He Waited She Wilted (Ottilie and Yorath) novel Chapter 218

Back in the grand ballroom.

Lachlan noticed several high-profile members of the press entering the venue.

He turned to Jevon, who was standing next to him. "I thought this was a private, closed-door event. What's the press doing here?"

Jevon swirled the brandy in his glass, looking slightly buzzed.

"I think they're doing a promotional push for Ottilie's wilderness survival show. She's got a brief solo interview lined up upstairs."

Lachlan nodded slowly.

But Jevon wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily.

"Speaking of that show, we really have you to thank, Mr. Schmidt. If it weren't for your brilliant concept—and the fact that Ottilie is naturally gifted at it—we'd never have secured such incredible footage. It's practically documentary-level material. I watched the raw cuts. You wouldn't even need to edit it; her solo scenes alone could easily carry three full episodes."

Lachlan had genuinely wanted to sign Ottilie to his agency.

And if he had, he would have genuinely propelled her to superstardom.

That survival show had taken the Aegis Media development team over a month to conceptualize and pitch.

He never imagined Yorath would swoop in and steal all the credit and profit at the finish line.

Lachlan clenched his jaw, simmering with rage. "Mr. Fordham certainly lives a charmed life. Everything just seems to fall right into his lap."

Jevon chuckled. "That he does. But hey, it's not a big deal if you don't share his luck. You've got great ideas! The next time you brainstorm a massive hit, make sure to send an invite our way. We'd love to collaborate."

Downing the last of his brandy, Jevon stood up, swaying dramatically. "Wow, I think that last drink did me in. Do you mind helping me upstairs to rest for a bit?"

With that, he leaned his entire body weight directly onto Lachlan.

Left with no other option, Lachlan had to physically support the stumbling man as they headed for the elevators.

"Watch your step, Mr. Crawford."

That was exactly how this social circle functioned. You could be actively plotting to destroy a man in secret,

but to his face, you still had to play the part of a perfectly polite gentleman.

Once they reached the suite, Jevon directed Lachlan to sit in the outer living area.

The host was a seasoned professional, sticking to questions about the survival show, though her inquiries were notoriously sharp.

"Ms. Sewell, rumors suggest that after the mudslide when you were missing for over a week, Mr. Fordham mobilized hundreds of excavators to practically level the mountain just to find you. Is there any truth to that?"

Ottilie smiled warmly. "Of course not. While he is my boss, no one has the resources to pull off something like that. It's just an internet rumor."

The host pressed on, "If my memory serves me correctly, it was during that exact same crisis that Nyssa Tarrant and Mr. Fordham made their relationship public. Are you the third party in their relationship?"

Ottilie blinked, looking entirely unfazed. "Did that happen? I had absolutely no idea."

From off-camera, Yorath cut in sharply. "I have no personal relationship with Ms. Tarrant whatsoever."

He tapped a finger against a copy of the script.

A silent, chilling warning to the host that she was crossing a boundary.

The host had been generously compensated for her time, and crossing a titan like Yorath Fordham was professional suicide.

He was, after all, the most ruthless lawyer in the country. No one could guarantee they'd never end up needing legal salvation.