The female reporter reacted swiftly, recalling Lin Yun's suggestive remarks during the show. Lin Yun maintained her TV persona, claiming she couldn't disclose anything at the moment. The reporter quickly redirected her questions to Emma.
"Mrs. Williams, I've heard the reason you invited Miss Martinez to be the cover star of your magazine was to follow your husband's advice and pave the way for her to become a brand ambassador. It's said that Mr. Williams was Miss Martinez's senior in high school. Do you two often socialize?"
Emma finally understood. So this was the trap they had set for her all along.
She admitted Scarlett had some clever tricks, but she was too aggressive and had underestimated Emma's temper. Did she really think that by forcing Emma to make a promise in front of the media, she could secure the role of Milan Fashion House's new brand ambassador?
"I'm not aware of that. I invited Miss Martinez because she fits the image of our magazine's new issue. As for whether she becomes the spokesperson for Milan Fashion House, that's not my decision to make. I never involve myself in my husband's company affairs—we rarely discuss business at home. Miss Martinez, thank you for dinner. I had a lovely time. If there's a suitable topic next time, I'll invite you again."
Emma smiled, but her words were sharp. She hated being manipulated, and Scarlett was clearly too arrogant to try such a blatant move.
Did she think Emma would lose face and agree to her scheme? Dream on.
Emma turned and left without looking back, leaving Scarlett with a stiff expression while Isabella scrambled to smooth things over with the reporters.
"Ha ha, my cousin had a bit too much to drink tonight. We were just having fun," Isabella said from behind.
Ava was furious and wanted to rush back to confront Isabella, but Emma grabbed her arm. Having already taught Scarlett a lesson, she wasn't about to waste energy on Isabella's nonsense.
But Scarlett had gone too far. Emma had no idea what the gossip columns would write tomorrow. She'd have to talk to Liam tonight. If a reporter interviewed him tomorrow and he, unaware of the situation, actually agreed to let Scarlett be the spokesperson, it would be a disaster.
To be fair, Scarlett wasn't unqualified to be Milan Fashion House's image ambassador. But she should have fought for it fairly, not with these underhanded tactics. Emma wondered if Scarlett's brain had short-circuited, or if she was just trying to provoke her.
Emma replayed her words to the reporter in her mind. No flaws. She had subtly but firmly made it clear that she wasn't Scarlett's friend, and that Scarlett hadn't been invited for the cover because of Liam.
"Editor-in-chief, I think there'll be news about you tomorrow. Reporters will probably call for interviews. You need to be prepared. Scarlett has a huge fanbase because of her hit TV series. When the news breaks, your social media might get flooded by her fans. Maybe you should turn off your comments tonight. Otherwise, knowing how you react to things, you'll be furious."
"Is it really that serious?" Emma doubted.
"Think about the crisis you faced because of your cousin. This time, you might have to deal with millions of Scarlett's fans."
Ava mentioned the number of followers, and Emma felt a twinge of fear. But having over ten million fans was normal for someone like Scarlett.
Still, Emma had said what she said. She'd just have to see how the reporters spun it.
Even if she ended up in trouble, she'd deal with it when the time came.
After leaving Ava, Emma noticed the night air was pleasant, so she took a shortcut, planning to walk home.
Along the way, though she worried about what the reporters might publish tomorrow, she also thought it wasn't too serious. At worst, she'd do as Ava suggested and turn off her social media.
As for explaining herself, she didn't think it was necessary.
No matter what happened or what the truth was, people only believed what they wanted to believe. Since they were Scarlett's fans, they wouldn't question her character without solid evidence. Emma would be the one condemned.
Emma was imagining how to handle the potential trouble tomorrow, especially the biggest one—her boss, Joshua Harris—when a figure suddenly emerged from the alley, making her stumble back several steps.
Her high heels nearly twisted her ankle.
Her sharp intake of breath caught the man's attention. He was clutching his stomach with one hand, his body bent. When he looked up at her urgently, his sharp, narrow blue eyes widened.
Before Emma could react, she was caught in the man's arms. She couldn't break free. He dragged her deeper into the alley.
"Who are you? Why are you grabbing me?" Emma demanded, confused.
She had no idea why this stranger was targeting her. They clearly didn't know each other. But the man remained silent, and since he wore a black mask, she couldn't see his face. Emma gradually realized she was in danger.
But she couldn't break free.
The air smelled of blood. Emma remembered the man had been clutching his stomach when he appeared. Even now, as he held her, she could hear the unsteadiness in his breathing. Was he injured?
Soon, the man dragged her through the alley and out to a wide harbor. The sound of the deep-sea night tide filled her ears. Emma watched as he pulled her toward the dock and the sea, wondering if he planned to drown her.
"Shadow, there's no escape. If you're smart, let the hostage go."
The voice was familiar. Several lights began to flicker around them. Emma tried to see who was speaking through the glare, but all she could make out were blinding white lights.