Chapter 90

90 The Interview *****

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Please note: ARILPORTER BOSS will be shortened to the acronym APB. Thanks for your understanding.

*****

Frost chuckled grimly at Ericka’s questions. He could sense the havoc she was trying to create with the question she asked. Hence, he thought of a suitable answer for it. He had a crazy feeling that Chloe who was most likely watching this interview, was holding a touched stick and ready to set the company ablaze, depending on his response.

However, Frost decided that there was no way in hell he was going to spare Chloe in this inferno. After all, she had been claiming all the accolades for the company’s success for the past weeks. Now, it is time also claim a lion’s share in the company’s defeat.

“To answer your question truthfully, Ericka, Miss Chloe Robinson is a very intelligent lady who knows the difference between a properly researched and created work from a stolen work. Let me put this question back to you.” Frost gave a lopsided grin.

“Imagine you are the CEO of a fashion company. Your subordinate closes from work one day with forty percent hope for the future of the company; which is a percent above failure. The following day, he brings in more than thirty masterpiece designs; which would take the whole creative department staff members more than two weeks to come up with. He hands these designs to you, claiming he had been researching for a long time all by himself. As a sane and unselfish CEO, wouldn’t you questions the source and motives of the designs?” Frost stared into Ericka’s alarmed face.

.....

“Geez!” Ericka shook her head in disbelief. She understood where Frost was going with his question and decided to indulge him. “Well, if I was such a CEO, I would put that subordinate of mine under an electron microscope, before allowing such designs to be mass-produced. Also, if I discover that the source of the designs is genuine, I would give my subordinate the recognition he deserves rather than claiming that I made all the designs.”

“Thanks for your honest reply,” Frost half smiled. “The scenario I just painted is exactly what happened. Miss Chloe being an intelligent CEO,” Frost chuckled within, at the thought of the peanut size brain, Chloe; being remotely intelligent, “she knew those designs were stolen. However, in a desperate attempt to outshine her rival brand, she claimed those designs as hers.”

“Interesting!” Ericka cooed. “So if I’m to reaffirm your words and that of miss Jane correctly, the designs displayed by the F&K fashion home were all stolen designs from the APB brand.”

Frost took in a deep breath before responding: “yes, the designs were stolen. Please, I want to use this opportunity to apologize to the CEO of APB company for my atrocious behavior.”

“Well Mr. Frost, I can assure you one thing,” Ericka’s fake smile concealed her disgust as she stared into his eyes. “A public apology wouldn’t do justice to this crime because Mrs. Treshvire’s company has been greatly tarnished by Miss Chloe Robinson.”

Ericka turned her attention back to the camera. “What an interesting development! You have heard it all from the horse’s mouth. I’m using this opportunity to call on Miss Chloe Robinson to come out and speak to us concerning this new twist of events. Otherwise, her company will be rebranded with a befitting title that suits her crime.”

“Stay tuned and enjoy part B of another juicy revelation between our two lovely couples here. This is Ericka Dan, saying; have a wonderful day.”

The recorded video of the lover’s fight between Frost and Jane was aired at the end of the interview session. This video was anonymously given to the Zeal international company earlier before the interview started.

After the interview, Jane was taken back to the warehouse while Frost was driven to his home. He was instructed not to leave his house under any circumstances until a counter-instruction was given.

Before Frost was dropped off, he was severely warned that if he went to the authority or spoke with anyone concerning the issues at hand, he and his family will be brutally murdered.

Instead of keeping Frost hostage, Leon instructed his men to intentionally drop Frost off at his home. They planned on using him as bait. He knew that the Robinsons would make an attempt on Frost’s life due to his public confession. Hence, he planned on capturing and torturing any Intruders, until Ella had taken her pound of flesh off Frost.

———–

Back at the F&K fashion home, every department had stopped celebrating. Their horrified eyes were glued to the television as they watched their boss, Mr. Frost, confess to his sins.

Chloe was still busy partying with her friends when Kyle suddenly barged into her office for the second time without knocking.

“Kyle, have you gone mad or something!” Chloe stood up abruptly and screamed at him. She panicked, due to the way Kyle rushed in as though the company was been invaded by a battalion of heavily armed soldiers.

