Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Feeling dissatisfied, Shelly persisted in her threats, “Mia, you must be afraid, right? Let me make this clear. With Maya in charge, don’t even think about securing any scholarships.”
Arching an eyebrow, Mia replied, “While I may not attach significant importance to that scholarship, Maya, given your role as the person overseeing this event, aren’t you worried about the potential repercussions of orchestrating things covertly?”
Maya’s lips curled into a chilling smile. “Even if you utter such claims, no one will believe them.
“I am the heiress of the Lane family, manipulating situations is child’s play for me. There won’t be any discernible traces, so what can you possibly do to me?”
Shelly stifled a laugh with her hand. “Absolutely! But Mia, we’re not that petty. If you’re willing to kneel and apologize, perhaps we can find it in our hearts to forgive you.
“A mere word from Maya, and that scholarship might still be within your grasp.”
Mia maintained her composure, choosing to remain silent.
However, Gina couldn’t hold back and retorted, “How could you two engage in such reprehensible actions? Aren’t you concerned about the possibility of being exposed?
“If I were to speak up, your predicament wouldn’t be a pleasant one either.”
With a mocking tone, Shelly scoffed, “Go ahead, see if anyone would take your words seriously.. You’re financially poor, after all.”
“Well, you can’t be too sure about that,” Mia retorted with a serious expression.
She dangled her phone, stating, “Just now, I recorded a video capturing everything you said. If this footage were to circulate online, wouldn’t it cause a bigger uproar than Shelly’s private videos
Maya’s expression turned uneasy, and Shelly tried to snatch the phone away.
However, Mia was prepared and securely stashed it, saying, “Don’t bother. I’ve already backed up the video. Even if you manage to swipe my phone, it won’t make any difference.”
Shelly gritted her teeth in frustration. “Mia, you wouldn’t have the nerve!”
“Why don’t I demonstrate my courage to you?” Mia challenged.
Mia promptly retrieved her phone and began accessing her Twitter account.
Standing beside Mia, Maya immediately seized her wrist, wearing a distinctly displeased expression. “Mia, please stop.”
Mia arched an eyebrow. “What’s the matter? Are you feeling uneasy?”
Suppressing her anger, Maya inquired, “What is it that you’re after?”
If Mia were to share the video online and Dominic discovered it, her professional standing would be jeopardized. She would no longer be able to participate in the company’s affairs.
With the humiliation of being ousted by Dominic already looming, she had no desire to exacerbate the situation.
Mia twirled her phone around, stating, “My terms are simple. If both of you apologize for the baseless threats you just uttered, I won’t go ahead and share this video.”
“Apologize? Mia, are you out of your mind?” Shelly scoffed, showing no inclination whatsoever to offer an apology.
She turned to Maya and asserted, “Maya, there’s no need to be intimidated by Mia’s words.
“As the young lady of the Lane family, your brother will unquestionably trust you over Mia. We can simply assert that these videos are fabricated.”
Maya’s eyes betrayed a hint of irritation as she branded Shelly as the constant source of impractical ideas.
Had it not been for the shared last name “Barrett,” Maya would likely have dismissed Shelly altogether.
Collecting herself, Maya took a deep breath and addressed Mia, “I was just joking earlier. Did you really think I was serious?
“My brother strongly disapproves of any form of manipulation or meddling in work matters. I could never engage in such behavior.”
Standing beside Maya, Shelly felt a twinge of frustration. Why did Maya have to show vulnerability in front of Mia?
Gina sneered, “Ms. Lane, what’s wrong with you? If you’re clueless about how to apologize, let me enlighten you. Apologizing involves uttering the words ¡®I’m sorry¡®!”
Maya was approaching her breaking point.
Mia surveyed her surroundings. “With the increasing number of people here, I was contemplating uploading the video to the campus network right before the scholarship opening ceremony.
“Imagine unveiling the insider dealings at such a moment¨Cit should add an interesting twist, don’t you think?”
Maya finally gathered herself and offered an apology, “Mia, I misspoke earlier. I shouldn’t have made such a joke. I sincerely apologize.”
