"I'll be straight with you," Xavier started, in answer to Carlos' question. "You have amnesia, so you don't remember how you used to spoil her. I'm just doing my job. It just so happens I'm also a friend of hers. Oh, and Piggy's godfather," he added, giving Carlos a mysterious smile.
Carlos couldn't think of a thing to say, as he took all that in.
Debbie sighed helplessly and wondered, 'Does everyone know Carlos? They act like friends. What a coincidence!
Yates, Xavier...Even Ivan told me last time that he liked Carlos.
Why didn't they tell me this before I came back here?'
Stephanie fixed her eyes on Debbie, lost in her own thoughts. 'I hate to admit it, but she's good. And she's assembled the best. Her uncle Curtis, the president of some college. Yates, the boss of a secret organization of A Country. Xavier, top lawyer in M country. Ivan, the CEO of Wen Group, son of some high-ranking official in Z Country. Not to mention she's Jared's best friend. He's the vice general manager of the Han Group and the CEO's son. Who else does she have on her side? And do they have even more power?'
After answering the phone call, Yates came back to the ward and waved his phone. "Hey guys, something came up. I have to go back. I'll be in the air in an hour. Xavier, take care of Debbie. If you need help, call me. Carlos, the only thing you need to do is to get back with Debbie."
When she heard that, Stephanie fumed with rage. 'How ballsy! Right in front of me!'
Carlos' face darkened as he said coldly, "Frankie, see our guest out."
"Yes, Mr. Huo. Mr. Feng, this way, please." Frankie gestured for Yates to leave. Yates didn't mind at all, and left the ward after bidding goodbye to his friends. His bodyguards followed after him.
Debbie had been busy preparing songs for her new album. She had no time to wait for Megan to leave the operating room, and she didn't care about her either. "Xavier, let's go. I don't want to breathe the same air as a certain person," she said.
"A certain person?" Xavier flashed a cunning smile as he teased, "You mean Carlos?"
Debbie rolled her eyes and cursed inwardly, 'Come on! Don't say it out loud!'
Carlos was in a bad mood when he heard that. He turned to Stephanie and offered, "I'll have the driver take you home. Get some rest. I'll stay here."
Debbie, who almost reached the door, stopped in her tracks when she heard this.
Stephanie nodded and was about to leave. She didn't care for Megan at all, and she didn't want to waste her time here. But when she saw Debbie freeze like, she was instantly on high alert. "Miss Nian, how about we leave together?"
Debbie gave her a fake smile and said, "Ouch! My belly hurts. I need to see the doctor. Go ahead, Miss Li." Then she turned to Xavier. "You can leave too, if you want. I'll drive myself home after I see the doctor."
Xavier was nobody's fool and saw through her plan. She wanted to stay with Carlos. "Take care, Carlos. Don't be a stranger," he said.
Carlos nodded.
Xavier left the ward, but Stephanie stood there, refusing to leave. She wasn't taking any chances, and wasn't going to give Debbie any time alone with Carlos.
Ignoring Stephanie, Debbie walked over to the nurse's station and asked the person behind the counter, "Hi, my belly hurts. Can I get seen today?"
"May I ask which part of your belly hurts?" the nurse asked.
"Stomach," she said casually.
"You'll need the Gastroenterology Department, ma'am. Third floor."
"Got it. Thanks." Debbie walked towards the elevator. Stephanie kept her eyes glued to Debbie.
When she saw Debbie enter the elevator and the doors close, she heaved a sigh of relief. "Carlos, I'm taking off," she said.
"Mmm hmm," Carlos simply answered, without even raising his head. He was reading the message sent by his assistant.
Stephanie was frustrated, but it wasn't worth complaining about.
Three minutes later
The familiar clack of high heels sounded again. Focused on his work, Carlos didn't bother to raise his head and took a stack of documents from his briefcase.
Debbie's eyes swept across the ward, and she found Carlos was alone. She threw herself into his arms and gave him a broad smile. "You gotta be bored. I'll keep you company."
"I'm good," he said coldly, and even pushed her away.
Debbie pouted her lips. Sometimes she ran herself ragged chasing after Carlos, but she didn't want to give up.
"Old man..." She sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.
Carlos didn't respond.
Silence reigned in the room. After a long time, Debbie murmured, "I've been so busy with the new album, yet I took some time out for you. Why be like this?"
"If you stay here, I'll not only cancel your album—"
"What?! You jerk! I'm not leaving! Try something then!" she grumbled.
"I'll also shut you out of the entertainment industry and have my men throw you into the sea." Carlos thought he'd better find a way to avoid Debbie, because every time they met, he lost control, acting less and less like himself.
Debbie felt like she needed to change her plan. All she was doing was annoying him.
Keeping this in mind, she tidied herself and apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude." Sadness could be heard in her voice.
She stood up and walked towards the door, head held high to avoid the tears.
Carlos wondered what trick she was playing this time when she turned around and asked, "Do you really not want to see me again?"
Carlos wanted to say no, but when he thought of Piggy, the child she had with another man, he simply answered, "It's true."
"I see." Debbie's eyes reddened as she lowered her head and flashed a self-mocking smile. She left the ward without saying anything more.
She took steps to avoid seeing Carlos again. Even though they lived in the same building, he hadn't seen Debbie at all.
Two months later, Debbie went to the offices of recording label with her new album.
Listening to the original tape, Ruby gave Debbie a thumbs-up. There were ten songs on the demo. Surprisingly, there were two cheerful songs.
The name of the album was "Lost and Found." Star Empire invested a lot in promoting her. There were billboards, magazine ads, TV spots, a release date announcement, full concept teasers including the date, teaser pics, and music video teasers. Not to mention the company was putting together a live showcase. A million albums were going to be released on July 7th.
The albums would be sold online and at each major bookstore.
A million! That number made Debbie rather nervous. Normally, two hundred thousand was an appropriate number. 'What if I can't sell that many?' she thought.
She was told that Carlos was behind the decision, so she sent him a text message saying, "Mr. Huo, please reconsider the number of albums. A million is a bit too much. After all, I only just signed with Star Empire." It wasn't that she didn't believe in herself, but the number was a bit scary.
She didn't have to wait too long for his reply. "I have confidence in the person I chose."
She wanted to reply to this message and tease him by saying, "Is that because of my talent or because you like me?"
But she didn't do it. She had exhausted herself preparing the new album over the past two months, and she needed a break.