Even Chloe’s friends and Silvia weren’t left out in the panic attack. They stood up with their drinks in their hands, ready to flee at the first signs of danger.

Kyle totally ignored Chloe’s insult as he dashed over to her table, took the television remote, and change the channel. “Look!” He boomed and turned his attention back to the television.

“What the hell!” Chloe yelled as she slumped on her seat and lost consciousness after watching the interview for only ten minutes.

Everyone in Chloe’s office rushed over to her side to revive her, while Kyle sprinted out of her office. He left the building toward the car park, swiftly entered his car, and zoomed off.

It took almost five minutes to revive Chloe after Silvia continuously sprinkled water on her face.

Chloe sat up and looked around as though she was unsure of her present location. She requested a glass of water which she swallowed in one gulp. Then, she took out a white handkerchief from her handbag and wiped the water off her face.

“Kyle,” Chloe called weakly, looking at the faces of her concerned friends.

“He just left your office a few minutes ago,” Silvia responded. She had also been taken aback by Frost’s confession.

A few days back, when Frost had come up with those masterpiece designs overnight, Silvia had been suspicious. However, since the company needed all the help it could get to reclaim its former glory, she pushed those feeling aside.

Currently, all Silvia felt was disgust for Frost’s action and fear for the future of the company.

Chloe took out her phone and noticed she had several missed calls. She scrolled through and was about to dial Kyle’s number when her father’s call came through. She received the call and started crying; “Dad, Frost has just finished us off with his bag of lies. I can’t believe he would go this far to betray my company.”

“Chloe, come to the mansion right now. Do not talk to anyone or grant any more interviews, okay?” Her dad’s tone was stern.

“But daddy, I just can’t sit still and do...” The line went dead. Chloe hissed out loud due to her father’s unnecessary reaction. “This is my company and I alone will fight for its glory,” she said out loud to the admiration of her friends. She contemplated briefly in her mind on her next step of action and quickly dialed Kyle’s number.

Kyle picked up the call on the first ring and said: “Chloe, you have to go to Zeal international company and counter Frost’s confession.” His voice was strained and panicked. “The damage is going to be disastrous if we don’t do something right away. I am currently at Zeal International company but it seems Frost has left. I’ll go in search of him and talk some senses into him. Although, I feel Frost is in trouble or probably being blackmailed.”

“Give me a few minutes, I’ll be right there,” Chloe replied and ended the call. She was suddenly filled with a new sense of direction.

“Blackmail!” Chloe said out loud. “Ladies, the battle is not lost! I have a feeling that Ella and her criminal-minded husband have gotten to Frost. I am going to use Frost’s confession to my advantage. Ella has just messed with the fierce tigress. This time around, I’m going to gnaw at her bones until they turn to dust.

“Go get her, boss!” Silvia smiled triumphantly. “I can’t wait to see that gold-digging b**ch destroyed!”

“How would you like to be my sidekick in this battle?” Chloe stretched out her right hand toward Silvia.

“It will be a great honor to work at your side, Boss,” Sylvia replied and happily shook Chloe’s hand.

“Shall we?” Chloe gestured towards the door and everyone in her office took their belongings and left with her in the lead.

Due to the new trending viral video of Frost’s confession, the reporters, journalists, and cameramen, who were previously in front of the APB company quickly moved over to the F&K fashion company. They were all eager to get a statement from the ever-talkative CEO.

Immediately Chloe stepped out of her company with her friends solidly behind her, the camera light started flashing. Numerous questions poured in from different angles, like a flood caused by a hurricane.

“Miss Chloe, is it true that Frost stole the designs you’re currently claiming as yours?...”

“Are you aware that Frost has a mistress working for your rival brand?...”

“Who came up with the design idea?...”

“Do you have sufficient proof that these designs are yours?...”

“Are you still pushing forward with the lawsuit threat?...”

“Do you think your company will win this case?...”

The endless questions were almost suffocating Chloe. She raised her right hand and everyone suddenly went quiet.

“I won’t be saying much for now. However, one thing I can tell you all for free is that the shameless APB brand has fallen so low that they are currently blackmailing my partner with a total stranger.” She paused and smiled proudly into the camera. “I am the authentic owner of my winter collection designs. Frost’s input in the whole creation process is negligible and I am going to prove this today at an interview with the Zeal international company.”