Chapter 3

By the time I gathered my thoughts, Jade had already swaggered into the launch event setup area.

"Oh my God, what is this mess? So boring and lifeless!"

She flicked a finger disdainfully at an adjusting light, shoving it roughly aside.

Then she pulled a crumpled design sketch from her Hermès bag and slammed it onto the control panel:

"Clearly you've never seen real style. Whatever, I'm feeling generous today. Change the whole color scheme to pink-purple and swap all these lights for rotating disco balls. Now that's chic!"

As she spoke, she tried to snatch the walkie-talkie from the event director's hand, ready to start barking orders.

"Jade! That's not happening!"

The event director finally snapped, stepping in front of her with urgency:

"Every detail of this launch was finalized months ago. We can't just make random changes! This affects the company's professional reputation!"

"Rules? Reputation?"

Jade laughed like she'd heard the most ridiculous thing.

"You think your boring little plans are better than my eye? Do you have any idea how much buzz my changes would generate?"

"Move out of my way!"

The event director stood firm:

"Jade, this is about professionalism! If this launch fails, none of us can fix it! Please don't put us in this impossible position!"

Jade's face darkened when the director kept standing up to her.

She pulled out her phone and started a video call.

"Frederick, look! Your employees are being so rude! I'm just trying to help with the launch and they're being impossible! They even yelled at me!"

Frederick's voice came through the phone, soft and reassuring:

"Calm down, baby. Put the person in charge on."

Jade smirked and thrust the phone at the event director.

Frederick's tone turned icy instantly:

"Everyone involved apologize to Jade right now! Otherwise, you'll all be written up for gross insubordination. This month's pay and bonuses are gone! I don't repeat myself!"

The event director's lips trembled. Staff nearby went pale, exchanging desperate looks.

Frederick clearly didn't like the silence—his voice turned even colder:

"Well? Do I need to say it again?"

The camera suddenly jostled.

Jade actually turned the camera toward Frederick, wanting us to see where he was.

The screen showed a private room in a fancy club. Frederick sat with several older men—definitely a business dinner.

Frederick was in the head seat. When he saw Jade pouting, he shook his head like he was amused, not annoyed at being interrupted. His eyes were full of doting.

"Frederick..."

Jade didn't care he was in the middle of business—she started fake-sobbing into the camera.

"Look at them—ganging up on me! I just wanted to make the launch better and they're all being so mean! They're totally ruining my ideas! You have to help me!"

As she talked, she forced out a few tears for the camera.

That sad little act was nothing like her earlier bossy attitude.

Frederick's expression immediately soured.

He didn't ask what actually happened—all his focus went to Jade on screen.

"Okay, okay, don't cry. You'll ruin your makeup. What's got you so upset? I'm here—no one's gonna mess with you!"

He cooed at her, then looked up at us with ice in his voice:

"Is everyone here deaf?"

"I said do exactly what Jade tells you! And apologize!"

If I don't see you cooperate in three seconds..."

Before he could finish, I stepped right in front of the camera.

"Frederick, you really want me to apologize?"