The Unwilling CEO’s Love Game

Chapter 50

Out of courtesy, Jocelyn gave Melvin a ring half an hour after the whole hot search circus blew up.

He actually picked up, surprisingly.

“Hey, what’s up with Willow?” she asked, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. “Saw it on Twitter.”

Melvin’s voice was flat, “Nothing serious, just a little on-set mishap.”

Jocelyn was skeptical, but she wasn’t about to dig for the dirt without good reason or interest

“Alright, take good care of her then.”

“She’s got assistants,” he said, meaning he wasn’t planning on playing nursemaid.

Chomping on her skewer, Jocelyn went on, “Yeah, she’s got assistants and an agent, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look after her too.”

“Are you throwing shade?”

“Not at all.” Jocelyn put the phone on speaker, grabbed a skewer with her left hand, a drink with her right, and took a sip. “Isn’t it just stating the obvious? Otherwise, why would you dash over to see her in such a hurry?”

When there was no response, she thought he’d hung up. Glancing at the phone screen, the call was still on.

“She’s the face of our jewelry line, and with new products launching next quarter, it’d be a big loss for the company if something happened to her. Melvin actually bothered to explain.

Jocelyn wondered why Melvin was so strange today.

“Oh,” she said, sounding totally nonchalant.

“Where are you?”

“At my home, duh.”

“You went back?”

“What else? Jocelyn said. “Who knew if you were coming home tonight? Better to crash at my own place.

Melvin hung up.

Jocelyn was like, “Okay, that

scrolled through Twitter again –

join the cast and was rehearsing with another actor at the

wasn’t rehearsing at all, but was caught in a late-night rendezvous with a director by his wife,

backer like Melvin, why

was dying

it was the former, no big deal, but if it was the latter, how

was a mess, where the truth was elusive, and people just swallowed whatever was served. Good news

brand ambassador. If bad press came out, the company, out of old loyalty, would surely clear her name.

before a bunch of accounts started spinning the narrative that Willow was overly dedicated tasting on a realistic performance to convey true emotion, hence the injury

was filled with praise for the newbie’s dedication. “If she doesn’t make it big it’s an injustice!

uniform comments, totally unfazed.

the real deal was, the online consensus was

incident was cementing her image as an

Willow got smacked for flirting with the director and getting

false, who really knew aside from those

aside, closed her eyes, and figured Willow’s injury meant Melvin would

side, she

be what first love felt like. Why else would Melvin drop everything for Willow time

it’s the unfulfilled romances

parted on good terms, the slightest thing about the other person could still tug at your

At the hospital.

her forehead and looked totally

far off, glued to his phone, clearly

Willow, tears streaming,

puffy eyes, she looked at Melvin, Will this leave a

to the diet, avoid what you must. Modern cosmetic medicine is advanced. What’s a little

clasped tightly. “Do you

you about what?”

month, so I was nervous. I wanted to talk about the character, but his wife barged in and started hitting me, accusing me of seducing her husband, Willow felt

eyes and the lips she bit to hold back her grief, Melvin suddenly remembered her before all this, strong and optimistic.

you don’t have to explain to me. Melvin