Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Chapter 8

“April? Isn’t she Evelina’s agent? What does she want with you?”

“She wants to set up a songwriting session.”

“For Evelina? Wow, talk about dropping 100 grand right off the bat.”

“Uh–huh,” Lizetta nodded and casually blacklisted April’s number.

Yolanda couldn’t help but crack up, “Evelina’s got some nerve, with her mediocre chops!”

Lizetta dropped her bags off at Yolanda’s place and hopped a cab to Starlight.

The Dashiell Group, a hundred–year–old empire, was like an aging aircraft carrier showing its flaws, hard to turn around. Eight years back, Remington made some bold moves, carving out the Starlight Group from the Dashiell. Group, infusing it with fresh lifeblood.

Under his guidance, the Starlight Group rode the waves, gobbling up growth at a pace that left the Dashiell Group in the dust.

Nowadays, the Dashiell Group was still in the hands of Remington’s dad, Nathan, but it was Remington who was the star player at the helm of the Starlight Group, outshining his old man. They said he was the heir of the Dashiell Group, but it was pretty clear they were riding on his coattails now.

A year ago, Fiona, wanting to foster some marital bonding, had Lizetta join the Starlight Group’s president’s office as a lowly clerk.

The office was buzzing today, with secretary Lydia handing out wedding candies because she was pregnant and leaving.

Lizetta snagged some candy, offering her congrats. Back at her desk, she started typing up her resignation letter.

Lydia spotted this and blurted out in surprise, “Lizetta, you got a bun in the oven too?”

her, as usual. Beauties always got

drawn a slew of admirers, till Remington caught sight of her desk buried in roses

finally fended off the suitors,

for a different reason.”

when are you guys planning on having kids? Makes sense, you’re still

early, get back in shape sooner rather than later, but oh well.” Lizetta kept typing away, casually responding.

the wrong end of the stick, “Your

just that it’s all for

Lydia was gobsmacked.

bad breath on top of that? Girl, you gotta know when to cut your losses.”

a couple kissing in the parking lot and thought the woman looked

had joked that she and her husband had never kissed, which somehow spiraled into the office joke that

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Chapter 8

no way to clear the air, Lizetta found herself saddled with another rumor. She gotta hand it to Lydia for her top–notch reading comprehension skills.

and slapped this new label on him, she couldn’t suppress a snort.

how you work now? The Starlight Group doesn’t pay you to loaf around!”

see the stony–faced Remington, her smile freezing on

knew Lizetta’s true identity, had spoken up, and then glanced at the boss nervously, breaking out in

pale. The boss‘ aura was

startled, Lizetta was about to intervene when Remington spoke up, “Thanks for your hard work. Hand out the resignation bonus; might as well spread

quickly thanked him, relieved. The tension in the room melted away, but the man’s frosty gaze was

for a sec,” he