Chapter 488: Chapter 488

With the words “Chanel” emblazoned across the packaging, the value of the gifts couldn’t be more evident.

When the contents of the box were revealed, one could see a bottle of perfume, a bottle of facial wash, and a small classic clutch bag inside.

Upon receiving such an expensive gift, the members of the press read between the lines and knew what they were required to write in their respective articles.

Rayna walked the two men from Egret Scents to the elevator. “Thank you for coming by today.”

She shook hands with both of them.

Once he stepped into the elevator, Marcelo remarked, “Ms. Garland turns out to be someone not to be trifled with.”

“And a ruthless woman too!” the distraught Felipe added.

He had assumed that Glory would be doomed by the plagiarism scandal and Rayna’s arrest for murdering a pregnant lady.

Little did he expect her to organize a press conference to lay out all the evidence she had.

Giving Felipe the side-eye, Marcelo sneered, “So what if she’s a woman? At least she has more brains than you. You’re nothing but an idiot to have used a product with unclear origins!”

Felipe defended himself, “Someone wanted to seek revenge on her. I was just unlucky to be dragged into it.”

“You’re lucky that we arrived at a settlement,” Marcelo replied in a snarky tone. “Count your blessings that she and Mr. Faymon have broken up. Otherwise, he would have ended your career given how protective he is.”

After both men exited the elevator, Felipe asked, “Was she really in a relationship with Mr. Faymon?”

“Hmph! You think?”

With a derisive look in his eyes, Felipe glanced over his shoulder. “It’s great being a woman. All she has to do is lie down and spread her legs to get whatever she wants. And just like that, she’s appointed the vice CEO of a listed company.”

“How do you know she isn’t capable at all?”

“With her background, there’s no way she would have been given the opportunity to showcase her talent even if she had any unless she takes the unscrupulous route.”

“You’d better shut your trap!” Marcelo barked. “If you have time to waste on gossip, you might as well spend it researching new products!”

Since they were still inside Glory’s office, it would be troublesome if anyone in the lobby overheard their conversation.

Consequently, Felipe fell silent as both of them swiftly left Glory.

Meanwhile, a man who had just brushed past their shoulders came to a stop. As he turned around to look at Felipe’s leaving silhouette, his lips curled into a smile before he calmly strode into the elevator.

Coincidence had allowed him to overhear the second half of the conversation.

Now that the matter had been resolved, Rayna returned to her office and settled down.

Before she had the chance to sip her coffee, a knock on the door preceded Ella’s entrance. She was followed by a towering figure of a man.

“Ms. Garland, Mr. Snyder of Snyder Group is here to see you.”

Wearing a genial smile, Jasper greeted, “Ms. Garland, it’s been a while.”

“Mr. Snyder.” Rayna got up to her feet to receive him.

“You seem busy. Am I interrupting in any way?” Jasper asked cordially.

“It’s fine. I’m done with work.” Rayna ushered him to the couch before pouring him a cup of coffee. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“There is, but it’s a personal matter of mine,” Jasper said as he retrieved an IOU to show Rayna. “Your friend borrowed five hundred thousand from me and told me that you’d honor the debt if I couldn’t find her.”

“Five hundred thousand?”

The massive amount came as a rude shock to Rayna as she grew curious about the person who borrowed the money.

When she took the IOU and saw Jessica’s name and thumbprint on it, she felt her heart drop.

“Why did she borrow so much money from you?” she asked in a concerned tone.

While speaking, Rayna got up to retrieve her phone from the drawer but quickly realized that it was gone.

Sensing something amiss, Jasper asked, “What is it, Ms. Garland?”

“I lost my phone.”

“Do you need to make a call?” Jasper held out his phone. “If it’s urgent, you can use mine first.”

Thinking that she had misplaced it, Rayna opened all the other drawers to look but to no avail.

Left without a choice, she gave Kristie a call with Jasper’s phone.

While waiting for the call to connect, she asked Jasper, “Why would Jessie borrow money from you? I think you don’t know that I’m friends with her, right?”

“Indeed, I don’t.” Jasper cocked a brow. “But I know Mr. Lopez and saw her by his side on one occasion when he introduced her as his girlfriend. I’m sure you also know about Mr. Faymon and Mr. Lopez’s relationship. But now that Ms. Marsh and Mr. Lopez have broken up, it would be inappropriate for me to demand Wyatt honor the debt.”

“Where did you run into her?”

“The hospital. I was passing by and wanted to see the doctor for a sore throat I was having. The moment I stepped into the lobby, I saw Ms. March crying and pacing anxiously in the lobby with her phone in her hand.”

Back then, Jasper had thought that something serious had happened to Jessica when he saw her covered in blood. Since she was Wyatt’s girlfriend, he figured it would be a good idea to help her so that Wyatt would owe him a favor.

He approached her by introducing himself as a friend of Wyatt’s before offering his help.

Jessica had wanted to ignore him initially, but when she failed to make her call, she asked him whether she could borrow five hundred thousand to pay for a family member’s surgery.

“Please don’t tell Wyatt about this.” With tears streaming down her cheeks, Jessica borrowed a pen and paper from the dispensary and wrote Jasper the IOU.

“If you fail to find me after this, you can go to Glory to see Rayna. She will pay you back on my behalf.”

Taking into consideration how desperate Jessica was to readily write an IOU and her close relationship with Rayna, Jasper settled the bill on her behalf and got his assistant to bring cash for the outstanding amount.

The moment she got her hands on the money, Jessica disappeared frantically.

After waiting for a few days and not hearing from Jessica, Jasper decided to come to Glory upon learning that Rayna, who had been released from the police station, had organized a press conference.

After listening to Jasper’s story, Rayna grew even more anxious.

Didn’t Jessie arrange for her uncle and aunt to go on an overseas trip? What other relatives does she have? Did something happen to Kristie and Carl?

Just as Rayna’s imagination began to run wild, the call connected and Kristie’s voice subsequently rang out. “Hello?”

“Kristie, it’s me. Where are you? Is Carl with you? Are both of you all right?”

Kristie replied, “We’re fine, Rayna, but something happened to Jessica.”

“Isn’t she with you?”

“No,” Kristie answered in a weary tone. “Where are you, Rayna? I’ll come over to see you. So much has happened that I don’t even know where to start over the phone.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be right back once I finish up in the office.”

After ending the call, Rayna returned Jasper his phone before turning on the computer to make the transfer to Jasper’s card.

Once she paid him back, she said, “Thank you for lending her the money at the hospital, Mr. Snyder.”

“It’s no problem at all. Besides, you have already paid me back.” Jasper proceeded to shake her hand. “I can see how busy you are, so I won’t take up any more of your time.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

“It’s fine, Ms. Garland. You should get back to work.”

After watching Jasper stroll nonchalantly out of her office, Rayna continued to rummage through her drawers for her phone.

Despite turning her entire office upside down, she still couldn’t find her phone.

Damn it! Where’s my phone?

Rayna cursed under her breath as she put on her jacket.

She hurried out of the office to see Ella in the room next door. “Can you help me look for my phone? I’ve no idea where I left it. If you find it, give it back to me tomorrow morning. I need to head home now.”