Due to the commotion caused by the fake reporter, the other reporters were more cautious with their questions. Therefore, the press conference went on smoothly for the remaining half an hour. The subject of the discussions was about September Media and its future development plans. Everyone was totally professional about it. The press conference ended at 7:15 in the evening.
Then the staff led the reporters to the hotel for the dinner party. Elena had beamed when she left the venue with Henry. She had a fascination and a charming smile on her face. The man beside her was unconsciously blown away.
He quickly collected himself and hid his embarrassment with a cough and asked, “How did you know that there was a problem with the reporter just now?”
He would rate the girl’s performance at the press conference a solid 90 percent. She was only 18 years old, so there were still areas that she could improve. However, she was almost perfect with her answers. He was very much surprised when she uncovered that fake reporter. He would give her full score for that alone!
“I made a prediction.” Elena smiled and gave him a vague answer.
“Second Young Master, I have to go get changed and fix my makeup for the banquet. I shall take my leave now.”
Henry watched her as she left. Her brisk pace and graceful figure made him realize that he, too, must have been fooled.
“What happened to the fake reporter?” Henry asked Ashton, who was beside him.
Ashton immediately made a phone call. Then, he looked at Henry and reported, “Caleb took him away. No one knew what happened to him after that.”
“Caleb?”
“The boy who led the bodyguards to the fake reporter just now. He’s from September Studio.”
Henry frowned. Suddenly, it dawned on him. Elena! He did not expect that she would make such a meticulous plan, and it even fooled him! That girl!
Henry grunted. He wished he could haul her back to give her a good scolding. How would she dare to play such a trick right under his nose? Was she looking for trouble?
Ashton finally caught on, and he broke out in laughter. “That Elena is definitely an interesting girl!”
“Cunning, too!” Henry snorted and walked away.
Ashton spotted a faint smile on Henry’s face as he left. His young master might have looked angry, but he probably also thought it was a tactful trick. Ashton did not expect that both of them would be fooled too. Elena was cunning, indeed!
…
Rufus laughed. “How was it? Wasn’t my acting great? Am I talented enough to be an actor?”
Layla helped Rufus to remove his makeup. However, the boy was restless, and he continued to fish for praises from his friends to affirm his marvelous acting skills.
“I was great, right? Everyone was deceived, and they were scared witless when they took me away.”
“Really? I thought it was me who frightened everyone else.” Caleb was unwilling to be the second fiddle.
If he had not been so fierce and dashed toward Rufus with two bodyguards in tow, would those bothersome reporters be intimidated?
“Really? It was obvious that my acting was better.”
Elena, still dressed in her professional attire, pushed the door open, and walked in.
She glanced around and pouted. “You guys are so loud. Did you want everyone to hear about our little plan?”
“No, we were just… a little excited.”
Rufus smiled cheekily and tried to take credit for it. “What do you think? Elena, tell me, who did better? Caleb or me?”
“You were both outstanding.” Things had proceeded the way they wanted, and that was to scare the reporters into behaving professionally at the press conference. None of them had dared to ask any questions that were unrelated to the event.
“Elena, you are so clever! How did you know that those reporters would act like they did?”
It was such a divine plan. Even the high-IQ Lois gave her a thumbs up.
“After that scene at the press conference, we must have stirred some conflicts with the news on the Internet, but it’s still not enough.”
Elena took off her blazer and grabbed her evening dress from Layla.
“Caleb, find a way to set up more accounts. Imply that someone had planned the incident at today’s press conference.”
“Elena, are you finally fighting back?” Layla’s eyes lit up.
Lois was also excited. “Didn’t you say that if no one messes with you… Well, no, they had obviously messed with you since a long time ago!”
That particular someone had snatched her fiance, taken over her home, led Eldest Young Master Williams to dump her, and also made a newspaper announcement about the dissolution of Elena’s engagement to Michael.
Are those not enough to tick her off?
“Actually, the termination of our engagement had nothing to do with Ava.”
Elena could still distinguish right from wrong. Even though she was uncomfortable with Eldest Young Master Williams’s concern for Ava, she knew that he was not a person one could easily sway. He had his reasons to do that, and she no longer wanted to be his slave. If anyone were interested in Michael, they could have him. Elena was ready for a life of her own.
“At least half of the abuses I suffered online were because of Ava. That woman used every opportunity to accuse me of everything.”
She had never retaliated because she thought that it was not necessary. However, that woman had crossed the line when the things she did affect Elena’s daily life. Elena wanted retaliation for that!
Caleb immediately showed her an OK hand gesture that meant ‘Watch what I can do!’
“Don’t overdo it. Just stir some doubts in their minds should be enough for now. We must not turn the public’s opinion too hastily. We don’t want it to appear as if it has been deliberately planned.”
“Will do!” Caleb, Layla, and Rufus looked on intently as they listened to her command.
Their eyes looked at Elena with admiration and adoration.
“Give them some time to think about it, and when their thoughts are swaying with doubts, we’ll take it a step further then.”
“Understood!” Even though Caleb was not familiar with mental and psychological changes, he still knew what to do.
Luacs was even more intrigued by Elena as he stared at her side profile.
She was not only beautiful but also intelligent, and she had exceptional leadership skills. She used to play dumb to get through life as plainly as she could, but she had decided that it was time for some payback. It gave her the chance to reveal her good qualities. One would find it impossible to revert one’s eyes away from a girl who dazzled like a star.
“I’m going to get changed. Can you guys give me a moment?”
When Elena turned around, Caleb and Rufus stood up, and Aryan was already by the door. Only Luacs stood still; it looked like he was deep in his thoughts. Suddenly, he regained his senses, and he blushed as he followed Aryan through the door.
“Elena, let me help you with your makeup,” Layla said as she picked up the makeup box.
“No way. Your makeup skills had completely ruined me.” Elena turned her down.
“What? But I attended a makeup workshop recently. I promise that I won’t let you down.”
Layla was also someone who had uglified herself. Since then, she was determined to learn how to make herself look more beautiful.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that you are the center of attention tonight!”