Chapter Forty Seven

He couldn't do anything.

No matter how hard he tried to concentrate on his work or steer his mind off the posts on WeTalk, he just couldn't.

Impatient, he pulled his tablet open once more and logged into his WeTalk once again to see what the talk was about this time; it was worse.

‘Why hasn't he said anything? Did he really lie about his ex-fiancée cheating on him?”

‘See? That's exactly what I was trying to tell everyone! The S family are masters of avoidance! They will not address an issue unless it threatens their products!’

‘ Then we will start a massive boycott of their products then! Let's see how quickly they respond once their stocks stank!’

Runes clenched his fists in anger. “What the bloody hell are they talking about?! Who are these bloody peasants?!’ He snapped, running his fingers through his hair.

He's been receiving one phone call after another from reporters demanding that he give everyone his side of the story but he couldn't.

How is he supposed to prove that the man in the video was the man Thea cheated on him with, when she claims that's her husband? If he's going to prove she cheated, he'll have to give them proof but what proof?!

“Fuck!” He snapped, this was getting out of control, way too fast.

The door to his office swings opened. Marcus stepped in, his expression already bearing bad news.

"Well?" Rune demanded, his eyes narrowed into slits. "Did you find her? Did you make contact?"

Marcus sighed, he wasn't sure how Runes was going to handle the news he had.

"Sir, I... I was unable to locate Ms. Thea.

Rune slammed his fist onto his desk, making the pens jump. "Unable?! What do you mean, 'unable'?! She's not some ghost, Marcus! She's Thea Balmero! She has to be living somewhere! She must have neighbours, and friends! How can you be unable to find her?!"

"Sir, I've tried all her usual contacts, her former friends, even a few of her business partners but..” Marcus started. "It seems... she's entirely off the grid sir. Her number is disconnected, and none of her former group of friends have seen her recently..."

Rune scoffed, is Marcus being serious right now?! "Disconnected? What is she? A ghost?! You're telling me no one knows where she lives currently, she has no job and somehow she's not on the streets?! Listen to yourself Marcus!”

Marcus bows his head, knowing this would be tough but he needed Runes to believe he did his absolute best to search for Thea.

“I was hesitant to bring this report sir. I went through our usual contacts to find her but they couldn't find anything sir. I made sure they searched everywhere, more than a dozen times. That's why I waited for a week to give you this report, sir..”

Runes groaned in frustration, where the hell could she possibly be? She was shopping for Posy's wedding dress, wasn't she? Could she have left the city?

No, there's no way she could have left, she's penniless now! But he needs to find her! His reputation was being shredded online. He needed answers. He needed to make this stop.

He snatched his phone from the desk, his fingers flying across the screen.

"Get out." Rune snapped, his eyes still fixed on his phone. Marcus fled the office.

Rune found Posy's contact and hit the dial, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. She answered on the third ring, her voice sounding breathless like she's been running.

"Babe! Is everything alright?" Posy chirped, her usual overly sweet tone grating on his nerves.

She sounded far too cheerful for someone whose future fiancé's name was being dragged through the mud. Didn't she see the posts?

"I need Thea's new number. Now."

Silence.

Posy didn't say a word and with each second that passed, Runes was losing the tiny bit of control he had left on his anger.

"Thea's new number? Why do you need that? What do you want to tell her? I can pass the message across to her…”

"Why?" Rune exploded, his fury finally boiling over. "Because my name is being slandered all over WeTalk, that's why! Everyone's calling me a liar! And it's all because that damn Thea is out there spinning some ridiculous story about her 'husband'!"

He didn't wait for her to respond.

"She's claiming the man in that video was her husband! And now everyone thinks I'm the bad guy for calling her a cheat! I need answers and I need her number!"

Posy's heart dropped into a race, Thea's husband? What is Runes saying? His words don't make sense!

"Her husband? What are you talking about? Who would believe that?”

“Every fucking person in Zean city believes her! Give me her number and I'll deal with it.”

“I don't have it.” Posy cuts in.

"Don't lie to me!" Rune roared, his temper completely unleashed "She's your stepsister! You must have it! Or you know someone who does! Don't play dumb with me!"

He took a deep, shaky breath, struggling for control, but the image of the Wetalk posts flashed in his mind, fueling his anger.

"Just send me Thea's new number." Rune demanded, his voice dangerously low. "Send me that number or you'll bear the consequence of this mess because you claimed she cheated! You showed us proof! If things turn out not to be the case, I will ruin you and your family, got that?"

Posy swallowed, she knew he meant every word and she had to keep the lie going or she's going to miss the chance to be a Sterling!

"Okay! Okay!" Posy said quickly, her voice shaky with fear. "I'll... I'll see what I can do. I promise to send it to you as soon as I get it. I'll ask around."

"You have five minutes." Rune snapped, before slamming the phone down without waiting for her reply.

He stared at the device, still fuming, still replaying the accusations on Wetalk. There better be a reason for this mess or someone is going to pay dearly for this mess!