Chapter 98
Valerie didn’t answer directly
Quite a few people had already liked her post on her social media feed, but one name stood out prominently Russell, someone she had detested by long as she could remember.
The next second, Russell commented: [Wow, Mrs. White is a living legend in the art world, and she’s actually your grandma! Oh my, you’re such a
badass.]
At this moment, Valerie didn’t think much of it. To her, it was perfectly normal that Russell didn’t know about her close relationship with her grandmother.
After a moment’s hesitation, Valerie opened Russell’s chat window and sent a blunt message: [Wanna collaborate?]
Russell shot back instantly. [Oh my.]
The next second, Russell immediately initiated a WhatsApp voice call.
Valerie answered the call and immediately heard Russell’s slightly excited voice. “So, how do you wanna collaborate? Listen. My family owns a talent
agency.
“Can you sing? Your songs totally have the potential to be turned into pop hits. If we tweak them a bit and you perform them yourself, we could totally market you as a versatile celebrity.”
Valerie said, “Well, I’m kinda interested, but I’m swamped right now. I’m planning to perform one of my own songs at the school festival.
“Since you want to rework my music, I can give you a few tracks to mess around with. No payment needed, and you can have the rights to the songs–but you gotta do me a favor in return.”
Just as she finished speaking, the door suddenly swung open. Valerie tensed up, her gaze snapping to the door.
Aiden stepped through the doorway in business casual attire, his movements deliberate and unhurried.
Tall and broad–shouldered, with long, straight legs and a tense jawline, Aiden exuded an overwhelming aura that filled the room and was impossible to ignore.
The moment he walked in, Valerie felt as if the very lights in the room dimmed.
Russell sounded eager. “What do you need help with? I do want to rework your songs, but honestly, I haven’t heard many of your tracks yet, so I’d love to check them out first. I’m free tomorrow–how about I swing by your campus and we can talk about it?”
Aiden’s fingers paused mid–button, his deep gaze snapping to Valerie with an intensity that made her heart stutter.
‘Oh no, this is bad,‘ Valerie thought to herself, instinctively waving her hand in refusal and blurting out, “No.”
“Huh?” Russell sounded puzzled. “Then when?”
“Hold on. My husband just walked in. I’ll call you back later,” she said.
“What are you talking about?” Aiden grabbed her wrist just as she was about to hang up, abruptly closing the distance between them. His overpowering masculine presence invaded her space, leaving her nowhere to escape.
His deep eyes bore into her, heavy with their usual commanding intensity.
Aiden leaned in so close that the faint scent of smoke lingered on him. Their noses were barely an inch apart. His voice was low and dangerous as he murmured, “Still trying to avoid me, huh?”
Chapter 98.
Parcell instantly chickened out, but realizing that hanging up now would only make him look gullry, he cleared the throat trip the era a
Oh, your husband? Hey, man.
Alden glanced at the still lit screen, where the contact name read Annoying Russeft.
With amusement, Alden read out the words, fixing his gaze on Valerie. “Care to explain?”
Caught off guard by those words, Russell paused, then blurted out, “Seriously? That’s way too harsh. Valerie, don’t tell me that’s actually how you gave my name in your contacts?”
Valerie’s face instantly flushed crimson with embarrassment. Valerie thought to herself, ‘This is so embarrassing
With Aiden standing right there, Valerie suddenly felt too intimidated to even speak to Russell.
Valerie thought to herself, “Why do I feel like I’ve just been caught red–handed doing something shady?‘
Valerie hesitated for a moment before mumbling, “I just typed whatever came to mind.”
Russell burst out laughing in disbelief. “Oh, really? And you think you can work with me? Dream on. I’m out.”
Russell’s fury practically burned through the phone before the WhatsApp call was abruptly cut off.
Valerie paused, a mix of grievance and guilt flashing across her face. She looked up at him pleadingly and said, “Well, now you’ve scared him off.”
Aiden closed in, his potent masculine scent, tinged with tobacco, enveloping her. He stated calmly, “You saved that name yourself.”
Valerie choked on her words again, instinctively shrinking back as she muttered under her breath, “But I never asked you to read it out loud.”
Aiden asked, “You really hate him?”
Valerie mumbled, “Just a little.”
‘Very much, okay?‘ Valerie thought.
Aiden glanced down at her sheepish expression and chuckled softly. Straightening up, he shrugged off his jacket and, as if it were just a casual question, asked, “What collaboration?”
“Well, like I told you, I wrote some songs and he wants to buy the rights to them, so we were just discussing that,” Valerie explained.
“Just that?” Aiden suddenly reached out, smoothing the crease between her brows with his thumb. “There’s more to it, isn’t there?”
Valerie choked on her words. ‘Can this guy read minds or what?‘ Valerie wondered.
“What happened?” Aiden pressed, his voice low and sharp, eyes narrowing.
Valerie had no choice but to lay out the whole story about the forum, leaving nothing out.
With a hint of grievance in her voice, she complained, “You just showed up without any warning–I was totally unprepared. Now people are smearing me online, saying I’m a sugar baby or worse.
“It’s really nasty. I want to clear my name, but if I try to explain myself, they’ll just think I’m making excuses. That’s why I thought maybe Russell could give me a hand.”
Aiden asked sharply, “How exactly?”
“His family runs a talent agency, so his words carry real weight in the industry. That’s why I was hoping he could make a statement for me,‘ she explained.
Aiden was curious. “Make a statement?”
Chapter 98
Valerie’s strategy was to have Russell officially announce her collaboration with his agency, redirecting public attention to her musical unsrks,
She was financially independent—her stock dividends alone brought in a hefty income, not to mention her other investments. The idea that she needed to be some sugar baby for money, as they claimed, was laughable.
She had creative talents and connections in high places.
Once she showcases her exceptional abilities and a lifestyle completely different from theirs, proving she can thrive on her own without those superficial trappings, all those voices will naturally fade away.
Facing Aiden, Valerie couldn’t bring herself to explain properly. She muttered deferisively, “J–Just having him help clear things up, that’s all.”
“Clarify?” Aiden turned sharply to face her. “Why not let the people involved speak for themselves?”
Valerie said in frustration, “I just told you. If I try to defend myself, they’ll definitely think I’m just making excuses.”
Aiden’s gaze darkened with unreadable intensity. “Do you really think you’re the only one involved here?”
“Of course not,” she replied. “My roommate, Adrienne, is also involved, and so is Russell. That’s why I thought of them. But Adrienne and I are way too close–if she helped, it’d look suspicious. So Russell was really the only one I could ask for help.”
The more Valerie spoke, the heavier the atmosphere around her became.
