Chapter 41

Primrose

"One of the biggest companies has a hidden female CEO. Who is it? What company is it? The rumor said that this CEO is also married to an idol under her company! A rapper from a famous boy group. What's more exciting is that the idol was part of a recent dating scandal with his labelmate and co-star in a movie," Mr. Lee read it out loud. He scoffed before putting his phone down. "Is this really a blind item? Or are they just hinting that the idol they were talking about is Loey?"

Ate nodded. "That's why many came to the conclusion that it's him, which we all know that their assumption was right. So I think we can't deny that Loey is not the person in the blind item."

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I put my hand on my chest as I felt my heart clenched.

I've never imagined that we would be in this kind of situation. 

Everything was just okay. We just got okay. Mabilis kong kinuha ang tubig na nasa lamesa at ininom ito. Pinakiramdaman ko ang aking sarili bago humarap kina Ate Alice at Mr. Lee.

"Just like what we discussed during the emergency meeting, we will stay silent about it unless they mention my name or Loey's name in the articles spreading around the internet. For now, it's just an entertainment blind item. Let it stay like that." I heaved a deep sigh. "Instead, we will have to go through an internal battle. We should investigate who leaked the information about the secret CEO and even my marriage."

Normally, it would just be a small thing to gossip around. Most of the blind items were not a big deal. That's why it was a shock that this blind item got big. It just boomed. Many shared about it around social media accounts that it was hard to track its source since every site has a copy of it and has the same time when it was posted.

Ate Alice groaned. "Who dared to breach their contract? Don't worry, I'll handle the investigation."

"Thank you, Ate," I said. She just smiled at me. My brows creased when Mr. Lee had a grin on his face. "What?"

"Your dad will be proud of you. You've grown up pretty well, Primrose."

"You think so?"

He nodded.

"Thank you, Uncle."

"We're at work. You should call me Mr. Lee."

I rolled my eyes and that made him chuckle.

"I'll handle the shareholders and assure them that we'll do our best to control the situation," he said.

"Yes, please. I could feel their sharp gaze at me during the meeting. Knowing them, they're probably scared of the money they will lose if this issue continues," I said.

"They're not scared, dear. They're all terrified."

I have to agree with that. What's happening might affect the other artists’ current and future projects, especially Loey and the group.

We talked about the other issues that needed to be discussed before I went back to my office. The situation wasn't great because of the blind item. We also have to delay our event until the fans of SBG calmed down.

Mabuti na lang na wala pang official announcement sa event na inihanda ng Empire. We will still push the release of the teasers, hoping that it will comfort the others.

Napaangat ako ng tingin nang may nilapag na mga folders si Ate Alice sa harap ko. She sighed and threw herself on the chair.

"Shall we have some nice coffee in the garden area? It will be nice to have an early break," she offered.

I smiled. "The garden sounds great. Besides, we can't just go outside the building because of the situation."

Ate Alice scowled. "Those creeps."

A soft laugh escaped from my lips before I followed her while shaking my head. 

Mabuti na lang may garden area as building malapit sa rooftop. Hindi kami makakalabas ngayon dahil sa mga nangyayari. We should be careful even going outside the building. It's really stressful to see how words could give a big problem to people.

Ate ordered our iced coffee in the cafeteria and brought it here to the garden. We were the only people since it's still working hours. The area that we pick doesn't have any sun so it wasn't that hot either. 

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa habang umiinom ng kape at dinadama ang hangin.

"Are you really okay?" Ate Alice was the one who broke the silence. I was actually waiting for her to ask that. She was glancing at me nonstop during the meeting, even when we were on our way here.

My hands went to the coffee. I looked away and sipped on my drink before answering her. "To be honest? I'm not sure, Ate. I'm mad, I'm worried, and I feel betrayed. It's overwhelming." My hand trembled a bit as I placed the drink on the table again. "I'm mad that this happened. I'm worried about Loey and his career. I don't want to ruin his reputation. Then, I feel betrayed by someone under the company. I don't want to doubt them but I can't also ignore the fact that our employees are the only ones who know about my relationship with Loey. I don't like the feeling of getting betrayed by the people I wanted to protect."

It actually sucks knowing that someone leaked information about the secret CEO and its relationship with an artist under the company. It's already given that we're the ones who were in the blind item. No doubt about it. I know all the other CEOs, too. Most of them were single, while the others were married to non-showbiz ones.

The secret was hidden for many years and when I was the one holding the position, this happened. It doesn't feel good at all. Still, I don't want to drown myself in my emotions. Instead, I must clear my mind and think of a way to deal with the issues and fix the situation. After all, I don't want to ruin Loey's career. 

Seeing how their fans reacted with just a blind item terrified me. How much more if they learn that it was indeed true?

