In the afternoon, Eve expertly rode her horse, wearing a black fitted V-neck equestrian jacket. The sleek and simple cut highlighted her slender yet strong figure. The black riding pants perfectly accentuated her long legs, paired with elegant black riding boots, giving her a composed and confident aura. Her equestrian helmet made her face look even more petite and delicate, making her appear like a graceful silhouette atop the horse.
In the distance, a middle-aged man dressed in a denim shirt and white riding pants approached her slowly on horseback. He controlled the reins effortlessly while glancing at her with a hint of amused interest. "I've never seen anyone handle Henry so easily. Impressive," the man clapped lightly, his tone both admiring and playful. " Miss, how should I address you?"
The corners of Eve's lips curled up slightly, her response respectful yet confident: "You're too kind, Mr. Boris. It's because Henry has been well taken care of that I have the chance to experience the back of such a purebred racehorse. You can just call me Eve."
Boris raised his eyebrows slightly, curiosity flashing across his face. "Oh? Have we met before?" His tone carried a hint of probing and speculation.
Eve smiled gently, showing no signs of discomfort. "To be precise, I've long admired your reputation. The 'Bourn Group' is well-known in the industry. Especially your star, Ive—what little girl wouldn't be a fan?"
Boris's smile grew more meaningful as he teased, "Oh? Is Miss Eve also interested in our Ive?"
Eve's gaze remained composed, her words leaving both room for ambiguity and weight: "Of course. I'm also very interested in the mastermind behind him."
A spark of interest flashed in Boris's eyes as his gaze sharpened, sensing Eve's true intentions laid bare before him. He didn't immediately respond. "Interesting, but what if the player you're interested in isn't interested in your game?"
Eve paused for a moment before responding casually, "That's normal. Top players are never short of choices. But I'm not here to be an option. Ive is a very thoughtful artist. The smoking incident in the elevator last year and the abandoned cat controversy still echo today, don't they?"
"It seems Ms. Eve has done her homework."
"The issue isn't that he causes trouble, but whether those troubles can be cleverly transformed into momentum. Ive isn't a traditional artist. His alternative, niche appeal is his greatest advantage. The key is how to refine his image to make it more publicly accepted."
Boris snorted lightly, his demeanor seemingly indifferent, but his words were sharp. "You PR companies always talk a good game. But when it comes to execution, it's not that easy."
Eve didn't rush to refute him. Instead, she smoothly continued the sharp topic: "Mr. Boris, emotional artists are the most explosive ones, as long as they are given enough space and the right guidance. For someone like Ive, PR isn't a constraint but an opportunity to give him more freedom and possibilities. Starlight has many successful cases of artists similar to Ive. We can craft not just a PR strategy for this performance, but a path to long-term success."
The smile on Boris's face gradually faded, replaced with a more profound expression. "Sounds good. But his fans are mostly fanatics. How do you plan to pull off this performance without triggering their emotions, especially at this sensitive moment, with the cat abuse incident still unresolved? A charity concert looks like redemption, but it's actually a ticking time bomb."
Eve leaned in slightly, her tone still gentle but firm. "You're right. The fanaticism of fans is indeed a double-edged sword. That's why we need to strike a delicate balance in our approach. We need to turn the charity performance into an opportunity to showcase Ive's personal growth, not a forced correction of past mistakes. Instead of appeasing the voices of opposition, we need to convey Ive's deep understanding and emotional connection to animal protection."
"It sounds like you already have a strategy. But, lady, competition isn't just about strategy—it's also about execution. I could choose Starlight, but you're not the only one in your company. Give me a reason to choose you."
A faint but sharp smile appeared on Eve's lips. "Mr. Boris, I believe what you need is a team that can anticipate and prepare, not one that's always ready to put out fires."
Boris raised an eyebrow but deliberately sidestepped the topic. "We'll be careful with our PR choice. Even the best strategy has to convince him first."
Eve showed no signs of eagerness or anxiety. She simply nodded and said calmly, "Of course. I believe that good partnerships always find the right time and way."
Boris's gaze flickered as he seemed to weigh her proposal. He rode his horse forward a little before turning back to glance at Eve, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes. His tone remained light, but no longer casual. "Well then, let's look forward to Ms. Eve's performance. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you to enjoy yourselves."
Eve's gaze remained steady, though she was already calculating her next move. Cora leaned in and whispered, "Kyle and Leo are also eyeing this project. Internal moves have already begun."
Eve's lips curled slightly, "They like shortcuts, so let them take them. All they have is connections. What I have is results. Let's go."
Meanwhile, in one corner of the studio's dressing room, Ada was in a heated argument with the socialite Emma over a bag. The intense words drew the attention of the other staff.
