Chapter 501 Fakeout A message played clearly from the sound recorder pen after North pressed play. âYou think I, Alex Road, wonât be able to pay you? How much money do you want? Tell me, 20 million? Perhaps 200 million?â There was a moment of silence before the voice continued, âGetting the money? The more famous you are, the more money you rake in. Iâm just that rich. So, how about it?
Wanna do it with me? How about a fifty-fifty split, if you join hands with me?â
Alex was completely gobsmacked after listening to the entire recording. He thought that he had been playing him, but in the end, he was the one being played.
As though he already knew all about it beforehand, Eugene spoke up, uncaring that Alex was still there. âAlthough he isnât some famous person, the content is shocking enough. It should be able to bring in some money. Think of a headline thatâll grab eyeballs.â
North also ignored Alex as he tilted his head and carefully thought it over. âHow about âRoad Enterprisesâ CEOâs Unique Fetishâ?â
But then he frowned. âThat doesnât sound clickbait enough. Why donât we put out âWatch A Business Mogul/Part-Time Paparazzo Earn Road Enterprises For Themselvesâ?â
Eugene nodded. âThat works!â
North grinned. âThen, Iâll post it now.â With that, he ran over to the desk with his short legs and turned on the tablet.
âAlright, give me a heads-up once that post is up. Iâll promote it!â Eugene said.
Alex stared at North before turning to stare at Eugene. They were talking like it didnât involve him, making him angry enough to blow a gasket. âDonât you guys have some humanity in you?â As he said that, he chased after North, only to realize that he hadnât uploaded the recording. Instead, he was playing games on the tablet. He let out a sigh of relief. âYou little jerk!â
He wondered where North inherited this mean streak from. So young, yet already so evil.
Eugene couldnât stop himself from shooting Alex a glare. âYou were willing to even trick a child, and youâre talking about humanity?â
âYeah, you said it yourself. We didnât force you,â North added.
Alex snorted. âI was just kidding. You guys thought I was being serious?â
âNo, but if that recording does actually get uploaded, someoneâs gonna think itâs real.â
âMy foot. Hurry up and delete that recording, or Iâm going to tail you tonight,â he threatened.
North grinned. âSure. Since youâre Uncle Eugeneâs buddy, letâs go with ten million!â
Alex pursed his lips and glanced at Eugene. âYour status as my buddy isnât really worth anything. Still trying to cheat me of ten million because of that?â
âIf it wasnât for us going way back, he wouldâve asked for a hundred million!â Eugene commented with a straight face.
âTalk about daylight robbery.â
North snickered. âYou can also choose not to pony up.â
Alex was rendered speechless. The child was going to upload the recording if he didnât cough up the money, huh? In the end, all he could do was give up. âYouâre Oliviaâs kid, alright. Youâre really shrewd!â
Then, they chatted jovially for a while. At last, Alex directed the conversation to the topic he had in mind. âWhere did you see Jean?â
âIn a hotel room with Olivia,â Eugene replied.
Alexâs brows furrowed. âWhat did you mean when you said she couldnât talk?â
âWhat else could it possibly be?â Eugene looked at him in irritation. âWhat on earth are you thinking?â
Alex lapsed into silence. When he received Eugeneâs photos last night, his first instinct was to look for her and interrogate her.
Why did she leave with another man? Why did she cheat on him? Had he treated her awfully?
He nearly had a falling-out with his own mother because of her. Was that still not enough?
She, on the other hand, had gotten off easily, leaving for seven years at the drop of a hat without caring about how he felt.
As night went on, however, and Alex gradually regained reason, the waves of nostalgia completely overtook him. He kept making excuses for her. He thought that she must have had her own difficulties too. The girl that Alex knew wouldnât have been so cruel.
They had spent so many happy days togetherâhow could they have been faked?