Chapter 198
Chapter 198
Dawson, who’d been sprawled on the ground, immediately dropped to his knees, clutching his father’s pants. “Dad, she hit…”
Dawson’s head snapped to the side.
“Useless idiot!” Jasper snarled.
Maximo was stunned–he hadn’t come to cause trouble?
Once he’d finished berating his son, Jasper turned to Aria, bowing in apology. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Saxon. I promise he’ll never meddle in company affairs again.”
So she was a Starmon Films board member? Wait, no–she was Stars Group’s board member, someone above Jasper himself.
The director and Maximo exchanged a look, the truth dawning on them.
Maximo mentally slapped himself. He’d picked a fight with someone he could never afford to offend.
Aria’s voice was cold. “Now you know to keep him out of things. What about before?”
Dawson might’ve been a creep, but at least he hadn’t resorted to drugging or blackmail–just sneaky harassment.
Fame and fortune always came with a price. She couldn’t police every ugly deal, nor did she have the right to.
Jasper could only hang his head in shame, unable to say a word.
“Take him to the hospital,” Aria said. “If he harasses another woman, there won’t be such an easy way out next time.”
“Thank you, Ms. Saxon. I promise I’ll discipline him,” Jasper said, dragging Dawson away by the ear, ignoring his son’s injuries.
Vanessa quietly handed Aria her laptop. “Keep it for now–deal with your business and return it later. Be careful, okay?”
Before leaving, Aria shot Maximo a glance and said to Vanessa, “Focus on your scenes. If anything happens, call me. Don’t forget you’ve got serious backing.”
The hierarchy was clear–Dawson pushed everyone around, but Aria trumped them all.
Maximo tried to shrink into the background, praying to go unnoticed.
In the end, things worked out better than anyone expected.
Dawson wouldn’t be causing any more trouble. Small mercies.
Everyone watched Aria walk away, someone finally voicing the question on everyone’s mind. “Who the hell is she, anyway?”
“Isn’t it obvious? They called her Ms. Saxon. She’s one of the real bosses.”
“No wonder Vanessa never got blacklisted–she’s got that kind of support. We’d better keep our mouths shut from now on.”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
On the road, Aria’s car cruised smoothly along–until a sudden crash from behind threw her forward, her seatbelt yanking her back just in time.
She instinctively swerved, slamming on the brakes.
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Chapter 198
The car jolted into the guardrail, but thankfully she’d been in the far–right lane, and no further collisions followed.
Aria frowned, unfastened her seatbelt, and stepped out.
The black car that hit her popped its door open, and a man in a brown coat stepped out.
Adjusting his silver–rimmed glasses, he glanced at the crumpled front end and said, “I’m so sorry, miss. I take full responsibility.”
Before Aria could reply, a stunned voice interrupted, “Mrs. Cole?”
It was Bryant.
Aria shot him a look. “Bryant, I’m divorced from Liam now.”
Bryant offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Ms. Saxon, we were in a rush and rear–ended you by accident.”
Her car was pretty banged up–definitely not drivable.
She felt another pair of eyes on her. Glancing up, she locked eyes with the man,
his gaze clear and gentle.
He gave her a polite smile. “Let’s exchange contact info. I’ll pay for the repairs.”
There was something odd about this guy, but Aria took out her phone and added his contact anyway, then called her insurance company for a tow.
As soon as she hung up, the man said, “My name’s Orlando.”
“Aria,” she replied.
“Need a lift anywhere?” Orlando offered.
Normally, Aria would’ve refused, but this time she said, “Sure. I need to get to the police station.”
Bryant, looking tense, squeezed into the front passenger seat.
Aria settled into the back, her sharp eyes flicking between the two men.
What exactly was Bryant so afraid of?
