Chapter 8 - The Media Spin
Earlier that afternoon, while Felix was barricading the hospital floor, Odette Kingsley was masterminding a ruthless public relations campaign from her penthouse office.
The media had already caught wind of the abrupt cancellation of the billion-dollar merger meeting. Rumors were swirling about Felix's dramatic exit and a confrontation involving a mysterious woman and a child. Odette knew that in the corporate world, silence bred panic, and panic tanked stock prices.
She summoned her lead PR director, a sharp-eyed man named Harrison.
"Release the statement to the financial press immediately," Odette commanded, pacing the length of her office. "Felix Kingsley suffered a sudden, severe migraine episode due to exhaustion and was advised by his physician to step away for twenty-four hours. The merger talks will resume on Thursday."
"And what about the woman, Ms. Kingsley?" Harrison asked nervously. "The paparazzi have photographs of Sarah Marlowe entering the building this morning. The tabloids are digging into her past."
"Spin her," Odette said coldly, pouring herself a glass of scotch. "Leak it to the gossip columns that she is a disgruntled former employee attempting an extortion scheme. Frame her as a desperate opportunist trying to cash in on Felix’s recent success. Make her completely uncredible."
Celeste, who was sitting on the leather sofa, smiled approvingly. "That’s brilliant, Odette. If we destroy her reputation, no one will believe her claims about the recipe copyrights or the DNA test."
"Do not smile, Celeste," Odette snapped, turning her freezing glare onto her prospective daughter-in-law. "I know exactly what you did today. I am not a fool. You orchestrated that emergency with the child."
Celeste’s smile vanished, her face paling. "I just wanted to protect our investments."
"You are sloppy, and you are reckless," Odette hissed, slamming her glass onto the desk. "If that child dies, Felix will not just leave you. He will actively destroy you. And if you bring the police to my doorstep, I will throw you to the wolves without a second thought."
Odette grabbed her designer coat and her handbag.
"Where are you going?" Celeste asked, trembling slightly.
May you like
"I am going to the hospital," Odette replied, her voice like steel. "I have to drag my son out of whatever sentimental delusion he is currently drowning in before the board initiates a vote of no confidence to remove him as CEO."
|
