Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Winters was fuming, his voice raised as he tossed the contract at Stella with all his might.

The pages hit Stella in the face before scattering around her.

One of the edges even nicked Stella's nose, leaving a small, stinging cut.

She stumbled backwards, met with gasps of shock from those around.

Winters made to advance, but an employee, sensing trouble, called security, and they dragged Winters away.

Stella and Margaret retreated to their office under the curious and questioning gazes of their colleagues.

As soon as the blinds were drawn, Stella let loose a torrent of curses.

"What a mess! Serves him right for getting reported. Ruining himself and trying to drag others down with him, what an idiot!"noveldrama

She was in full rant mode when the office door opened.

The intern came in holding the contract that had struck Stella.

"Where should I put this?"

Seeing the contract made Stella feel humiliated, as if the intern was there to rub salt in her wound. Her expression soured.

"Who let you in? Get out!" she snapped.

"It was me who asked him to bring it in. Calm down," Margaret interjected, taking the contract from him.

The intern vanished in an instant.

Stella grabbed a mirror to examine the small cut on her nose, irritated.

"Why'd you make him pick up the contract?"

"What if The Starlight Group had already signed it?"

Margaret flipped through the contract quickly, Stella's hopes lighting up momentarily.

She leaned in eagerly, only to be disappointed.

The contract was clean, without any signatures or stamps.

Stella snatched the contract, intending to toss it in the trash, but Margaret stopped her.

"Wait, don't throw it away just yet. Take it back to The Starlight Group later. Winters might be a lost cause, but maybe The Starlight Group's director will be more reasonable."

After all, her little video wasn't meant to be spread for nothing.

Stella considered it for a moment and then nodded. "I'll contact The Starlight

Group now and try to set up a meeting with Mrs. Clara."

She immediately called The Starlight Group's HR department.

The call connected quickly, and Stella expressed her desire to schedule a meeting with Mrs. Clara to discuss the annual gala

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collaboration. To her surprise, the response was less than hopeful.

"I'm sorry, but Mrs. Clara's schedule is full today. Moreover, regarding the annual gala collaboration, we've already signed a contract with another company."

Stella couldn't believe it.

Winters had just brought her the contract, nearly securing the deal, and now The Starlight Group had signed with someone else?

"That can't be right. Are you sure? Mr. Winters and I had just finalized everything yesterday. It was all set except for signing."

"I'm sorry, I'm not aware of the specifics, but Mr. Winters is under suspension and investigation. All contracts handled by him are being reassessed. And yes, the gala contract has indeed been signed."

A bad feeling washed over Stella, and she pressed for more information.

"Which company did you sign with?"

There was no attempt to hide it, the voice on the other end cheerfully replied.

"It was with Madden Media."

In that moment, Stella gritted her teeth in rage, her hands trembling as she gripped her phone.

Of course!

It all had to be Lizetta's doing, that backstabber!

Damn Lizetta, even after leaving Zion City, why did she have to come back?

Why did she have to compete with Stella for everything?