7
I let out an unintentional sniff and drummed my fingers nervously on the phone.
[Go ahead, no need to hesitate.]
A notification sound chimed, and the day's trending stories appeared on my social media feed.
I scrolled through my smartphone and noticed the headline "Cornelius Caught in Prostitution Scandal" flash across the screen.
A quick look at the clock showed it was 4:50 p.m.
It appeared someone had beaten me to the punch.
[Wait a minute... isn't that Cornelius Lynch?]
[My goodness, the woman in this clip resembles Zevanka Collins!]
[Wasn't their wedding anniversary celebration supposed to be today? What a shocking turn of events!]
Moments later, Cornelius' call came through, his voice filled with urgent inquiry, "Jessica! Where have you gone?"
"You were aware all along, weren't you?"
"Is that why you specifically arranged the press conference for today?"
I couldn't suppress a chuckle as I moved the phone away from my ear.
"Cornelius, I'm going to ruin you before I depart. How does it feel to be cornered and humiliated?"
There was a brief pause before he responded, his voice slightly strained.
"Depart?"
"Where are you planning to go?"
I ended the call without giving him an answer.
The expansive display across from me was streaming the company's live press conference, with journalists and reporters filling the room.
Serena's voice resonated clearly and pleasantly, yet with undeniable authority and impact.
"I'm certain everyone has seen the news by now. We have no comment on Cornelius' situation. The company acknowledges some oversights in artist management, but we will submit all relevant information to law enforcement."