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?”

eyes were on her, as usual. Beauties always got the spotlight.

a slew of admirers, till Remington caught sight of her desk buried in roses and was in a funk for

off the suitors, though nobody knew she was hitched to

I’m quitting for a different reason.”

are you guys planning on having kids? Makes sense,

to start early, get back in shape sooner rather than later, but

ever so perceptive, got the wrong end of the stick, “Your

exactly, he’s quite capable; it’s just that it’s all for naught.”

Lydia was gobsmacked.

azoospermia?! And bad breath on top of that? Girl, you gotta know when to cut your

parking lot and thought the woman looked like Lizetta, so she asked if it was Lizetta’s hubby

which somehow spiraled into the office joke that her husband had

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Chapter 8

Lizetta found herself saddled with another rumor. She gotta hand it to Lydia for her top–notch reading comprehension

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

how you work now? The Starlight Group

turned to see the stony–faced Remington, her smile

spoken up, and then glanced

was just like

“Thanks for your hard work. Hand out the resignation bonus; might as well

in the room melted away, but the

in for a sec,” he walked into his office.