Chapter 46
Chapter 46:
Something about Alden’s demeanor didn’t sit right with Helena. Dinner had come and gone without incident, but afterward, his energy shifted—like a sudden drop in temperature.
She racked her brain, wondering if she’d said something she shouldn’t have.
By the next morning, she was back at her work desk, staring at her computer screen, lost in thought. Honestly, men were impossible to read sometimes.
“Take a wild guess who’s sliding into the Nine O’clock News anchor seat p>
“I saw the latest numbers—if anyone’s got a shot, it’s Helena.” Voices drifted across the room, quiet but impossible to ignore. Now that Eleanor was no longer working here, the focus of their conversations had shifted to work.
Betsey Avila, once Eleanor’s close friend, made a sharp clicking sound with her tongue.
“Is it really just about the ratings? You still need to see whether Neville, the Nine O’clock News male anchor, agrees. He holds a lot of weight around here. Since he was paired with Eleanor before and that damaged his standing, he’s going to be especially cautious with whoever he chooses this time p>
Without missing a beat, Betsey strolled up to Helena’s desk like she owned the floor. “What’s your take, Helena p>
Helena didn’t even blink. She had zero interest in getting pulled into any office drama.
No matter how flawed Eleanor had been, she wasn’t about to talk trash behind her back.
With a cool voice, Helena said, “Everyone gets a fair chance. We just need to prepare well for the assessment p>
That shut things down fast. The tone in the room lightened as if someone had popped a bubble full of tension.
Oddly enough, since Eleanor stepped out of the picture, the women in the office had relaxed. There was less whispering. Fewer fake smiles. More room to breathe.
Betsey, however, wasn’t ready to back down. She wanted Helena in her corner, but it was clear she wasn’t getting it.
Her smile stiffened, then twisted into something biting. “Word is, Eleanor’s hit rock bottom. Blacklisted, drowning in debt, maybe even looking at jail time. Sounds like she ticked off someone with serious pull. Helena, think your husband had something to do with it p>
𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗀ⱥ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀꞉ⅽ𝗈𝗆
She didn’t have to shout. The volume was just enough to catch the attention of everyone in the office.
Helena’s heart gave a sudden jolt. It wasn’t like her marriage was a hidden fact—most folks at Nexus TV already knew she was married. But very few had ever actually laid eyes on her husband.
Betsey’s words weren’t just an attack on Helena’s character; she was tossing dirt on Alden’s name as well.
For a moment, Helena pictured that cold look Alden sometimes wore—the one that made people uneasy. But right behind it came the image of his soft smile, the one only she ever got to see.
Even if Alden had that kind of power, Helena couldn’t imagine him using it to destroy someone. She owed him more trust than that. Doubting him so quickly only made her feel ashamed.
A quiet laugh slipped out as Helena rolled the ring on her finger. With her chin raised, she met Betsey’s pointed stare, unfazed.
“Whoa, I had no idea you changed your job p>
Betsey’s eyes narrowed. “What are you even talking about p>
“You mean you’re not switching to the neighboring company as an entertainment journalist? Thought you’d be chasing down reality stars, hiding behind bushes for a blurry photo, maybe even sifting through a few dumpsters. Those should be your expertise. If you don’t get sued a few times a year, you feel restless, don’t you p>
That smile Helena wore didn’t reach her eyes. It was sweet, but sharp enough to draw blood.
Betsey’s expression faltered, her jaw tightening.
Every time someone brought up Helena’s husband, Helena changed. Gone was the quiet, reserved version of herself. In her place stood a woman who knew exactly how to fight back.
“Betsey, you really shouldn’t go around tossing out baseless rumors p>
“Are you hoping to land yourself in the same kind of trouble Eleanor did p>
Before Betsey could come up with a snide comeback, a deep voice cut clean through the tension.
Neville Gray walked into the room with the kind of confidence that made people stop and look. Tall, polished, and blessed with a voice that could calm a riot, he didn’t need to say much to command attention.
As Nexus TV’s youngest primetime male anchor, he had a reputation for charm and presence—and he knew it.
Still brooding from the failed attempt to humiliate Helena, Betsey spun on her heel and headed back to her seat, sulking in silence. Helena offered Neville a quick nod. “Thanks p>
With an easy grin, Neville replied, “It wasn’t a big deal p>
Only now did Neville actually get a good look at Helena. He’d seen her on camera before, filling in during that chaotic broadcast, but up close, it was different. Her features were soft but memorable, and something about the way she carried herself drew you in.
He couldn’t stop himself from picturing how mesmerizing she’d be in bed. It was a shame she’d married a man who couldn’t even provide for her, leaving her to carry the burden and push herself so hard, even after marriage.
Neville leaned closer, his hand reaching for the stack of study guides on Helena’s desk.
“Preparing for the second round?” he asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.
Helena’s brows knitted slightly as she instinctively pulled away. “I am.” That tiny shift in her posture told Neville to back off, and so he did. Still, the soft trace of her perfume lingered in the air, stirring something in him.
Taking a step back, he slipped on his well-practiced smile, the one that never failed to charm a camera—or a crowd.
“Relax. You’ve got this. And if anything trips you up, just ask—I’ll be right here. I wouldn’t mind sharing the news desk with you p>