Hiding Behind Her Superficiality

Chapter 24

Chapter 24 Delirious When the crisis was over, Elspeth immediately had Harper find out the person behind the incident. Sure enough, it was Ophelia who had bribed a reporter to obtain the photo before she posted it on the Internet. Elspeth couldn’t help thinking that she must have taught the Flemings too small a lesson, which was why Ophelia still had the capability to pull these tricks. “Harper, inform everyone that all the contracts between Azure and the Fleming Group have been terminated. We will not cooperate with them in the future. The current collaborations will be canceled with immediate effect. It doesn’t matter how much the compensation for the liquidated damages is.” Harper’s face turned frigid as he complained, “I just knew it was Ophelia again. Don’t worry, Miss Elspeth. I won’t let the Fleming Group off the hook just like this.” In a way, the Fleming Group had lost one of their biggest income streams of at least billions of dollars without the Azure Corporation. The Azure Corporation’s announcement of their cooperation with the Fleming Group had aroused Callum’s doubts. When he noticed how the Fleming Group would get into trouble whenever something happened to Elspeth, he couldn’t help but wonder if Harper was helping her take revenge on Ophelia. Callum and Elspeth had just finalized the final plan today, and Elspeth was about to leave when Callum suddenly stopped her. “Elspeth, I have a question.” Ever since the last time he suspected her, she didn’t feel like talking to him unless it was about business. “Don’t say anything if it is personal.” “Are you the one who pulled the strings to put the Fleming Group into this mess?” Elspeth paused for a brief moment before she suddenly laughed. “What? You think I am powerful enough to bring down a giant like the Fleming Group?” Hearing that, Callum said with a serious face, “Even if you don’t, Harper Summerfield and Azure

Corporation do. Elspeth, Ophelia might be unlikable, but you don’t need to do this to her.” “You sure do care about her, Mr. Winthrop. You are even trying to find out who is responsible on her behalf.” Elspeth’s gaze was colder than ice. Having been accused, Callum let out a frown.

“Also…” Elspeth added, “Do you really think Ophelia is as innocent as you think she is?” To that, Callum stated in a low voice, “I don’t think she has a bad nature.” He still remembered how upset Ophelia was for the longest time after she stepped on an ant when they were children. What more can I say then? She then stood up without a hint of emotion on her face. “The Fleming Group’s predicament and the Azure Corporation’s cancellations of collaboration have nothing to do with me. If you insist on figuring out who is behind this, Mr. Winthrop, why don’t you give the president of the Azure Corporation a call and ask for the details, instead of picking a bone with your employee here?” After throwing that out, she turned around, and they parted on bad terms. It would soon be the Winthrop Group’s anniversary banquet, where many celebrities and distinguished guests would be invited. And so, Callum entrusted Ophelia with the task of planning the banquet. When Elspeth learned of this, her hand that was writing lightly trembled. It turns out he likes her. No wonder he tries so hard to protect her. It is because she has his heart. Elspeth didn’t know where this thought came from, but it was upsetting. After work, she immediately gave Harper a call and invited him to have a drink at a bar. He couldn’t help but smile as he looked at the sparkling alcohol in his hand when they were in Luna Bar. “Even someone like you can be in a bad mood, huh? What is the matter? Did the Winthrops mess with you?” Elspeth downed her drink as she muttered, “I told you that won’t happen.” Harper rolled his eyes at that. “Why did you invite me over for this gloomy drinking session then?” She hooked a finger and knocked his head with it. “It is either you drink, or scram.” “I am drinking, alright? Drinking. Geez…” Elspeth soon started feeling tipsy after she drank glass after glass of alcohol.

All that alcohol in her system must have done something to her courage when she suddenly proposed to play a game of truth or dare. “Whoever the bottle points at has to go pick up someone, and if you fail, you have to drink three more glasses!” Harper was the one who lost the first round. He unhesitantly brought alcohol with him to a woman he saw, and it didn’t take long before he was back with her phone number. The bottle pointed to Elspeth during the second round. She, too, wasn’t reluctant at all as she stood up and staggered to a group of people not far away. Callum was in the group when he saw the swaying woman. Is that… Elspeth? He frowned. As she let out a lighthearted chuckle, her slender finger pointed at everyone surrounding her before it fell on Callum. “You! You are the hottest one. I choose you!” Callum only quietly watched her while he waited for her next move. “Hey hottie, what do you think of me?” Elspeth’s face was flushed, and the long red dress she had on made her look even more gorgeous and eye-catching. As she muttered those words, she leaned against Callum and tugged at his tie. The fragrance that drifted off of her was like a hit of drug to him. The men around them were dumbfounded at the sight. “As expected of the young master.” The man next to him laughed. “He is the focus everywhere he goes. Even a stunner like this lady here has thrown herself into your arms. Look at her waist and legs. She is so fair she is practically shining.” “I agree. Mr. Winthrop, one night of pleasure is worth more than anything. It is not often you come across beautiful women like her. Since she fancies you and she has had one too many, how about you —” Seeing their lustful eyes linger on Elspeth’s fair and smooth legs, Callum growled, “I will dig your eyes out if you keep looking at her.”

The men around them immediately shut their mouths and stopped commenting on Elspeth when they saw Callum getting angry. He suddenly felt irked, and he took off his jacket to wrap it around Elspeth. His eyes were dark when he asked, “Elspeth, what are you doing?” “Wha—oh, it is you, Callum. Forget it. I don’t want you.” She struggled to sit up, but the man suddenly lifted her into his arms. “Be good. You drank one too many.” She pouted childishly when she heard that. “I said no! Why are you pestering me?” “Something can easily happen to you if you run amok when you are intoxicated like this.” Callum, however, ignored her protests and carried her to a room upstairs. Now that Elspeth was completely drunk, she started rambling about this and that. “Callum Winthrop is the most annoying person on earth. I hate him.” His gaze darkened when he heard that. “Why do you hate Callum?” he asked tentatively. When she heard that, she blurted out all her grievances. “He is always bullying me on other people’s behalf. How can he do this to me? I didn’t even do anything wrong…” “He has never bullied you,” he stated impatiently. “He likes… Ophelia. That is why he keeps bullying me for her…” Elspeth started sobbing after she muttered those words. Callum had never seen her behaving this way. It pained him to see her like a young girl who had been taken advantage of. Even he suddenly felt like he had done something wrong after listening to her complaints. “He will never bully you.” This was both his promise and assurance to her. She hummed, but she then countered, “But he likes Ophelia. He will always be there to help her…” Elspeth lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep after that. Looking at her face as she slept soundly, Callum said in a soft voice, “I don’t like Ophelia.”