"Director Lancaster, this is the proposal for the new ad campaign. Please take a look, Director Lancaster!"
"Ah?" Summer Lancaster snapped back to reality and took the proposal. 'Honestly. I'm not a child anymore. Why am I letting my mind wander over these things?' She knew Kenneth Yates was humiliating her. He blamed her for driving Thea Shaw away, he blamed her for usurping the title of Mrs. Yates, and he hated her. Summer knew that the one Kenneth truly loved had always been Thea; the string of women at his side were just tools to humiliate her.
The people at the Yates Group didn't know she was Mrs. Yates, and she wasn't foolish enough to publicize it. As she was reviewing the proposal, the gossiping voices of nearby employees reached her ears.
"Is President Yates blind? Audrey's reputation is terrible. Who knows how many producers and directors she's slept with to get famous? She's such a tramp, and President Yates still wants her."
"Yeah, yeah! The other day, I saw her arm-in-arm with a producer. The guy was fat and greasy…" Hearing this, Summer Lancaster immediately scolded them.
"Does the Yates Group pay you to gossip during work hours?" Summer Lancaster adopted the authoritative tone expected of a director. The employees stammered apologies and scurried away.
In the afternoon, Audrey returned. Summer Lancaster noticed a purple mark on her neck. They were all adults; one glance was enough to know it was a hickey. Summer's heart clenched, but she didn't let it show on her face.
"Makeup artist, come cover up the mark on Audrey's neck. We're about to start filming the commercial. Julian, double-check with the camera crew. Bell, check the light reflectors." She directed, the set a whirlwind of activity. Audrey blocked her path.
"Audrey, is there something you need? I'm very busy right now," she said hurriedly.
"Are you jealous? Kenneth Yates spent the entire lunch break with me. You know what happens when a man and a woman are alone… sparks fly." She raised an eyebrow as if showing off, then added in a voice only the two of them could hear,
"If you know what's good for you, leave Kenneth. He doesn't like you. The title of Mrs. Yates will be mine sooner or later."
"Miss Audrey, first of all, you are the spokesperson for this jewelry line, and we are about to film the ad. Don't give anyone a reason to accuse you of being unprofessional. Secondly, my family matters are none of your business." With that, Summer Lancaster went back to her work. Audrey glanced back with a cold smile. 'Hmph, Summer Lancaster, I'll make you suffer a thousand, a million times over. I'll snatch Kenneth Yates away, and then you'll be a pariah that everyone despises. Let's see how proud you can be then.' Summer paid her words no mind. She had promised Kenneth Yates's grandmother that she would help him grow the company. This was not the time for her to be petty; the commercial was more important.
Summer Lancaster wasn't on set during the shoot. She wasn't a photographer and knew nothing about cinematography, so her presence wouldn't have been of any use. Enjoying a rare moment of peace, she sat in her chair, sipping coffee. 'What's so bad about instant coffee anyway? Coffee made from ground beans is a hassle, and it's more bitter.' She felt a little sorry for Audrey. She was just a pawn to Kenneth Yates, to be discarded once he was done with her. When that time came, he would probably even have Audrey blacklisted.
The phone rang.
"Director Lancaster, President Yates wants you to come to his office."
"Okay, I understand," Summer Lancaster responded woodenly. 'What could Kenneth Yates want with her?'
KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in." It was Kenneth Yates's deep voice.
"President Yates, you wanted to see me?" Summer Lancaster asked, clasping her hands in front of her.
"I'm the president. Do I need a reason to summon one of my own employees?" Kenneth Yates glanced at her and then said leisurely.
"Of course not. You're the president," she said coldly. Kenneth Yates hadn't expected her to be so cold. He stood up and strode toward her on his long legs, exuding the air of an emperor.
He advanced on her step by step, forcing Summer Lancaster to back away.