44. Settle things with that pestering fly!

When Briella arrived at Star Agency, she was immediately greeted by reporters, who blocked her path without a single security guard in sight to intervene. 'Miss Briella, do you know why your fiancé, Xander Madrigal, called for the reporters?" asked a reporter in front of her, holding a microphone and trying to put it close to her. 'How true is it that you forced him to announce your engagement yesterday to make your name more popular?" asked another male reporter. She hurried into the office, already knowing why no one was there to meet her. Where is Chelsey? She should be here. Despite the difficulty, she managed to reach the building's door, not answering any questions from the reporters and letting them keep asking. She didn't know what she would find inside, but she preferred to enter and endure Matilda's foul mouth rather than the reporters who almost crushed her just to get close. As she opened the door, she was deafened by the loud slap that greeted her. Her face turned to the side, and her brain seemed to shake from its force. She might have fallen and sprawled on the ground if she hadn't been so strong. 'Matilda, you didn't have to do that," she heard Cecile scold Matilda, who had slapped her. 'Shut up! Are you still going to defend this filthy woman after all this time?" Matilda snapped. The cameras flashed behind her, clearly capturing Matilda's slap. 'How dare you show your face here? What did you expect? A celebration of your show's success? Best-Seller? Sold-out? Huh! That's all bullshit," Matilda said to her. Her eyes cold and expressionless, she turned her gaze to the people inside the building. It seemed her suspicions were correct; something unpleasant was happening here. She saw Matilda's assistant holding Chelsey while Mr. Puerto held Cecile, and Xander looked at her angrily from a distance. 'What are you talking about?" she asked, looking at Xander. 'Step aside, Matilda," she said calmly and expressionlessly to the woman. Matilda snarled at her and looked at her insultingly from head to toe before folding her arms and laughing at her. 'Why? Are you ashamed that everyone knows the truth?" Matilda asked with a grin. 'You're busted, Briella; the stench of your trashy personality is out." 'Be careful with your words, or you might have to eat them," she said boldly. 'Oh—hey," Matilda angrily pointed at her. 'Just because you're Janice Ortega's woman doesn't mean you can boast," she shouted, clearly for the reporters behind her to hear. What the fck?! Although she was itching to slap Matilda and shut her mouth, she chose to remain calm and not show that she was affected by her words. She took a deep breath and stepped closer to the woman. 'Are you really sure about what you're accusing me of? Or is it just jealousy because no matter how much you expose yourself to others, you can't beat me?" she said sarcastically and softly. She saw Matilda's face contort with shock, but as she recovered, her face reddened with rage, and she looked like she was about to slap her again. 'How dare you?" Matilda snapped angrily and swung her hand towards her face, but she quickly caught it and gripped it tightly. She saw Matilda wince as her nails dug into her arm. 'I let you off once, don't abuse it. Pity yourself. You might wake up one day with more than a slap on your thick, plastic face," she said firmly. If you think I'll let you hurt me again, you're mistaken! Be thankful I still have some pity left for trash like you! 'Let go of my hand, bitch!" she screamed and suddenly burst into tears. 'Get away from her, Briella." Xander angrily approached her and forcefully removed her hand from Matilda's. The force of his pull made her hand hit the door frame hard. It hurt, but she endured the pain. 'Matilda's right. We all saw one of your videos getting intimate with that lesbian! I'm so disappointed in you, and that's why I renounce our engagement," he said to her firmly and loudly. She shook her head and remained unfazed by his words. 'Fine, I don't have any problem with that. Now, can you move away and let me get inside? It seems you're enjoying this too much," she said calmly to them. 'Fine? Is that all you have to say after more than four years of our relationship?" he asked her, frowning. They both blocked the door, seemingly not planning to let her in. She laughed bitterly at his question.'What would you expect me to do? Kneel and beg?" He was about to speak when Cecile's voice overpowered him. 'Enough of this!" she said authoritatively. 'Mr. Madrigal, please be professional. Briella is still our talent, and if there are accusations against her, shouldn't we investigate first?" Cecile said, approaching them and pulling her into the building. 'Everyone, move!" Cecile ordered with authority. The staff moved and dispersed. Only the seven of them were left, still exchanging glances. 'Let go of me!" Chelsey snarled when someone tried to stop her from approaching. 'If you don't let go of me by the count of three, I'll crush your balls!" she heard her threaten Jovert. The man seemed scared and let go of Chelsey, who immediately came over to check her hand, which had hit the door frame. It seemed she knew what would happen later when they got back to the mansion. 'Let's go. I'll take you to your dressing room," Cecile said, holding her arm. 'Miss Damian, shouldn't we be terminating the contracts of pests like her?" Mr. Puerto asked, looking at her with disgust. 'Pest? " Chelsey couldn't hold back and glared at Matilda and Xander standing together. 'If there's any pest here, it's those who think they're clean and holy! I'm not pointing fingers, but if the shoe fits those animals. Let thunder hit them ‘til they can't get up again.!" After the heated scene at the entrance of Star Agency, Briella's name became trending again. If she had only heard good things yesterday, today, almost all comments and news she had seen were tarnishing her reputation. There was also a supposed video scandal of her with Janice in a dark room, where only shadows were visible. She was worried that Braun might suddenly come here to pick her up, so she kept texting him. She glanced at her left hand, which was starting to hurt, knowing it was severely hit against the door and would soon swell. If that happens, Braun would indeed explode in anger, and she might not be able to stop him. She sighed deeply and fell into thought while Chelsey went out to get an ice bag. Cecile was meeting with other stockholders, trying to get them to listen. I guess this will be the start of taking my revenge. From today onwards, I will gradually make those bastards suffer. I will let you feel why Karma is a freaking bitch! **** Braun's face was dark as he left the conference room, fully aware of the chaos that had unfolded right in front of the building where Briella worked. He wanted to explode and tear apart those trash who were oppressing his wife. What right did they have to hurt and humiliate Briella like that?! They're all going to pay! 