Laila was quite surprised by his arrival; she thought he would have come earlier, but here he was now... "Apologize"?
Hehe, did she need his apology?
"I won't see him." Laila, with a peculiar smile, leaned back in her comfortable chair, lightly tapping her fingers on the armrest. "Tell him one word for me."
Upon hearing that word, Demi's beautiful green eyes instantly widened. God, did she really hear that word from her boss's mouth?
"Is there a problem?" Not realizing that her words had stunned her secretary for a while, Laila raised an eyebrow and looked back at her.
"N-No, nothing." The secretary, who had just come back to her senses, quickly lowered her head and left the office.
It seemed like it had been a long time since she last saw such a dumbfounded look on her secretary's face. Laila chuckled twice, refocusing her attention on the files and documents in front of her.
A moment later, Cole received a response—an emphatic "get lost" that made him blush!
He didn't know if it was Laila's intention or just a spontaneous response from someone below, but all he knew was that he had completely lost face this time. The thought of going to jail sent shivers down his spine.
In the past, he had sent others to jail and used some tricks to make those who offended him uneasy inside. Now, with someone wealthier than him wanting to send him to jail, his fear of imprisonment was far greater than that of others. It was because he knew too well about the darkness inside, which could easily crush him.
"No! I must not go to jail! Dad! Yes, I'll ask Dad!" Cole finally remembered his father and rushed to his father's company, running because he didn't even have money for transportation.
Little did he know that as he left, a pair of icy blue eyes were coldly following his figure. Through the window, Laila saw him leaving the company's gate. That flustered appearance—where was the arrogance when she told him to "get lost"?
Vengeance is a dish best served cold? Hehe, she only knew that rather than making herself uncomfortable, it was better to make her enemy uncomfortable.
While Cole sought his father's help, Anthony initiated the next step of the plan—revealing the video.
This time, the video was not from surveillance cameras but the adventurous work of those few kids.
Laila didn't mistreat them; she spent a considerable amount of money to buy the video and obtained permission for public release.
Moreover, she wouldn't waste the popularity of this video, which she had acquired with a substantial amount of money. So, the video would be broadcast on a very popular show.
To get more viewership, the teaser for today's program was released two days ago. Want to know the truth behind the Cole-Downey incident? Want to know the basis of Laila's accusations? Please make sure to tune in to the program!
Because of Laila's presence, the previously weak NBC, after consecutively producing excellent programs, had become a highly influential television station. Each channel had its popular shows, and because of the connections with other Moran Group media, they could get the latest information.
After the teaser was released, the powerful audience immediately spread the news.
People were already tired of the fight between Cole and Downey; it had been going on for almost a month, with accusations, withdrawals, and renewed accusations. Although there were still some controversies about what exactly happened, most people knew the basic story. Almost anyone on the street could describe the events of that day in more detail than a reporter.
The reason people were still paying attention to this matter was mainly due to the keyword "minors" released by Laila. The United States had a significant emphasis on protecting children, and even the film rating system was for children. Regulations prohibiting minors from drinking alcohol were also in place for children. Even leaving a child alone on the side of the road could lead to charges.
By introducing this keyword, Laila hit a nerve, making people eager to know the truth. So, when the teaser announced that the program would reveal the truth, countless people spontaneously spread the word, making sure to sit in front of the TV on time just to wait for the program to start.
This was a special program, originally scheduled for a different time, but for this video, it was rescheduled to a prime time when audiences of all ages could watch.
The host was one of NBC's prominent figures, and he was very pleased to have such an opportunity. Especially after watching the video backstage, he knew he would capitalize on the controversy. No one could have guessed that after a month of uproar, alternating accusations, and withdrawals, the incident that had agitated the entire U.S. media was merely the "adventure" of a few fourteen or fifteen-year-old kids.
As the program started, Laila, along with Roy and Downey, sat on the sofa in her living room, brushing through Facebook and watching the program.
"What exactly is this?" Downey had asked Laila many times already, and every time, he received a meaningful smile that sent shivers down his spine. Clearly thinking that he wouldn't ask her again, he couldn't resist his curiosity every time and ended up inquiring.
Laila looked at him with a playful smile. "You'll know soon enough." For the sake of confidentiality, she didn't even tell Roy the details, just a rough idea, afraid he might inadvertently let something slip to Downey.
Why didn't she tell Downey? Could she say it was for fun? Watching others desperately trying to find out something only she knew—wasn't that fun?
It was like saying, "Do you want to know? Beg me! Even if you beg, I won't tell you~."
Roy, watching her, couldn't help but laugh along with her. His Laila could be so mischievously cute even when playing tricks.
At this moment, on the TV program, after the host exchanged routine greetings with the audience, he quickly moved on to the main topic.
"Recently, everyone has been overwhelmed by the news about Cole and Downey, right? Me too. It seems like every day's news is full of their affairs. But who would have thought that I, too, would get involved." The host made a self-deprecating joke before continuing.
"Due to time constraints, the program will be broadcast in two parts. Believe me, if you haven't seen this program, it's definitely a regret. If you watch the entire thing, you'll be as shocked as I am."
The TV started playing the video that Laila provided to the program. However, instead of showing everything at once, the program began with the middle part—Kathy sitting at the bar, and the situation when Cole, trying to strike up a conversation with her, drove away the young man who was originally talking to her.