Chapitre 22: The most satisfying evidence

Film City, Southern Avenue

Alice rushed to the studio ASAP. When she reached there, everyone was already ready. Amidst the crowd, she saw Cath browsing through her phone with her soft brows scrunched. She approached her & Cath showed her the latest news about their 'boss'.

"Here, the PR department already shared to the media that they'll be holding a press conference at 7 p.m. tonight", Cath showed her the news from their official website.

"Hmm...I see."

"Even the videos miraculously vanished. Moreover, he's trustworthy. We know that he'll prove himself through the press conference", It seemed to Alice that Cath was trying to indirectly say not to let go of her trust from the agency easily. And exactly, Alice knew she trusted the right people around her this time. In her heart, she's grateful.

Crook came in with his assistant & instructed them to get on the bus. Everyone moved in. Cath & Alice decided to sit together. Alice took the window seat & Cath sat beside her. Suddenly, they felt a camera shutter. They looked with furrowed brows to see Allen clicking their photos with a devilish smile. Cath was annoyed beyond words, "Allen! What's wrong with you?"

"Why? People click photos with beauty in it. What's wrong if I click yours?"

"Beauty in the scenery! We're not scenery", Cath retorted.

"Of course! You're!"

"Stop it!", Alice yelled.

Cath & Allen turned to look the black-faced Alice glaring at them. Actually, they disturbed their music time!

"Huh? You know how to get angry?", Allen raised an amused brow.

"Really?", Cath caught his hint.

"I...", Alice spoke but was interrupted by Allen's howling.

WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOOT

Instantly the bus burst out in laughter, including Cath. But, Alice was clearly pissed off. A bone was stuck in her throat. Neither she could throw it nor she could swallow it! She stabbed the earbuds in her ears & raised the volume after letting out a sigh.

---

5:30 p.m. Airport, Grange City

Alice wheeled her luggage out with Cath who was chatting non-stop beside her. Their chats finally gave Alice a headache & she took a break to call her darling.

"Hello!",came his deep voice.

"I'm already here. How are things going there?", Alice asked with concern.

"Everything is set in stone. Don't worry", Daniel grinned at her concerns.

"Okay, Take care."

"You, too."

Seeing her chatting on the phone, Allen somewhat became quiet. Soon, Alice returned & Cath voiced her concern, "What happened? You're not talking?"

"Huh?", Allen was a bit absent-minded, "I'm tired." He wheeled ahead & entered the hotel. Seeing this, Cath was pained & turned her head to Alice, "Wanna talk?"

"Nope! I'm tired", Alice, too, walked ahead & entered the hotel. Cath shrugged & followed behind.

...

30 minutes later

Currently, Alice was lying in her hotel room & staring at the ceiling blankly. Her room had large floor to ceiling windows facing the city lights. The city lights illuminated her dimly lit room. Being alone brought back depressing thoughts from years ago. Actually, Alice wanted to quit music after her Dad's death. Because...music brought back the painful memories of her Dad's death. Only did when she found her Dad's diary, she started practicing again after a year's break. That's when she created BLISS. And here, she'd already begun her journey to fulfill her Dad's dream & be like him someday.

Soon her alarm went off, & was dragged out of her thoughts. She looked at the time on her phone & a live stream started playing itself.

---

Conference Hall, Hotel River Flint

The hall was jostling & bustling with swarms of reporters from various media outlets. Looking at them from backstage, Daniel felt a tinge of deja vu. Two days back, Alice had walked down the hall & publicly announced her comeback. A thin smile played on his lips but soon turned serious when Riley walked to the front stage.

...

The reporters quietened down immediately when they saw Riley walking down the stage. He began addressing the large gathering of reporters, "Hello my friends of media. Before we begin providing the evidence, you're welcome to ask any questions you want."

The reporters looked at each other & a few voices were raised.

"Who's the lady in the video?"

"Is that your RJ Lily?"

"Did she get her position by seducing the CEO?"

Blah blah blah...

Riley wanted to break himself into whole-hearted laughter. But he just flashed a smile which made the reporters frozen in their place. Why would the CEO let himself be seduced when he already had someone in his heart? All these 6 years, it wouldn't go into waste, right?

"Well, yes that's our RJ Lily...", Riley began, "Every question you asked indicates to pieces of evidence. So, let me present you with the pieces of evidence."

The screen behind them lit up & a screenshot of the video post appeared. The reporters looked at each other in confusion.

"As you can see", Riley pointed his laser towards the caption in the video, "the caption says 'CCTV footage'. Now you see this."

Another photo popped up beside the screenshot having the same background.

"This is the image of a hotel room from this hotel & CCTVs are not allowed inside a hotel room for privacy. Hotel River Flint is famous among celebrities & famous personalities because of its top-notch privacy & security." The hall was silent & confused because everyone present there knew this fact.

The two photos disappeared & the CCTV footage from the banquet started playing. At a point, it stopped, shrank & moved to a side. Another footage started playing where two bodyguards & a waitress were seen carrying Lily in. It soon paused & Riley broke his silence, "The date & time on both the footage are the same. How can the same people appear at two places at the same time? Moreover, the man in the video never showed his face. How can people say he's our CEO? It's pure slander isn't it?"

The CCTV footage of the banquet again started playing. It paused again & another footage of the parking ground started playing. It paused & Riley's cold voice echoed, "The same date, the same time. I hope my dear friends of Media are wise enough to see."

"At last, the most satisfying evidence for you."

A video of the same background started playing & people immediately recognized it as a memorable intimate scene from the famous movie "Beauty with brains".

The reporters blinked with confusion. They finally understood what was happening, when Riley's cold sneer echoed through the hall.