Chapter 225 Offending Me Is Equivalent to Offending Oscar
In the end, Chloe was a bit of a snob, only caring about what she could get from people.
She was always nice to those who could help her or give her something.
As for real friends, Chloe had none. Once Pearl was no longer useful, she'd be tossed aside too.
"Are we heading to the orphanage now?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, Harper said we should check it out. We can buy some stuff and get reimbursed by the station, which is basically doing charity," Pearl replied. "I think there's something big going on. This orphanage project might not just be on Instagram but also on some variety show or a major program at the station."
Emma asked again, "Did you hear anything?"
"No, Harper just asked more questions than usual. That's just a guess. We'll know the answer in a couple of days," Pearl said, used to reading the boss's intentions and making educated guesses.
She could be wrong, though. She just felt Harper's extra interest wasn't just about writing news.
The orphanage project was essentially charity work.
If it got featured on a big station program and the special was touching, it could earn a good reputation. Nowadays, the competition in variety shows was fierce. Adding social elements to evoke empathy from the audience might have a different impact. That was Pearl's thought, though she didn't know if it was the station's idea.
It took just over twenty minutes to drive to the orphanage, but Pearl heard crying even before getting out of the car.
The orphanage's rust-stained gate was half dismantled. It looked desolate, like it had been looted.
Emma exclaimed, "Pearl, is this orphanage really in such bad shape? The facilities look ancient."
"No." Pearl didn't have time to explain and hurried inside. She saw the children huddled together in the hall, with Nova comforting them.
"Don't be scared. I'll protect you and won't let the bad guys hurt you!" Nova's coat, worn for over a decade, had a tear, her hair was a mess, and there were several bruises on her hands.
"Nova," Pearl walked over and asked. "What happened? How did it come to this?"
Seeing the mess on the floor, Pearl's face turned grim.
"Aunt Pearl!"
The children, seeing Pearl, were happy but cried even harder. "Nova and the teachers were bullied. They hit them and took the meat."
Nova, seeing Pearl, felt a bit apprehensive but still greeted politely, "Pearl, you're here."
"Are the kids okay?" Pearl asked.
Nova replied, "They're fine .Just the teachers got hurt a bit."
"What exactly happened?" Pearl asked. "Did you call the police?"
"We can't call the police!" Nova was terrified, her face pale. "If we call the police, they will hurt the children!"
"Did they take everything?" Pearl remembered the supplies sent last time, which seemed to have been taken.
Nova nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "They said you messed with someone else's interests, so they will mess with yours. You can't come here anymore. If you do, they will teach us a lesson. Pearl, I don't want to drive you away, but the children can't be harmed."
"This is too much!" Emma said. "No matter what, they can't harm the children. It's inhumane!"
"Nova, I'm sorry. I didn't expect them to go this far, to even target the orphanage," Pearl said, feeling guilty for putting Nova in this situation.
"No, I should thank you. If it weren't for you, the kids wouldn't have had meat so quickly," Nova said, still grateful. "But you've ticked someone off, and now they've cut off your escape route. I know, Pearl, you work at the TV station, but cutting off your retreat means they want to make it impossible for you to stay there, right?"
"It must be Chloe!" Emma immediately said. "You didn't want to help her, so she's using these tactics to threaten you!"
Pearl looked at Emma, who was already fuming.
"Pearl, she wants you to comply. Only if you help her get that project will she let you continue with the orphanage project. If she can't complete it, she won't let you complete it either. She's that despicable!"
Pearl, working at the TV station, could only have offended Chloe. Chloe wasn't holding back; she wanted Pearl to come to her, or rather, to beg her.
Nova didn't call the police, which she could understand, considering there were over fifty kids in the orphanage.
Pearl calmed down and said, "Alright, I get it. In any case, Nova, I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. I will figure this out, and I hope the next time I come, the kids will all have meat to eat and live a good life!"
"Thank you, Pearl, thank you for your understanding!" Nova said gratefully.
"Aunt Pearl!" The kids called out to Pearl, their eyes full of reluctance.
Pearl smiled at them. "Don't be afraid. I'll come to see you next time and bring you some delicious candies!"
Leaving the orphanage, Emma asked, "What should we do?"
Emma hadn't thought of a solution yet. "If the orphanage gets implicated, you won't be able to complete this project. Harper will definitely question you, and you'll end up like me, typing away for the rest of your life!"
"There will be a way," Pearl's eyes turned cold. "Call Chloe and arrange a meeting."
They met at a café.
This time, Chloe was very smug. Seeing Pearl waiting there, she deliberately arrived half an hour late, wanting to make Pearl understand that there would be consequences for offending her.
With just a bit of effort, Pearl would have to comply with her.
"What do you want?" Chloe sat down in front of Pearl, crossed her legs, and lit a cigarette.
Pearl endured the smoke and said, "Was it you who messed with the orphanage?"
Chloe glanced at Pearl, thinking she was too naive. "It has nothing to do with me."
"If not you, then who else?" Pearl retorted sarcastically. "You can't solve a problem, so you throw it at others. It seems that as an excellent employee of the TV station, this is your only tactic."
Chloe's face changed, and she flicked the ash from her cigarette, speaking harshly, "Pearl, you came here today to ask for my help. How dare you speak to me like this!"
Pearl sipped her water calmly. "Who said I'm here to beg you? I'm just explaining the situation. I might not even be able to handle the matter with Oscar."
Chloe threw away her cigarette, crossed her arms, and looked at Pearl arrogantly. "All you need to do is invite him out for a meal, thanking the leader for a meal should be simple, especially since you've been by Oscar's side for so many years. I'll take care of the rest."
Chloe had her ways to get Oscar to agree to the interview.
Pearl paused, set her cup down, and looked up at Chloe, saying, "Do you know I have another identity? I am Oscar's wife. Offending me has the same consequences as offending Oscar."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
