Chapter 2 – Once Upon a One-night-stand

Chapter 2 – The Reporters

When Edie arrived at the elevator, it was clear. Everyone had already gone. She could see her image in the mirror. Looking at her shoulders and neck, she noticed that they were covered with hickeys. She was agitated because if she were to be seen like this, it would definitely be written on the front page of the headlines.

That would definitely give her a bad reputation. How outstanding is the reputation of a female actress? Many famous actresses have been abandoned by the market because of the chaos of their private lives.

The elevator had only reached the third floor. She made up her mind to tear the long skirt off her knees and put it around her shoulders and neck as if it were a shawl. Ding, the elevator was on the first floor.

As she did not want to be recognized, she lowered her head to cover her face with her hair. She hurried out and did not notice the reporters gathered at the door of the hotel. When she came out, someone whispered to the person next to her, “Is this Edie? She wouldn’t wear such a rag.” said one of the reporters.

“Edie!” A sweet voice came from behind her. It was particularly loud in the quiet lobby. She turned around and saw a beautiful face. It was Joanna Bella. “It’s really you!” she said with a sarcastic smile on her face.

“Joanna is here!” The reporters were all set up outside and began to take pictures. “What’s the matter with you?” Edie said, rubbing her sore body. Joanna touched her curly hair and smiled defiantly, “Producer Lance just expressed his appreciation for you last night and you showed up in the hotel this morning. What happened last night?”

Of course, Joanna knew what had happened. She called the reporters this morning as a way to try an embarrass Edie. Edie chuckled, “You showed up at the hotel early this morning, didn’t you have something to do with the producer?” “Donald drank a lot of wine last night and I took care of him all night,” Joanna said with a smile.

“I’m not like you. Donald and I are already engaged, and you? If I remember correctly, you’ve been claiming to be single, right?” Hearing Donald Lynch’s name, Edie froze for a moment, she adjusted her mood and reminded herself not to be influenced by Joanna’s vicious words.

“It’s none of your business.” Edie turned around and was ready to go. Of course, Joanna would not let her go. Suddenly, she pulled the shawl off Edie’s neck. “Oh, sorry, Edie, my hand slipped.” Joanna pretended to cover her mouth, but her heart was already full of joy. The hickeys on the shoulders and around the neck were more evident in the bright light, anyone could see what they were.

All the reporters were intrigued! “Miss Edie, did you really stay with Producer Lance last night? Did you know that Lance already had a wife? Have you been lying about being single?” She couldn’t escape. She was surrounded.

The lights on the cameras flashed, Edie was forced to step back and she had no idea what those reporters were saying. It was so noisy that her discomfort from last night made her vomit. There was only one thing in her subconscious. Her life as an actress was over.

Without thinking, Edie forgot to cover her hickeys for a moment and stood in the hotel lobby to let the reporters take her photos. Suddenly, a warm body pulled up behind her and put a cologne-flavoured suit over her shoulder. “There is no producer Lance. She was with me last night.” A cold voice sounded in her ear.

Edie did not react, she looked back without thinking, but saw a somewhat familiar face. It was the man who she was with last night! “Get your hand off my waist!” Edie started to tremble. Why was she being treated like this? Why did he join them?

The man did not let her go, his arms clasped around her waist and led her in the hotel. As he walked, he said, “Mr. Bates, deal with it.” Mr. Bates nodded respectfully, then presented a black card to the noisy reporters. “I’m an interim spokesman for the Yates family, if you have any questions, just ask me.” When the reporters heard the name Yates, they were surprised and slowly put down their cameras and notes.

The Yates were the most power and prominent family in the country. The family inherited the British title of nobility. It grasped the level of the domestic economy and had connections with various industries, especially in this economically developed city. They were like a king in the city.

The Yates family’s control of the media was particularly tight, except for normal corporate dynamics and other reports would never come out unless they passed their close examination. Especially when it came to the family’s current heirs.

Once a newspaper sent a profile photo of Stuart Yates, then the family bought the whole newspaper office. They had been warned in the past that their careers would be in jeopardy if they published any of the photos that were taken today. Whatever the Yates family wanted, they got.

Joanna who was standing by her side the whole time. She was stunned. She clasped the bag in her hand and she looked very annoyed. “How did this happen? I thought this was going to kick Edie out of the entertainment circle for good? Why would someone protect her?” Joanna wondered.

Of course, she had heard of the Yates reputation and even she wanted to be introduced to the director of the their family, not even to mention their heirs, she thought she was entitled to see them all. How could Edie have anything to do with a man like this? She had no idea who he was, but she knew he was powerful.

Joanna reluctantly took out her phone and dialled a number. As soon as the phone connected, Joanna asked in a low and angry voice, “Didn’t you say everything’s done? What’s the matter with the Yates?”

“There seems to have been a little confusion, Joanna, it has already been done. Last night, I was waiting for Edie to get drunk and then I took her to room 3008, what was the Yates room number?” said the voice on the phone. “What? 3008!” Joanna said frantically. “It was 308!” She got Jamie to slip a pill in Edie’s wine last night and when she got drunk, he was suppose to send Edie to producer Lance’s room!

Jenny was startled. She was explaining, but Joanna could no longer listen. Edie, that b***h hooked up with one of the Yates! “Joanna, let’s go.” A gentle male voice came from behind.

Joanna was shocked, her fierce expression instantly vanished. She turned back and laughed, “Donald…” Donald hugged her. “Here’s the charger. It’s under the bed. Let’s go.” Joanna smiled and nodded. She immediately leaned into Donald’s chest and walked out with him, her eyes covered with rage. “It’s all right. He won’t miss again next time.”

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