Chapter 51


    Chapter 51 Uneptable


    Cyril was a little shocked to see Karina there. His eyes involuntarily darted to the nket – nothing


    wrong, nothing happenedst night. That’s a relief.


    Cyril’s movement was a bit abrupt, and it woke Karina up. She rubbed her eyes and sat up to


    face him.


    “Last night, I came to look for you and found you asleep at the bar, so I brought you up here,


    “Karina exined straight away, her tone casual as if recounting a simple fact. “I wanted to leave,


    but you kept holding onto me. I couldn’t do anything about it.”


    Karina was actually quite frustrated. She had hoped for something to happenst night, but Cyril


    hadn’t given her the chance. However, there wasn’t much she could do about it now.


    She needed to maintain some level of significance in Cyril’s life, so she had to find a way to make


    him think they had some kind of connection.


    Feeling a tad embarrassed by Karina’s exnation, Cyril couldn’t believe he had clung to her. But


    the person he vividly remembered seeingst night was Sylvia, not Karina. Shaking his head, he


    decided not to dwell on it any further.


    “Oh, I see,” Cyril said, trying to hide his awkwardness.


    “I’ve got work to do, so I should head out. And you should head home too. Things have


    and mostly settled; still, you should consider going abroad. It’s a better fit for your career, staying


    here might give people the chance to hold things against you for the next couple of years.”


    Deep down, Cyril knew the issues in his marriage to Sylvia werergely linked to Karina, something


    he hadn’t realized before. He wasn’t quite clear on his motives, but he guessed he just wanted


    some things to gradually get back on track.


    Karina froze, feeling a sharp sting at his words. Was Cyril pushing her away? The decision seemed


    final and out of her hands. Grinding her teeth, she replied, “I can’t leave just yet. International pop


    star, Barker, ising for a concert soon, and mypany wants me to be a guest star. It might


    give me a boost, whether I stay here or go abroad.”


    “I need to wrap up my work here before I can consider leaving. If I don’t, I’ll owe thepany a lot


    of money, and I don’t want to trouble you any further.”


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Cyril paused, then, without rejecting her reasoning, he simply agreed, “Okay.”


    Karina’s face could barely muster a smile. Cyril seemed heartless on one hand, but on the other, he


    was still looking out for her reputation. Yet if he really cared, he wouldn’t be


    61


    Cyril dressed and left, his clothes still reeking ofst night’s drinks. He decided to go home, take a


    shower, and change before heading to work.


    As for Karina, she had made the story up on the spot without much thought. The idea of her actually


    bing Barker’s guest artist seemed daunting. Everyone knew Barker had a strong character,


    and thepany couldn’t really control him due to the massive sess he brought them.


    Gritting her teeth, Karina realized since she had spoken, she must find a way to truly be a part


    of Barker’s concert, or else she truly would have to leave, Gaining Barker’s support would be ideal.


    Karina immediately called her manager, who had been dealing with her mess. Upon hearing her


    voice, the manager was irate.


    “Why are you calling me? Don’t you think you’ve caused enough trouble? Do you have any idea


    how much I’ve had to smooth things over because of you? From now on, you better behave. If you


    stir up one more problem, I don’t care who’s behind you, I’m done with you for good.”


    Karina was stunned by her manager’s harsh words but was resolute in her request. “Can you get


    me on stage with Barker? If I pull that off, Cyril might continue to support me.”


    The manager couldn’t help but burst intoughter. “Do you think you’re that important? Barker


    doesn’t need you! He controls thepany and can boost any of the numerous talents under him.


    Why would he choose you, wrapped up in scandals?”


    “And you think that simply performing with Barker will make Cyril divorce Sylvia? If you can pull it


    off, go ahead. But otherwise, don’t bother me with impossible favors.”


    Karina was deeply ufortable with her manager’s mocking tone but knew she had little choice.


    “You’d better find a way, or else I’ll tell Cyril everything. Even if he’s losing patience with me, he


    should know that you forced me into this, and you yed a part too. Let’s see if he lets you off the


    hook then.” 1


    The manager panicked at the thought of Cyril finding out. This risk could spell the end of his career.


    He gritted his teeth and said with finality, “Fine, you’ve pushed me far enough. This is thest


    time I’ll help you. But even if it works, I’m not promising anything. This might be the end of our


    contract.”