After the meeting, Carl followed Leonardo back to the president’s room. Carl put the files on the desk and turned to leave.
“Carl.”
Leonardo suddenly called out. He turned back, looking in puzzlement.
“Anything?”
“Go home. Get some rest.”
Leonardo knew; Carl had been working non-stop for several days.
“No need. I love working.”
Just then, Warren pushed into the room and heard what Carl said, a surprised expression creasing his solemn face. Since when Carl became a workaholic? Had he gone insane?
“I’m going back to my office.” Carl turned to look at Warren, slapping his shoulder to say hi.
Warren looked at him as Carl left and disappeared out of the door. He turned around and asked Leonardo, “What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s gone mad.”
Leonardo looked down, his eyes landing on the documents that were spread out on his desk. He sounded absentminded. He did not know if he was talking about Carl or himself. He had not been feeling right for the past few days. Did Summer really want to have a war with him?
Warren saw his expression; Leonardo’s eyes were on the documents, but his mind was elsewhere. He did not know what to say. He had just returned from a business trip and these two big men were behaving like their souls had left their bodies. Helping himself into a chair at the desk, Warren said, “It’s Saturday. Let’s go and have a drink.”
…
After sending Adams and Douglas off, Summer got a call from Jessica.
“Do you remember the movie director I’ve talked about? He wants to see you, and I’m free today. What do you say if we go out for an afternoon tea meet?” Jessica asked.
“That’s great.”
The movie director was having a business lunch in the Golden Cauldron. So they figured they might as well have tea there. Leonardo had become a workaholic. They were most likely not going to see him in the Golden Cauldron. Summer felt relieved.
They rendezvoused at the Golden Cauldron’s entrance. Jessica looked like she had just come from a function or something; she looked a little tired, even with meticulous makeup on her face.
“Are you okay?” Summer asked with concern.
“I’m fine. I’ve been busy lately but I can manage it,” she said as they walked inside. She had been receiving jobs that were most suitable for her. Probably Leonardo had found that she had a good attitude and decided to give her a hand after seeing her that day.
They came to a private dining room. After a long wait, the movie director was still nowhere to be seen.
“He’s not here yet. Let me call him.” Jessica took her mobile phone and made the call. No answer. They had been waiting for two hours. Jessica lost her patience and got up. “I’ll go looking for him. He could be in one of the private dining rooms. He’s agreed to meet today, but now it looks like he’s breaking his word!”
It was fine with Summer, as she knew that putting on airs was part of the show in the entertainment world, especially from some well-known directors. She was worried about Jessica but could not stop her. So she followed.
The Golden Cauldron building was a large place. The good thing was that the restaurant and club were separate. So they just had to stay on the same level as the restaurant, and they would find the director.
Not long after, they found him. Someone came out from a room, and Jessica spotted the movie director through the half-open door. Summer followed her eyes and saw someone she knew: Laura.
Laura had gotten a good beating in the bar last time. Having been remanded by the police for twenty-four hours and her contract with Tip Top Entertainment rescinded, Laura had lost her face as well as her job. As usual, she wore close to nothing, leaning close to the director to pour him some wine. As she looked up, she saw Jessica and Summer.
She was visibly startled before she quickly returned to looking smug. Fondly leaning to the director, she mumbled a few words, and the director looked up in their direction. She got her feet, leaving her seat. As soon as Laura came near, Summer found a strong perfume attacking her nostrils. Frowning, she took half a step back.
Laura did not notice Summer’s reaction as all her attention was on Jessica. She drew her hair back with her hand, then spoke with a very sensual voice, “You’re looking for Mr. Lowe? He invited you two to come in and discuss here. He is a busy man.”
The director’s name was Oscar Lowe, whom Jessica knew through a mutual friend. People said that he made good films and had earned himself a name in the field. Having rubbed shoulders with Oscar before, Jessica had a good impression of him. So she had introduced him to Summer. Little did she know that Oscar was Laura’s lover.
“That’s fine. We have things to do,” Jessica rejected her categorically.
Not wanting to let her go, Laura said, “Jessica, are you scared? What are you afraid of?” She probably had an inch of makeup; when she smiled, her face looked disgusting.
“Just try to avoid the garish eyesore. Are you not afraid of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) while you sleep around?” Jessica mocked. Laura could not find the words to respond. The two had fallen out long ago, and Jessica did not bother to pretend in front of her anymore.
“Don’t be too arrogant! You think just because you have President Jones’s support, it will all be nice and smooth for you to get to the top? You better look before you leap!”
There was a slight change in Jessica’s expression as Carl was mentioned. But she quickly regained her composure. “You should be worried about yourself. Having slept with so many men, aren’t you afraid that their wives would come knocking on your door and ripping your face off?”
“You-You better watch out!”
Laura’s face turned from green to pale, then green again as if she was speechless. Jessica did not give a hoot about her threat.
Summer looked at Laura in thought. She then said, “Having failed to take Jessica’s nude photos, what else are you up to next?”
Laura looked at Summer and denied vehemently. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“You don’t admit it? It’s fine. You know better than anyone else. Jessica is an artist under Tip Top Entertainment, and President Jones is her guardian. Think about it.” There was a smile on Summer’s face, and her voice was calm as if she was chatting with her. But this settled voice had aroused the monster of fear in Laura. She had experienced firsthand what Carl was capable of after the last bar incident. Laura may not have been a superstar, but she still commanded some level of popularity. She was a valuable asset to the company. Yet, Carl still fired her without blinking an eye.