Thanks to her conversation with Claire, Laila's anger, ignited by the TV news, gradually subsided. With her rationality returning, she began to contemplate the benefits this incident could bring her and the potential advantages that might follow.
In the entertainment industry, the last thing you wanted was to be forgotten by the public. Celebrities in the modern world often show affection, share their weddings, showcase their babies, or stir up some scandal. They made sure to stay in the public eye, building and maintaining their reputations.
Even infamy was a form of fame. When criticized, as long as you provided a reason, most people were willing to believe you were still a good and pure person, and those well-documented stories were just "accidents."
It was the kindness of the public that had "spoiled" many celebrities, leading them to take all sorts of regrettable actions. Celebrities were human too, with both good and bad people, capable of doing both good and bad things.
Although Laila wasn't thrilled about being the target of such rumors, she realized that there were several benefits to it. The most immediate one was that her movie's name had been repeatedly mentioned in the media.
Previously, Faiza's side had been trying to connect their film to her, spending a lot on public relations and enlisting help from various sources. However, no matter how they tried to link the two films, they could only attract a portion of the audience interested in the movie.
Now things were different. The media had thrown the three of them together, turning baseless speculations into a sensational feast. This was an excellent opportunity to attract more attention. If she didn't take advantage of this situation to gain the recognition she deserved, could she still be Laila?
Thinking about all this, she began to feel much more at ease, and she calmly went to work at the company.
While Laila was composed, Faiza on the other side was infuriated.
"I knew it! I knew something like this would happen! Laila Moran, that dreadful woman, must have planned long ago how to steal the prince away from me!" She screamed, threw everything she could see in the office.
Meanwhile, Faiza's office mate, Faaris, didn't even lift an eyelid. He acted as if everything was perfectly normal.
"What should I do, Faaris? Help me think of a solution! I want that woman to be ruined, I want her dead! Go find someone to kill her, I don't want to see her in front of me ever again!"
Faiza was on the brink of insanity. She felt like everyone passing by was staring at her with mocking eyes, laughing at her for not being able to hold onto her fiancé, who had been stolen by an insidious American woman. She couldn't imagine how her family and friends would view her once the news spread, especially those women who had always been jealous of her. They would undoubtedly ridicule her!
"No, Faiza, please choose your words carefully," Faaris finally spoke up.
"Choose my words carefully? How should I choose my words?" Faiza shrieked, her sharp voice piercing through eardrums as if it could penetrate deep into people's minds. "I'm the one who lost her fiancé! How can you possibly understand my feelings?"
Faaris couldn't help but furrow his brow at her piercing voice. "This is America, and that director Laila Moran is a high-ranking socialite. If you continue to use this language, I will report to the CEO and have you sent back to your home country."
In America, money ruled. Despite Faiza having her own background, it paled in comparison to the Moran family. It wasn't just about wealth; it also involved political connections.
The Moran Group, which had been entrenched in the United States for years, had strong relationships with many influential figures. If Faiza's words had been taken as evidence, and if they had been forwarded to the authorities, it wouldn't have taken long for her to be considered a threat and expelled from U.S. territory.
Such an event would have a significant impact on the company. At the very least, it would tarnish the company's reputation. Faaris would never allow such a situation to occur; hence, he advised Faiza to choose her words carefully.
However, it was clear that Faiza, in her jealous rage, couldn't comprehend the deeper meaning behind his words. All she knew was that her fiancé had been taken away by a despicable American woman!
"Faaris! How dare you threaten me!" She was completely incensed. She picked up the phone that had been scattered on the floor, and luckily, it was still functional after being thrown into several pieces.
She dialed a number, and soon, the call was answered.
"Dad!" Faiza called out, her tears streaming down. Then she recounted the morning's news to him in vivid detail, and afterward, she harshly complained about Faaris's actions. She implied that she wanted Laila to pay for this and that she wanted Faaris demoted to the lowest position, turning him into a true "dog."
What surprised her was that her father, who had always doted on her, scolded her.
According to him, "Prince His Highness's noble status makes having more than one wife perfectly normal." In other words, men could spend their money however they pleased, as long as they maintained their main relationship and kept control of their finances.
As for Faaris, her father's message was even clearer: regardless of what Faaris said, it was as if her father was speaking, and Faiza had to cooperate fully. If she didn't listen, she would be sent back to their home country.
Faiza was left dumbfounded, holding the disconnected phone in her hand. She couldn't believe that those words had come from her father, the person who loved her most. After listening to her complaints, instead of helping her, he scolded her, even suggesting that she obey Faaris. If she didn't, she would be sent back to her home country?
"Faaris! What kind of wicked spell did you cast on my father?" Faiza exclaimed.
Faaris remained unruffled and lowered his eyes. He stood still, like a piece of wood, the only clean spot in the entire room. He couldn't be bothered to respond to a foolish young lady like her. What he had in mind was how to use this turmoil to his advantage. As for what would happen between the young lady and the prince, it was not his concern. As a man, he actually sympathized with the prince. If he were asked to choose between Moran and the young lady, he would choose the former without hesitation.