"I'm not going to say that it will be okay because we don't know what will happen. It depends on how we, especially you, will handle this. But Primrose, please know that I'm proud of you. The SBG is proud to have you as their CEO. About the one who leaked the information, that person doesn't deserve to be part of the company." My attention went to Ate Alice. She gave me a motherly smile that made me feel emotional. I let myself be vulnerable at that moment.

We stayed in the garden for an hour. I know that we should be working, but Ate knew that I needed time to think. She knew that I needed her by my side to a place that's not suffocating like my office.

If only we could stay longer, but we also have some work to do.

"Oh, please send Mr. Riason to the boys. I bet they're all worried right now. They might be wondering about the situation. They deserve to know. It's their group that's also affected by what's happening."

"Okay sure."

I couldn't help but think about the boys who were in my house. Kuya Eros couldn't sleep last night because he's worried about me and Loey. Dredleigh even made hot milk for me last night so that I could still have a good night's sleep.

Napatigil kami sa paglalakad nang may biglang humarang sa aming daan. I frowned at Kuya Rence who was wiping the sweats on his forehead.

"Did you run or something?" I asked.

"Is there some problem?" Ate asked.

Kuya shook his head before composing himself. "I walked around the building to find Primrose.  I was worried and I couldn't reach her phone."

"Oh, I turned it off during the meeting. Until now ay nasa bag ko lang iyon."  I glanced at Ate Alice but she just shrugged. "Do you need anything, Kuya? I mean, I get that you're worried but you know that you can wait for me to come back to my office."

He'll probably look for me if he can't reach me for days.

Kuya Rence inhaled sharply before his brows furrowed. His lips pressed into a thin line, turning to Ate Alice. "Can I borrow Primrose?"

"Of course. However, it's not a good idea to talk in an open area. You two can talk inside the office."

I blinked at his seriousness. I exchanged a glance with Ate Alice and she was also blinking at Kuya.

In the end, we walked back to my office together. Ate just gave me some briefing about the other things I need to take care of before she left us. 

Kuya was silent for a moment that I couldn't help but play with my fingers on my lap. 

I've never been bothered when he was not in the mood. Madalas naman siyang mawala sa mood lalo na kapag sobrang hyper siya sa umpisa. Kaso ngayon pakiramdam ko ay galit din siya. Last time na naging ganito siya katahimik at seryoso ay noon kay Liam.

"You're scaring me," I said.

He raised his eyebrows before he heaved a sigh. "You know that I can be very protective when it comes to you, right?" I nodded. "Everyone is worried about you and Loey. Of course, we're more worried about you. The fact that your position got exposed in disguise as a blind item is dangerous."

"I'm fine."

"You're trying to be fine," he corrected. "You know that we'll protect you and help you in any way that we can, right?"

I nodded again. "And?"

"And I wanted to know where the source came from. Wookie and I went to investigate. Of course, we all have the hint that it was someone from the company. So we wanted to know for sure. We also have a person in mind that would do something like this. I think the other group also has an idea."

I frowned. The other group?

Kuya Rence carefully leaned forward. "Luckily, we build great connections with people in different fields. We found out who wrote the blind item. So we went to that person. It's someone new in the media industry who wanted to have a big scope so that he can move up faster. This guy said that someone approached him while he was trying to find something about our company, then that person tipped him about the secret CEO and the relationship with an idol. He was also told that it would be a big catch to make it a blind item to stir the public. That they will demand for more."

He put his hand inside the pocket of his jacket. When he pulled out his hand, he placed a USB drive on the table.

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. Nang mapansin ni Kuya na nakatitig lang ako sa usb ay mas nilapit niya ito sa akin.

"There's a footage of the CCTV near the building. Kita iyong reporter at iyong taong nag approach sa kanya, kaso hindi clear iyong mukha at nakasuot din ito ng hoodie," aniya. "But you know, the traitor's figure seems familiar. Even the suspect's shoes seem familiar. Parang iyon lang madalas niyang gamiin. You should see it yourself. Malay mo baka pamilyar din sa iyo."

Kinuha ko iyong usb sa table bago tumingin kay Kuya Rence at ngumiti. "Thank you, Kuya. You work really fast, you know."

He chuckled. My lips curled into a smile seeing that his grumpy mood is fading. Seriously, I was expecting that the investigation would last for a week or even months, but Kuya Rence and Wookie went to investigate on their own to help me. They were both busy but they prioritized finding out about the person who laid a huge issue for us.

"We'll do anything to protect you," he said. "By the way, Wookie's on his way with the guy who wrote the blind item. I'll let him meet Mr. Lee and Ate Alice. He'll reveal who the traitor in this company is. He's a smart guy who has something in his sleeves. I'll give him that."

*****

Do you have anyone in mind? Haha. I hope you enjoyed this chapter~ Will update again next Wednesday! Keep safe ♡

-Hime