“Maya, did you seriously apologize?” Shelly couldn’t fathom Maya conceding so easily.
She retorted coldly, “Mia, I won’t apologize to you. If you want to expose the video, go ahead. My reputation has already been tarnished by you, and one more blemish doesn’t intimidate me.”
Mia’s smirk deepened. “Really? In that case, I won’t hesitate to upload the video.”
Feeling a sense of unease, Maya pleaded, “But Mia, I’ve already apologized to you.”
Mia’s gaze grew cold. “You were both involved. This amounts to collective punishment.”
Furious, Maya pulled Shelly aside and spoke in a hushed tone, “Shelly, didn’t you want me to introduce you to Nathan?
“Well, Nathan has a strong aversion to women displaying inappropriate behavior. If he finds out about this, it could jeopardize your chances with him in the future.”
“No, please.”
Upon hearing that her prospects with Nathan were at risk, Shelly suddenly became anxious.
Nathan was the one she had set her eyes on.
Maya appeared somewhat uneasy. “Shelly, I’ve expressed everything I can. It’s up to you whether you choose to listen or not.”
“But Maya, do we really need to fear Mia? Won’t your brother back you up?”
“Shelly, this is my personal affair. If I constantly depend on my brother to intervene, won’t I end up appearing incompetent? I don’t want to leave that impression on him.”
In the end, Shelly approached Mia reluctantly and said, “I apologize.”
Gina sneered, “What’s with the attitude? Is your apology even sincere?”
Despite the strong urge to retaliate, Shelly restrained herself, contemplating her interest in
Nathan. She firmly reiterated, “I genuinely apologize! Is that good enough?”
Mia grabbed Gina’s arm, displaying an air of indifference. “Her apology barely meets the mark. I hope there won’t be a repeat. Gigi, let’s go!”
“Hold on.”
Maya suddenly intercepted their path. “Mia, we’ve offered our apologies. But you still haven’t removed the video.”
Shelly concurred, “Yes, we’ll only feel reassured once you’ve deleted it.”
With a subtle smirk, Mia countered, “There’s no need for that.”
Maya’s expression shifted, a mix of disbelief and concern. “Mia, are you attempting to backtrack on your promise? I must warn you that stirring trouble with the Lane family is not something you can afford.
“In the worst¨Ccase scenario, I’ll simply offer an apology to my brother, bringing a swift resolution to the matter.”
Mia shook her phone dismissively. “What I’m trying to say is, there’s no need to delete the video. I didn’t even record anything just now.”
Upon revealing that, Mia couldn’t help but notice the distinct change in Maya and Shelly’s demeanor, gradually transforming into expressions of anger.
Unable to contain her frustration, Shelly exclaimed, “Mia, how dare you manipulate us like this?”
Mia responded with a smirk. “Indeed, you two were the unwitting pawns in my game. Is the truth.
too much for you to handle?”
Shelly was on the verge of lashing out physically.
With an air of nonchalance, Mia cautioned, “Consider your actions carefully. There’s a crowd watching. If you choose to resort to physical aggression, have you thought about how you’ll explain it?”
“I’ll slap you if I feel like it. I don’t need to explain myself to anyone.”
Nevertheless, Maya stepped in, holding Shelly back. “Let’s go. I have important tasks to handle.
Our time shouldn’t be wasted on this confrontation.”
Mia made a valid point. Considering Shelly’s status as a public figure at this event, an altercation could tarnish the entire affair.
Maya found dealing with Mia to be challenging. Being with Connor seemed to have fueled Mia’s arrogance and assertiveness. Well, her triumph won’t be for long.
As Maya and Shelly departed, Mia slowly averted her gaze.
Standing beside her, Gina couldn’t contain her laughter. “Oh my god, Mia, I was genuinely cracking up back there.
“The expressions on those two troublemakers when you claimed there was no recording were absolutely priceless.”
Mia’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Being rude seems like an easier way to navigate the world.”
“True,” Gina concurred, “But Mia, what about the woman accompanying Shelly? The one who seems to radiate an air of hypocrisy?”
“Her name is Maya. She happens to be the sister of the proprietor of Vista Properties.”