he forgot that people only possessed so much patience. As soft-hearted as Summer was, when push came to shove, she could get very hard-hearted too.
Lynn felt relieved when he heard what Summer said. “Summer, you’ve become more mature after your marriage. What do you think about the proposal in the meeting just now?”
Here came the meat of the matter.
“I think it’s a good idea, but it may not work. Adams is an A-listed actor, a busy man. He may not even have the time to appear for those international brands, let alone for companies like ours.” No movie artist would want to become an ambassador for a tainted company. That would only provoke his audience, and Adams knew better.
Lynn had a plan. He knew that Jarrett Group may not be able to get Adams’s cooperation, but the Emerson family could. If Summer could ask the Moos for help, Adams would not say no. Lynn was determined to get it done.
He moved next to Summer, patting her on the shoulder. “Just because no one can do it, I’m going to assign you this mission. I trust in your capability!”
Summer appeared reluctant. “I may not be able to accomplish this. After all-”
Lynn cut her off. “Don’t be discouraged just yet. Even if you can’t, Leonardo can.”
She looked up at him. “I’ll do my best…” It was not like she was going to do what she said.
Lynn had found things in her he could make use of and was squeezing her to the last drop. He did not care one bit if that would affect her relationship with Leonardo. She had just helped him to get Leonardo’s help, pulling Jarrett Group out of the quicksand. Lynn only cared about himself.
Coming out of Lynn’s office, Summer saw Vicky again. Vicky hissed at her. She shoved past Vicky and left. While she was on her way, she could still hear Vicky griping, “How difficult is it to get Adams to become our brand ambassador? I can do that too. Just send someone to grab him…”
Vicky was stupid beyond comprehension, Summer thought to herself. With Adams’s standing in the entertainment world, how could she grab him on a whim, especially when Adams was Leonardo’s cousin? Adams’s value alone was higher than that of the entire Jarrett Group, to say the least.
…
Jessica was enjoying her downtime at home.
When Summer walked out of Jarrett Group’s office building after work, she saw Jessica’s car. It was bright red just like her personality, and it was parked up in front of the building. Summer looked around, making sure no paparazzi were around before walking toward Jessica’s car and getting into the front passenger seat.
“Why didn’t you call? Aren’t you afraid of the paparazzi?”
Due to the Jarretts, Summer found herself in a peculiar position. Her public image was neither too good nor bad, but if she was caught seeing Jessica, the media would make a mountain out of a molehill. It would not be good for Jessica as a public figure, especially when she was making progress in her career.
Jessica took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of red eyes, shocking Summer.
“What happened?”
“The company’s sold me to Tip Top!” Jessica gritted her teeth. “Spineless, useless company!”