Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Chapter 32

RAVEL

(PRESENT TIME)

With a weary gaze fixed on him, I slowly poured myself a glass of whiskey, trying to ease the tension in the room. “You should calm down. You know, Jasper and his team are more than capable of resolving this situation,” I assured him, reaching for an extra glass and filling it as well, inviting him to join me for a drink.

He swaggered over and downed the contents of the glass in one swift motion, his face contorting as the fiery liquid went down his throat. “Why are you so unfazed by all this?” he rasped, clearly agitated.

Leaning back, a faint smile played on my lips as I took a seat on the long stool. “I am Ravel Southwark, and a mere video of me handling a troublesome individual won’t shake my business,” I replied confidently, my eyes fixed on the swirling whiskey in my glass. “We’ve faced drug cases in the past and emerged unscathed; a video of me disciplining someone who deserved it won’t do much harm either.”

He raised an eyebrow, seemingly unconvinced. “Have you even looked at the comments and reviews?”

he asked, almost challenging my confidence.

Taking another sip of whiskey, I explained, “The real reason I want that video gone is because of Hazel.” Raymond looked puzzled, prompting me to elaborate further. “You see, Hazel is dating one of her employees, but the media doesn’t know the e about it. If that video of her ex-husband beating the employee surfaces, it won’t bode well for her.

The papara zzi will be all over her, and you know how much she despises that kind of attention.”

Raymond’s frustration boiled over, and he clenched his fists in anger. “It’s unbelievable how he claims to love her and yet puts her through all this unnecessary stress. Going public with their relationship will only invite relentless hounding from the papara zzi,” he exclaimed, clearly upset by the situation.

My teeth clicked in frustration as my mind raced with thoughts. “I underestimated this guy; he’s far more cun ning than I thought. He’s capitalizing on this situation to gain positive publicity for himself, while also ensuring Hazel is publicly tied to him and tarnishing any chance of me being on good terms with her.”

Raymond shook his head in disbelief, “So he’s completely disregarding Hazel’s feelings and desires in all of this? It’s all about furthering his own agenda.”

“Exactly,” I affirmed, my frustration evident. “He sees me as a threat to his relationship with Hazel, and he’s willing to do anything to assert his dominance. I must find a way to handle him without causing any harm to Hazel in the process.”

As my phone vibrated in my pocket, I swiftly answered the call, opting to use the speaker when I noticed it was Rose on the line. “What’s the update?” I inquired cagerly, hoping she had a solution to our predicament.

“I just had a conversation with Mrs. Anne, and she has a brilliant idea to handle this situation,” Rose responded calmly, her voice exuding confidence in her plan. “We can work with the existing rumors and reshape the narrative. Everyone already believes that you divorced Ms. Hazel due to her infidelity. So, we can spin this story as that of a billionaire who is still deeply in love with his wife. The public will see you as the sympathetic figure, hurt by the fact that she shamelessly started dating the person she cheated on you with, which eventually led to that heated confrontation.”

As the suggestion reached my ears, an overwhelming surge of frustration engulfed me, causing my jaw to clench involuntarily. “This is beyond ridiculous,” I exclaimed, unable to conceal my disapproval in the slightest.

However, Rose remained steadfast in her approach, maintaining her gentle tone as she continued to advocate for her idea. “Please, sir, just hear me out. This strategy has the potential to evoke empathy and garner widespread support from the public. It’s precisely what we need in these challenging times.

By shifting the focus away from the negative aspects of the situation, we can cast you in a more favorable light”

In a tone that brooked no argument, I asserted, “There’s absolutely no truth to any rumors about my wife’s fidelity, and 1 won’t entertain or suggest otherwise.” Rose seemed cautious in her response, but I made it abundantly clear that I wouldn’t tolerate any further insinuations. “Hazel’s public image must remain untarnished, and if I encounter any false narratives circulating online, you will be held accountable, Rose. Do we understand each other?”

Chapter 32

Her response was a meek “Yes, sir,” and I swiftly ended the call, unwilling to entertain any more misguided ideas/

Above all else, my top priority had always been to protect Hazel. I held steadfast to the belief that compromising her integrity for the sake of public relations was out of the question.

Every action I had taken thus far was driven by my commitment to safeguard her from any harm, and that unwavering dedication remained steadfast.

Raymond, who had silently listened to the entire conversation, settled on a stool and directed his attention towards me. Clearing his throat, he spoke up, instantly capturing my focus. “You might hate me for what I’m about to say,” he mumbled, and I shot him a fierce glare. “I think Mrs. Anne’s suggestion isn’t such a bad idea.”

Glaring at him, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Have you lost your narrow mind?”

“No,” he asserted firmly. “You’ve always been the one to make sacrifices in your relationship with Hazel. How about you let her take the hit just this once?”

I felt a surge of anger rising within me. This was beyond absurd. “You may be close to me, Raymond, but not so close that you cannot be replaced.”

His jaw clenched in response, but I intentionally ignored it. “If you ever agree to anything that might hurt Hazel, I will stop considering you as a friend.”

“Rave_”

“Get out of my face!” I snapped, and he reluctantly stood up from the stool.

“Now!” I emphasized, not willing to entertain any more of his misguided suggestions.