Chapter 53
The next morning, Sylvia Sullivan received a call scheduling an interview at the downtown News Center.
“Mr. Blair, your interview team flew in directly from Arlington, but we’ll need you to wait just a moment. There’s another guest ahead of you who’s go their way.” A staff member spotted Byron Blair in the lobby and hurried over to explain.
Byron wasn’t alone; seven or eight executives from the Blair Group flanked him, ready to discuss the company’s growth for the media.
Byron stood tall, his bespoke black suit accentuating his imposing presence. His sharp features were set, and his deep–set eyes held an icy glint. “Make me wait?”
The staffer swallowed hard. “I apologize, Mr. Blair. It was our oversight. We didn’t realize there was someone scheduled just before you.”
Behind Byron, the executives bristled. Even a team from Arlington shouldn’t keep Mr. Blair waiting!
“We’re leaving.” Byron gave them no quarter. With a curt word, he turned and strode towards the main entrance, his executives trailing behind him.
The staffer panicked, scrambling after them. “Mr. Blair, please, wait! I’ll call the other party right now and ask them to hold off so we can interview you first.”
Without waiting for an answer, the staffer dialed. “Ms. Sullivan, where are you now? If you can’t make it to the News Center right away, perhaps we could reschedule your interview for a little later?”
Sylvia’s voice came through the phone. “I’m about ten minutes out.”
Just as the staffer was about to suggest swapping the interview slots, Byron glanced back at him and gestured dismissively to end the call.
The staffer hung up. “Mr. Blair, your instructions?”
Byron asked pointedly, “Your interviewee is Sylvia Sullivan?”
“Yes, Ms. Sullivan is a doctor. We were scheduled to interview her, but since you’re already here, we can certainly interview you first.” The staffer replied.
‘So it was Sylvia!‘ Byron hadn’t expected that. He couldn’t believe she had enough clout to bring an interview team down from Arlington.
He gave an internal, cold smirk. ‘Even if she does, this is still Silverton! All it would take was one word from him, and her interview would be history.”
The thought of her with Zander Gage yesterday fueled his irritation. ‘Serves her right! This is what she gets for crossing me! She won’t be able to make it in Silverton after offending me!‘
Despite his thoughts, Byron told the staffer nonchalantly, “No need. I’m not interested in squabbling over who goes first. Just interview her.”
The staffer hesitated. “Mr. Blair, our interview with Ms. Sullivan isn’t exactly high–priority. Your time is much more valuable. We can easily adjust the schedule for you.”
Byron suddenly seemed annoyed, his eyes narrowing. “Oh? So my time is valuable, but hers isn’t?” The question stunned the staffer and, frankly, surprised Byron himself. He was trying to help the mogul, yet he was getting snapped at?
Byron tugged irritably at his tie, finding a justification for his own behavior. ‘It’s not like I’m sticking up for her,‘ he thought ‘I just don’t want her causing a scene. She’s not the obedient woman she used to be. She’s prickly now, difficult.’
Behind him, the executives exchanged bewildered glances. ‘Who was this Sylvia? Why was the Tyrant being so lenient, even defending her? What was their relationship? Wasn’t he known for being domineering? Had he completely changed?
Just then, Sylvia Sullivan walked through the main entrance, her eyes immediately locking with Byron’s. Her posture tensed, and her tone was wary. “What are you doing here? Can you stop shadowing me like some kind of creep?”
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Chapter 53
Lately, Byron had been making her life difficult at every turn, trying to force her to give up custody of Zack, even blocking manufacture is forher pre Seeing him yesterday at the film set and now here? He had to be up to no good.
The Blair Group executives stared. “So that was Sylvia? How could she be so rude? Didn’t she know who she was talking to? The Tyrant of Silverton
They glanced at Byron, remembering how he’d nearly tossed another disrespectful woman into the ocean. This one’s fate probably wouldn’t be much
better.
‘Creep?‘ A muscle twitched in Byron’s jaw. Was she talking about him? ‘The nerve of this woman! Ungrateful! After he’d actually let her keep her interien slot! Without his say–so, her interview would have been postponed indefinitely. She deserved to be dumped in the ocean!‘
“Ms. Sullivan, please proceed with your interview. Don’t waste my time.” A sharp glint flashed in Byron’s eyes, but his tone was surprisingly level. If it weren’t for Zack,‘ he told himself grimly, ‘I really would have her thrown in the ocean!‘
The executives were floored. The Tyrant, being polite?
Sylvia finally understood Byron was also there for an interview. She relaxed slightly. “Just wait. What’s the rush?” With that, she followed the staffer into
the news studio.
Byron watched her retreating back, his expression darkening once more. ‘Damn woman, always pushing his buttons!‘ The justification about Zack did little to quell his rising irritation.
Inside the studio, Sylvia’s interview went smoothly. The host, sent specially from Arlington at Felix Farren’s request, treated her with utmost respect.
Felix, a former high–ranking military figure and Zander Gage’s grandfather, owed Sylvia his life after she’d saved him from a sudden illness not long ago. He remained deeply grateful.
The interview lasted half an hour. Sylvia answered questions fluently, discussing everything from clinical treatments to the latest medical research, particularly focusing on the potential of traditional medicine.
Suddenly, a deafening crash echoed from outside.
Sylvia’s heart leaped. She instinctively ran to the window. Below, chaos erupted around a severe bus accident.
Forgetting entirely about the interview, her only thought was to help. She bolted out of the studio.
Rounding a corner in the hallway, she ran right into Byron.
He’d grown impatient waiting and sounded annoyed. “Are you done? Where are you off to now?”
“None of your business!” Sylvia shot back and kept running.
Byron’s face turned thunderous. ‘That rude, impulsive woman! This is exactly why she shouldn’t have been interviewed!‘ Yet, seeing her desperate urgency, a flicker of unease stirred deep inside him, and he strode quickly after her.
Downstairs, his eyes narrowed at the scene. A tour bus lay overturned in the middle of the road. The acrid smell of gasoline filled the air; the fuel tank was clearly ruptured, threatening to ignite at any second.
And
