Episode 41
With renewed resolve, she quickly composed a reply. “There’s no need for all this. I already have the perfect female lead in mind. Could you set up a meeting with them?”
As twilight settled, the grand exterior of the Norris Group’s headquarters, located near Elizabeth’s apartment, was mostly enveloped in darkness, except for a single office where the lights burned brightly.
Elijah sat behind his desk, his fingers tapping an uneven rhythm on the polished surface.
In the stillness of the office, Oliver approached with an update on the current social media buzz.
“The latest online sentiment surrounding Mrs. Norris is quite unfavorable. Would you like to address the trending topic?” he inquired, his voice tinged with uncertainty, as he gauged Elijah’s reaction.
The dynamic between Elizabeth and Elijah had become strained lately, causing Oliver to hesitate before taking action.
“No need,” Elijah declared, his tapping halting abruptly. His eyes darkened as they lingered on the faint bite mark on his wrist, and a wry smile curled his lips. “If Elizabeth believes she can manage on her own, let her handle this challenge solo. If she falters over something as trivial as a trending topic, how does she expect to survive in the ruthless world of show business?”
“Understood, Mr. Norris,” Oliver replied, his tone reflecting relief at the simplicity of the answer.
Just as Oliver turned to leave, Elijah issued a reminder. “However, keep Sandra out of this. She’s emotionally fragile, and too much stress could harm her well-being. Keep track of the comments to ensure she doesn’t get caught in the crossfire.”
Oliver, taken aback by the unexpected instruction, opened his mouth to respond but thought better of it when he saw Elijah’s detached expression. He nodded silently and exited.
Elijah observed Oliver’s hesitation before he left, remaining indifferent. Leaning back, he steepled his fingers beneath his chin, his thoughts drifting to Elizabeth.
Her determination to break free and pursue independence—even at the cost of their marriage—was evident. He was content to wait for her to struggle, confident that this would eventually pull her back into his protective fold.
