Laura immediately dialed the person’s telephone number, biting her nails tensely while waiting for the call to connect.
"Kelly! Oh, thank goodness you finally picked up," Laura was relieved to hear Kelly’s voice from the other end. "It’s me, Laura. Can you give this phone to Andreas?" she asked hastily.
After hearing Laura Kiels, Kelly wasn’t happy with how she called their boss’ first name. She knew they had a special relationship, but how could she casually call him that?
"Excuse me, Miss Laura, did you mean Mr. Corby?"
Laura didn’t bother answering Kelly’s question. Instead, she said, "Kelly, don’t ask. Just give him your phone! I need to talk to him now. This is very important..."
Kelly’s expression became even grimmer upon hearing Kelly’s bossy request.
"I’m sorry, Miss Laura, but you can not talk to Mr. Corby now. He is in the middle of a meeting," Kelly said.
Kelly was worried now. Her furious boss had been upstairs for almost an hour but had not returned. He didn’t even bring his cell phone, too angry to learn that the newly appointed CEO had tried to fire him from the company.
"Listen, Kelly... this is very important. If you don’t give this cell phone to Andreas, we will most likely face a big lawsuit," said Laura irritably. "Now, take this damn cell phone to Andreas. Now!"
"Miss Laura, even though I want to give this cell phone to him, I can’t..." Kelly said calmly, holding back her annoyance at hearing Laura curse.
"What do you mean? Why can’t he take my calls?" Laura stopped in her tracks and froze, annoyed by Kelly’s words.
Kelly sighed silently as her patience began to wear thin while talking to Laura Kiels. If only this woman were not their number one actress, she would hang up the phone.
"Right now, Mr. Corby is in a meeting with the new CEO of Quantum Capital, so, Miss Laura, I can’t disturb them just because you ask..." She said politely, even though inwardly, she was starting to curse her.
"Argh!! Fine… Fine… But you have to tell him that S Jewelry might sue us if he doesn’t clean up the mess he made!" After ending the call with frustration, Laura slammed her phone onto the bed. Then, she storms to the bathroom, fuming. She decides to head into the office to meet with Andreas and discuss this matter.
Kelly was speechless. She looks at her cell phone screen, which has now turned dark.
"Why would SJ sue us?" She muttered while placing her cell phone on the desk and continuing to read some files on her laptop, ignoring Laura’s warning.
****
While at Bella’s office.
The tension in the room grew intense upon Jack’s arrival, and he joined in on the silly plot Bella and Leo had created and started.
He was immersed in his role as someone who would receive a verdict from Bella. Jack settles on the single sofa opposite Bella and Leo.
After Jack confirmed that his brother-in-law, Andreas, was looking at them, an evil smile appeared on Jack’s lips before he started to speak.
"Bella, please, I beg you to forget about this. I know that my family is causing problems for this company, but as a friend, can you just let this go? Please don’t send him to prison or sue him for anything..." Jack’s voice sounded sincere as he pleaded.
Hearing Jack’s pleading shocked Andreas. He turned his gaze away from Jack and toward the new CEO, Arabella Donovan.
Since entering this room, only this was the first time Andreas realized the woman’s last name was Donovan. He remembered Jack once telling him that the name of his company, RDF, was actually the last name of its founder.
Instantly, Andreas feels his throat go dry; he feels suffocated.
’So, this woman wasn’t lying all along? She plans to fire Jack Foster from his position because of me!?’
Andreas became even more afraid when he realized that his brother-in-law would lose his position because of him.
Now, Andreas felt like all his muscles were betraying him. He almost fell to the floor, unable to support himself. He grabbed a nearby couch and took his seat without being asked.
He looks at Jack, then at Bella, but they completely ignore him.
No one looks at him.
No one talks to him.
But what they talk about directly hits him in the heart. They are now discussing his punishment, which includes imprisonment and paying back the embezzled money.
Just the thought of the punishment was enough to make him feel as if his soul had left him.
Andreas’ hands started to shake with worry. He turned to Jack, who was still trying to convince Bella to forgive him and give him leniency. It hurt his heart to see Jack do that for him.
Now, there is only guilt left in his heart because he abused his brother-in-law’s trust.
Andreas’ eyes feel blurry as he says, "B-Brother-In-Law—"
However, before Andreas could finish his words, Jack glared at him and shouted, "Shut up, Andreas!!" he snapped, sharply looking at him.
Andreas looks frighteningly pale and red-eyed, amusing Jack.
’What the fuck! This trash, already cry!?’ Jack can’t believe what he saw. He tries to maintain his angry expression while holding his laugh inwardly.
After Jack saw Andreas shut his mouth entirely and lowered his head, avoiding his gaze, he turned to look at Bella again.
Jack smiled at her through his gaze this time, but it was only for a moment. He wanted to let Bella know that what she was doing now was fantastic—she succeeded in teaching this stupid Andreas Corby a lesson.
Jack sighed deeply and spoke in a miserable voice, "Bella, I’ll accept whatever you want. Just tell me..."
Bella holds back her laugh and looks at Andreas.
Having accomplished her goal, she decides to stop to let Andreas know that his power and arrogance are his greatest weaknesses—he is nothing without Jack’s help.
Bella remained calm and composed as she said, "Jack, we are best friends. But for business, that’s a different story."
"I understand, Bella—"