Chapter 25
Chapter 25:
Minutes passed with no sign of the journalist. The assistant paced nervously, phone in hand, making one call after another to explain the delay. Apparently, traffic had ground everything to a standstill, and the interview would need to wait another twenty minutes.
Eventually, the door swung open and the reporter finally walked in.
It was Olivia.
The realization hit Kailey at once. She had forgotten entirely that Olivia had a background in journalism—she had gone abroad to study, returned home, and taken a position at a magazine. Fate, it seemed, had a particular sense of humor.
“Kailey, I hope you haven’t been too bored waiting for me,” Olivia said, setting her bag down before linking her arm through Kailey’s as though nothing had ever gone wrong between them. “I owe you dinner after this. Traffic was a complete nightmare p>
The easy familiarity made the people nearby exchange glances.
Someone from the crew spoke up, curious. “Miss Marsh, you and Miss Evans know each other p>
“Of course,” Olivia replied with a radiant smile. “And very soon, we’ll be calling each other family. Isn’t that right, Kailey p>
Kailey studied her for a moment, a reluctant flicker of awe surfacing despite herself. How did she manage to act so warm and easy after everything that had happened just the day before?
𝗙i𝘯𝗱 n𝗼𝘃еl 𝗣𝘋𝗙𝗌 on
Catching Kailey’s silence, Olivia turned to the assistant. “Let’s not waste any more time. We should get started p>
Everyone turned their attention back to the work at hand, but Kailey remained unmoved. “Olivia, you don’t have to put on an act for me. I’m not fooled by it p>
“That’s your choice,” Olivia replied, her smile cooling slightly. “Still, we should think about Ryan. Whatever stands between us, it’s better to appear civil in front of others, don’t you agree p>
Kailey’s brow creased, but she held her tongue. Her concern for Ryan ran deep—not from lingering affection, but from years of genuine gratitude. That still mattered to her.
Noticing her hesitation, Olivia let a faint smile settle on her lips. “Today’s interview will be straightforward. Cooperate and we’ll be done before you know it. After that, we can speak privately p>
Being off camera meant fielding the usual questions—sources of inspiration, what first drew her to jewelry design, what drove her ambitions. Kailey answered each one with calm confidence, handling every question without a trace of nerves.
Olivia’s surprise was visible. She hadn’t expected Kailey to carry herself with such poise. Even so, in her mind, it all came down to Ryan’s money. Without him, Kailey’s life would have looked very different.
Shifting her approach, Olivia’s expression sharpened as she slipped in a question that appeared nowhere on the interview sheet.
“Miss Evans, people say your childhood was marked by hardship, and that a generous man stepped in to raise you. Living so comfortably and receiving such an education—don’t you ever feel guilty for relying on him p>
The room went still. No one had expected Olivia to strike so directly, and with her standing in the industry, no one dared intervene.
Kailey held her gaze, understanding the intent behind the words immediately. She let the silence breathe for a moment before responding.