“Mike! Why aren’t you and Miss Tate answering your phones?” said the vice president anxiously as he gave Mike a once over. “Something huge happened! Hurry up and wake Miss Tate up!”
With an embarrassed face, Mike scratched his head and walked into the house.
“It’s not like the company shut down. What happened?”
The vice president followed Mike and said, “Did you two engage a celebrity to advertise for us overnight? Some pop idol called Eric Santos spoke up for our products! He’s a major celebrity!”
The embarrassment vanished from Mike’s face as bewilderment took over.
“Why don’t I understand a thing you’re saying?”
“My god! There’s a huge celebrity called Eric Santos who showed his support for the Storm Series on social media. Since his post went up, our customer service lines have been blowing up. What’s even more crazy is that new orders are coming in at an alarming rate… I’ve never seen this kind of chaos before!” said the vice president with flushed cheeks.
He could not reach Averie or Mike on their phones, so he showed up at the villa.
Mike felt that things were not that simple after hearing the vice president’s words.
He rushed over to the master bedroom, knocked on the door, then entered to find the room completely empty.
“Averie isn’t home,” Mike muttered. “You can’t reach her phone?”
The vice president shook his head and said, “I even tried calling before I rang the doorbell! Her phone’s off.”
Mike quickly went to his room and changed his clothes.
“I looked into Eric Santos. He had disappeared for three years before he spoke up for our company! After his post went up, all of the trolls that slandered our company instantly vanished! The fighting power of his fans is incredible!”
“I know Eric Santos. Averie is a fan of his,” Mike said as he became more clear headed. “I don’t know why he’s helping us. We have to ask Averie about it.”
“Didn’t she say where she was going?” asked the vice president frantically. “My phone’s been blowing up all morning. Other than switching it on to call you, I’ve had it on airplane mode the entire time.”
Mike raised his brows and asked, “Is it that serious?”
The vice president’s forehead was dripping with sweat as he said, “It is! Everyone thinks we’re working with Eric Santos and asking me how we made him come back to life! They even asked me how much we paid him! My own daughter’s been pestering me for his autograph!”
Mike was speechless.
It was the day of Elyette Foster and Zoe Sanford’s engagement party.
The guests were already gathered at the hotel venue.
Zoe was dressed in a custom, high-end gown with her hair and makeup ready, and she had been anticipating Elyette’s arrival since the morning.
As eight in the morning turned into nine in the morning, she was beginning to lose patience.
“Let’s head over to the hotel first!” Rosalie said as she tried to comfort Zoe. “I tried to call him earlier but his phone was turned off. I’m sure he’ll call us back right away when he sees our missed calls.”
Zoe maintained a polite smile on her face, but her heart was filled with misery.
They had agreed for Elyette to pick her up from the old mansion and drive to the hotel together.
It was the day of their engagement.
No matter what happened, he should not have his phone turned off!
The bottom line was that Elyette did not care for Zoe at all.
On the way to the hotel, Zoe scrolled through her phone in frustration and happened upon Eric Santos’ latest social media post.
Her brows furrowed.
Why was Eric Santos helping Averie Tate?
If he did not stand up for her, Tate Industries was sure to go under soon!
Something suddenly clicked inside of Zoe’s head.
Did Averie have anything to do with Elyette’s absence?
At that thought, Zoe dialed Averie’s number with trembling fingers.
“Sorry, the number you have dialed is unavailable.”
Zoe burst into tears!
Elyette’s phone was turned off!
Averie’s phone was switched off, too! Were they together right now?!
The doors to the black Rolls-Roice were locked shut.
Averie sat in the car filled with regret.
She must not have been fully awake when she entered the car that morning.
By the time she hopped it, the doors were already locked.
What was the meaning of this?
Was this an abduction?
“What do you want, Elyette?” Averie asked as she glared at Elyette with furrowed brows.
Was it not the day of his engagement?
Where did he find time to come and see her?
“Do you know Eric Santos, Averie?” Elyette asked as he lifted his gaze to look at Averie with eyes that sparkled. “Don’t lie to me!”
After Averie answered his call that morning, her phone had run out of battery and shut down.
She had no way of knowing what was happening online.
Alarm bells went off in Averie’s head at the sudden mention of Eric.
“I don’t. Why?”
She stared at Elyette’s familiar yet distant face and forced herself to stay composed.
“Why would he help you if you didn’t know him?” Elyette snapped as he spoke faster. “I saw his photo on your phone before. You’ve never fawned over celebrities, but you liked him for some reason. Yet, you say you don’t know each other. Do you think I’m an idiot?!”
Averie was angered by his tone and retorted loudly, “What does my relationship with him have anything to do with you?!”
Her words instantly made Elyette calm down.
Was this her confession?
It would be amazing news if Averie actually knew Eric Santos.
“Help me contact him,” Elyette said in a hoarse voice with a hint of a plea. “I’ll owe you one.”
Averie could not hold back a scoff.
“I don’t know Eric Santos! Go find him yourself if you want!”
“Averie!”
“I won’t know him no matter how much you yell at me! Aren’t you getting engaged to Zoe Sanford today? You can look for Eric Santos whenever you want, so why did you choose the day of your engagement to do it? Your fiance would be crushed if you’re late!” Averie said.
Her words dragged a bitter laugh out of Elyette.
His Adam’s apple rolled in his throat, then he said, “If you help me contact Eric Santos, then I’ ll get engaged to Zoe!”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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