"Please, Ms. Emma, give me back the necklace! It was borrowed from the brand, and I need to return it. If it's lost, I'll have to pay for it!" Ada pleaded, gripping the handbag tightly while Emma held onto it with equal force, nearly tearing it apart.
"I've told you a hundred times, I didn't take it! If you think I stole it, go ahead and call the police!" Emma shouted, her eyes flashing with a hint of unease.
Ada, realizing the futility of arguing with someone of Emma's stature, reluctantly let go. Shortly after, Emma hurried out of the makeup room with a panicked look on her face.
Meanwhile, outside in the hallway, the staff exchanged curious and puzzled glances. Someone whispered, "Why is she here again, causing trouble? Can't stand her."
Another person chimed in, with a hint of schadenfreude, "I heard Ada went through a lot of trouble to borrow that necklace. Bet she didn't know Emma's got a reputation for being a kleptomaniac in our circles."
Stepping out of the makeup room, Ada took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. As a PR professional, she couldn't afford to escalate the situation; it needed to be handled delicately. But she couldn't understand why a rich person would steal from others—it was beyond her comprehension. She quickened her pace, pressed the elevator button, and headed back to the office, pushing open Tara's door and staring directly at her.
Tara, who was flipping through documents, looked up at Ada's grim expression and pretended not to know what was going on. "What's wrong, Ada? Is something the matter?"
"The necklace was stolen by Emma. I have no way of explaining this to the brand," Ada said, her voice filled with frustration.
Tara raised an eyebrow and replied nonchalantly, "Oh, well then, you'll have to pay for it. This is your own mistake. You didn't do a proper background check, and the team won't cover for your failure. Besides, you know that some of our department's resources came through Emma's connections."
"Are you trying to shirk responsibility? You forced the Emma case on me, and it was you who asked me to borrow the necklace from Camanie. I went through so much to get it, and now that it's in the hands of a kleptomaniac, you expect me to pay for it? Why should I?" Ada's voice unconsciously grew louder.
"This is a company, and you're a senior employee. Everyone must take responsibility for their own decisions. If you thought Emma was trouble, why didn't you dig deeper before accepting the case? As a PR professional, isn't that your job?" Tara remained completely indifferent to Ada's anger.
"You dumped the case on me at the last minute! Where would I find the time to do research? I was following the process based on the information you gave me. I don't understand why you're doing this. You knew from the start this case was a ticking time bomb for the team, and even you couldn't avoid responsibility. What did I ever do to you?"
"Why? Because you got involved with someone you shouldn't have!"
Not long ago, after Ada and Leo returned from a business trip, Leo had subtly and not-so-subtly started showing interest in Ada. Though Ada had no feelings for Leo, Tara interpreted this as Ada harboring resentment and posing a threat to her.
"I have zero interest in your man, and our work relationship shouldn't be affected by these personal feelings, right? Just count how many times you've stolen credit for my work. Have I ever called you out for it? Don't you feel even a bit ashamed?" Ada's voice rose as their argument in the office grew more intense. Nearby colleagues, who loved to eavesdrop, were already listening in quietly.
Soon, Vicky showed up, having heard the commotion. She quickly stepped in and pulled the emotional Ada out of the office.
Vicky led Ada to the elevator, whispering, "Alright, stop crying now. It's just the two of us here. Honestly, it's a shame you're not an actress."
Ada instantly switched from looking dejected to grinning mischievously. "Why'd you pull me away so early? I finally had the chance to teach her a lesson! How was my performance? Pretty convincing, right?"
At that moment, the elevator doors opened with a "ding," and standing inside was Eve. As the doors slid open, the atmosphere grew tense. Ada turned and saw Eve, and her playful expression froze instantly, like she'd been caught in Eve's icy stare, suddenly at a loss for words.
Eve looked at Ada, her gaze quickly noticing Ada's tear-streaked eyes and slightly swollen lids. Eve frowned slightly but said nothing.
"Ms. Eve," Vicky nudged Ada, snapping her out of her daze. Ada hurriedly lowered her head and stammered, "Ms…Ms. Eve."
Eve nodded in acknowledgment and walked out of the elevator towards the office. Vicky pulled Ada into the elevator. Ada let out a quiet sniff, rubbing her eyes, still catching the faint scent of Eve's perfume lingering in the air.
Vicky glanced at Ada and exhaled, "Phew, good thing she didn't hear what we were saying." She gave Ada a light pat on the shoulder and continued, "Come on, let's go to the rooftop. I've got something to tell you."
Once on the rooftop, Vicky reached into her pocket and pulled out a USB drive, handing it to Ada.
"Here's what you were looking for. Guess who sent that letter."
Ada took the USB eagerly, "Who? Who sent it?"
"Eve."
"What?!"