Chapter one hundred and ninety; The Hidden AgendaLoretta adjusted her sunglasses as she stepped out of the car and made her way toward the private dining room. The venue was discreet, tucked away from the bustling city to avoid the paparazzi and fans who now followed her every move. She had been invited by ‘Tether Adverts’ a reputable company with an affiliation to Bloom Entertainment, to discuss a potential commercial project. With her manager unable to attend due to a last-minute emergency, Loretta had agreed to go alone, confident she could handle the meeting herself.The hostess greeted her at the entrance and led her to a secluded corner of the restaurant, where a table was already set. The atmosphere was elegant but casual, perfect for a business meeting. Loretta’s mind was focused on the upcoming project, another great opportunity to expand her reach and secure her status as a rising star. But as soon as she sat down, something felt off.The two men seated at the table,

Chapter one hundred and ninety two : The Puppet Strings UnravelLoretta’s manager hung up the call, the tension from their earlier conversation still lingering in the air. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair as he paced the room, his phone still in his hand. Moments later, the other phone on his desk buzzed—a sleek, silver device he rarely used unless it was for private matters. His eyes flicked toward it, and a small, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corners of his lips.He picked it up, checking the caller ID, and without hesitation, answered. “Everything’s going exactly as planned,” he said, his voice calm, though there was a trace of excitement underlying his words.On the other end, a woman’s voice responded, smooth and composed. She didn’t introduce herself, didn’t offer any small talk, but spoke directly and with authority, the way one does when they’re used to being obeyed. Her presence was felt even through the phone, a mysterious weight in every syl

Chapter one hundred and ninety four; The Unexpected Witness Loretta’s heart was pounding in her chest, her pulse racing faster with each passing second. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. The two men, who had seemed professional at first, had crossed a line so fast she could barely comprehend it. Their persuasive words had turned into something much darker, and now, they were trying to trap her physically and emotionally. Just as one of the men inched closer, his hand brushing against her arm in a way that made her skin crawl, the door to the private lounge suddenly swung open. For a split second, Loretta felt a rush of relief wash over her, praying it was someone who could help, someone who could put an end to the increasingly disturbing situation. Standing at the entrance was a young waitress, her hand still on the door handle. She wore the restaurant’s uniform, a crisp white blouse with a black apron tied around her waist and held a silver tray in her other hand, p

Chapter one hundred and ninety six: The AftermathThe door of the private lounge clicked shut behind Loretta and her bodyguard, leaving the two men fuming in their seats. The senior talent executive, Mark Sutherland, clenched his jaw, his face twisted in frustration. His colleague, Daniel Foster, the talent relations officer, rubbed his temples, trying to calm his rising anger.“That was a disaster,” Mark hissed, slamming his fist on the table. “We had her right where we needed her, and that meddling waitress ruined everything.”Daniel nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line. “We can't afford this kind of failure. Not with Bloom watching us so closely. Loretta is the talent of the year, and Tether Advert was going to benefit from this. Now, we’ve lost her.” They both exchanged a glance, knowing how high the stakes were. Mark’s voice grew colder, “This isn’t going to end here. Someone needs to pay for this.”Daniel looked around the room, as if searching for someone to blame. “We

Chapter one hundred and ninety eight; A Night with class mates at Blue GardenAfter the conversation with her manager, Loretta just wanted to rest for the whole day and not so much. However, she had a class mates hang out and had to attend. The sun was setting over the city, casting a warm orange glow over the streets as Loretta made her way to Blue Garden, a popular hangout spot she used to frequent during her school days. Tonight, it was buzzing with excitement because she, now a rising star, was attending a get-together with her old classmates. The news had spread quickly, and it seemed like everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of her. Despite the nervous energy bubbling inside, Loretta was determined to enjoy the evening. She wasn’t going alone either. Florence, her personal social media manager, was with her, ensuring that the event was captured perfectly for her fans. With each passing day, Loretta's fame was growing, and Florence had a keen eye for moments that would keep h