'Luigi," he called to his assistant, who was a meter away from him. 'Y-Yes, Mr. President," Luigi responded promptly. 'I want you to create a diversion. I want all the hurtful words about Briella to disappear from the trending lists—all of them," he ordered authoritatively as they headed back to his office. 'W-What do you want me to do, exactly, S-Sir?" Luigi stuttered. He stopped in front of his office door and glared at Luigi. 'Don't ask me that bullshit! I said, make a diversion and do what you need to do! If you can't, I'll get another assistant, and you can start gathering your fcking things and get the hell out of my company!" he threatened. Luigi hurriedly left after bidding him goodbye. Braun had no time for jokes right now; his mind was filled with pure darkness. He was itching to go to Briella and take her away from those flies, but he knew he couldn't just barge in there. He had promised her he wouldn't interfere with whatever might happen today. This morning, while they were lying side by side and embracing, Briella suddenly mentioned some changes that would happen today. She had plans already made and was ready for whatever hurtful words those two pests would throw at her. He had made a promise and needed to trust her, knowing Briella was strong and not the kind of woman to let others bully her. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes to calm himself, but the thought of his wife being slapped only made him want to lash out even more. The pain seemed to double at the thought of that scenario. 'Fck!" he yelled loudly and thunderously inside his office. His cell phone rang, and his urge to kill intensified upon seeing Janice's name. 'Braun, I—" 'Don't try to explain yourself, Ortega. I gave you my permission when you asked me about Briella working with your company, and I made myself clear that if someone hurts her, everyone will suffer, including you!" he cut off her attempted explanation. She just sneered at him. 'Cut it out, El Cueva. Don't take your anger out on me because we're both furious," she snapped at him. 'Damn you!" he growled at her. 'Damn them! I called you to tell you not to interfere anymore and that I'll handle everything. We will settle things with that pestering fly," she said on the other line. 'I don't give a damn hell care about your toys, Ortega. They hurt Briella, so I'll do whatever I want!" he snarled dangerously at her. 'So what are you going to do, huh? Go there in rage and take Briella?" she mocked him. 'Do you think Briella would allow you to meddle in her problems?" He exhaled sharply. 'Fck off! Do what you need to do, and don't try to use my wife to control me, Ortega," he said. He heard her laugh on the other line. 'Why not? I'm enjoying this feeling, and it's rare, you know." He turned off his cell phone and looked at his wife's messages, wanting to curse loudly but knowing Briella didn't want him to interfere and preferred to fight her battles alone. He dialed her number, and she answered after a few rings. 'Hubby…" His expression softened immediately upon hearing her sweet voice on the other line. 'Are you okay?" he asked. 'I'm fine, don't worry about me. I can handle this," she replied. 'Do you want me to pick you up later?" he asked, though he was already determined to do so. He wouldn't allow anyone else to hurt her. He heard Briella sigh on the other line, and he had no choice but to wait for her to come home. 'I'll be waiting for you at home. Could you please come home right now?" he pleaded sweetly. 'Don't worry, I'll be home soon. I'm just waiting for Chelsey and Cecile to accompany me out of the building. There might still be reporters outside," she said. His gaze darkened at the mention of the reporters. I need to get rid of them! 'Okay, I'm heading home now. I love you," he said. 'I love you too, hubby. I'll call you when I'm on my way home. Be careful," she said and hung up first. His dark demeanor and clenched jaw returned. Where is Luigi? He dialed Luigi's number, and it was answered in less than a second. 'Where are you?" he asked. 'R&D's Department, Mr. President," Luigi replied. 'Do you need anything?" 'I want you to get rid of every reporter around Star Agency. Do it now." He hung up his phone again and rubbed his face. He sighed several times before quickly standing up and leaving his office. He needed to go home and wait for his wife. As he entered his private elevator, his fists were clenched. He prayed not to see any scratch on his wife because if he found even a slight bruise on her body, he would ensure their downfall! As he got into his car, he redialed Luigi's number. 'I'm going home, and no one can leave that room until everything is clear. Remember everything I've instructed you because if you miss anything, I'll cut your salary for six months," he threatened Luigi again and hung up his phone. Meanwhile, in the R&D Department, Luigi felt as if he had been bitten by a snake with his boss's threat. Should he be happy that his salary would only be cut and not be fired? But six months?! How will I make payments for the Penthouse I'm acquiring if my salary is reduced? 'Sir, I have the names of all the reporters who are still outside the Star Agency building," one of the IT staff told him. He nodded blankly. 'Send a warning to their networks. If there's no response in a minute, ban them." 'Sir?" the staff member asked in surprise, seemingly puzzled by his order. He glared sharply at her. 'Do I need to explain it to you? Do what I say and never ask anything. Do you want to breach your contract?" 'N-No, Sir," the woman answered fearfully. 'Then start working your ass off and give me reports in a minute!" he snapped at her. She immediately complied and left his presence. He watched, hands on his hips, as people scrambled to catch up with all the trending tags on social media. He had also ordered the deletion of the circulating video and coordinated with the heads of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. He couldn't afford any mistakes, knowing his boss would come after him and starve him for a month, especially if he faced his president's intense anger. In his long tenure as an assistant, this was the first time he had seen such a mix of anger, hatred, and concern. He took a deep breath and focused on his tasks, fearing he might forget something and face the consequences of his boss's threats.