âSeriously, why are you even calling me? Who gave you the green light to pester me with this? Is this another sales pitch? Because Iâm telling you, Iâm not in the market for a car or a house, and I donât have kids, so fuck off!â
After unleashing this tirade, Clara hung up with a huff, leaving Leo staring blankly at his phone.
âWhat the heck?â
He exchanged a puzzled look with his assistant, not expecting Clara to have such a fiery temper.
But they needed to get through to her to confirm some details, so Leo steeled himself and redialed.
This time, though, his own temper was starting to flare up; it had been ages since he had been on the receiving end of such an earful.
âIs this Ms. Clara Dunhill Iâm speaking to? Please, donât hang up. Iâve got some important information to discuss with you.â
âCanât you just spit it out in one go? What do you want? Iâll have you know my time is precious, okay?â
Leo took a deep breath and continued, âOur firm is preparing to file a lawsuit against you for your reckless defamation of our client online, causing severe damage to her reputation. You will receive a court summons at your address within five days. This is your official notice.â
After delivering the message, Leo hung up before Clara could ask any questions, cutting the call short and crisp.
âWhat? Are you making threats now?!â Clara panicked, shooting up from the bed.
But the call was already disconnected, and all she got was the annoying busy signal from her phone.
âWho the hell was that? And why are they suing me? When have I ever bad-mouthed anyone online?â
As soon as she said it, she remembered that, recently, Ivy was the only person she had crossed!
Without a second thought, she knew it had to be her, that woman unwilling to let bygones be bygones.
Clara snorted disdainfully, pacing by the bed. âHa, I was ready to let you off the hook, but now you want to play dirty and get a lawyer involved? A snake, just like her mother. You show no mercy; donât expect any in return. I will make sure you pay.â
She didnât bother reaching out to Leo again.
She had anticipated this moment ever since her rant went live online. Even if Ivy didnât come after her, Balfour would not just stand by and watch his woman get slandered.
Clara no longer cared about any of that. She was jobless, hopeless, with nothing left to lose â what more was there to fear?
All she wanted was to drag that woman down with her before she hit rock bottom herself.
So she dialed a number.
âHey, is everything set on your end? Itâs time to make a move.â
There was hesitation on the other end of the line before the person said, âAre you sure you want to go through with this now? His familyâs had a crisis; heâs bound to have a bunch of bodyguards around.â
Clara clicked her tongue in irritation. âArenât you chummy with that guy? Canât you even manage to lure him away from her for a minute or two? If you canât even do that much, what good are you to me as a partner?â