But he would never let him get close to Laney again.
Eddy took Blanche away from Ivycrest University.
When they arrived downstairs at The Simmons Group, Ingrid came rushing up to them.
“Laney, I’ve called you a dozen times! Why didn’t you answer even once?”
)
“Was there something you needed?” Blanche’s expression was cool and distant.
“Eddy just canceled the partnership between The Simmons Group and Marshall Industries.” Ingrid glared daggers at Eddy–she was sure this was his doing. He’d always thought Marshall wasn’t qualified to handle Simmons‘ projects and had wanted to force them out from the start.
“Please, can you talk to Eddy for me? Ask him to reconsider.”
Eddy frowned and glanced at Blanche.
“I’m the one who ended the partnership with your company,” Blanche said, her voice flat and emotionless. “Not Eddy.”
“Laney!” Ingrid’s voice shot up in pitch. “Why would you do that?”
Blanche’s eyes hardened at Ingrid’s shrill protest. “Marshall Industries just isn’t up to the task.”
“What?” Ingrid was stunned.
“You never used to say that. You always told me as long as I worked hard, things would turn around for us.” Ingrid was clearly shaken by Blanche’s decision.
“We’ve given you several projects and none of them have gone anywhere. No matter how hard you try, it’s pointless.” Blanche was tired of these people taking advantage of her goodwill.
She didn’t want to waste another word.
But Ingrid, desperate, grabbed Blanche’s arm. “Laney, we’re best friends! You always used to help me with my projects, didn’t you?”
Blanche looked Ingrid squarely in the eye, seeing the guilt flickering there. “I don’t want to help you anymore.”
She forcefully pried Ingrid’s hand off her arm.
1/2
20:30
Just the thought of Ingrid and Jeannette laughing together over coffee made Blanche’s heart ache.
She was done swallowing her pride for people who didn’t deserve it.
Ingrid stumbled to the ground with a dramatic cry. “Laney, how can you just abandon me?”
She turned to Eddy for help instead. “Eddy, please! We grew up together–doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
Eddy ignored her and caught up to Blanche, offering her a warm smile. “Honey, you made the right call.”
“I’m with you,” he said, unwavering.
Blanche barely responded, her face impassive.
As the two of them walked away, Ingrid’s perfectly manicured nails dug into her palm. A sharp pain shot through her hand, but the rage in her chest was worse. She glared hatefully at Blanche’s retreating figure, silently vowing to make her
Ingrid pulled out her phone and dialed Loraine. Not long after, she appeared at Eddy’s office with Loraine by her side.
pay.
Meanwhile, Kelvin, frustrated that he couldn’t reach Eddy by phone either, showed up at The Simmons Group. The moment he walked in, he ran into Blanche.
“Sis! Please, you have to help me! Talk to Eddy for me, I’m begging you.”
“We really need that smart parking project,” Kelvin said, running a hand through his bleached hair in a panic. “If I don’t bring this deal home, my dad’s going to kill me!”
“Blanche, Jeannette crossed the line with you–twice. That was wrong, and I apologize for her. Please, please, help me and talk to Eddy, just this once.”
He was sure Eddy had only canceled the partnership to stand up for Blanche. If Blanche would just say a word, Eddy would surely relent.
She’d always been kind to him. Surely, if he pleaded with her, she’d soften.
Blanche watched Kelvin grovel, a bitter smile on her lips. Wouldn’t he be shocked to learn it was her, not Eddy, who pulled the plug on his project?
“Let’s go to the executive office,” she said coolly.
Kelvin wasted no time, hurrying ahead to press the elevator button.
They quickly reached the top floor. Blanche didn’t need an appointment–everyone
20:30
υπαρισι ΟΙ
at the front desk nodded politely and returned to work as she walked by.
Blanche pushed open the door to the executive office just in time to hear Loraine say, “Eddy, if you and Jeannette end up together, the Simmons family will finally have a new branch on the family tree, all thanks to Ingrid. She’s the one who introduced Jeannette to your mother.”
“We owe Ingrid a huge debt.”
“Not only should you keep working with Marshall Industries, you ought to give them your biggest projects.”
“It’s great that you cherish your wife, but you can’t let her have the final say in everything. Ingrid’s a wonderful girl–she’s good to you, good to her friends. And instead of helping her, Laney’s turning her back and kicking her when she’s down. I’m so disappointed in her-”
Blanche couldn’t believe her ears. The glass door slammed into the stopper with a loud bang, cutting Loraine off mid–sentence. All three people in the office whipped around in shock.
Blanche strode straight up to Ingrid, raised her hand, and slapped her hard across the face. “How could you do this to me?”
