In a Pentagon office, Eddie sat in the lounge drinking coffee while Helena went to process her resignation.
For an ordinary person, quitting is fiendishly hard and comes with surveillance; the Presidential Guard's duties are too sensitive—if any intel were sold, it would be catastrophic.
Helena, however, was different. With Eddie's guarantee, her resignation went through quickly and without fear of being watched.
This is capitalism: money buys status, and status buys privilege.
Helena used to loathe that notion; she believed such class divisions would lead to disaster.
After tasting it for herself, she found it… delicious. She'd hated it before only because she couldn't enjoy it; now that she could, it felt great.
In the conference room Eddie smoked, sipped coffee, and crossed his legs, looking insufferably smug.
No one dared ask how he'd escaped Tall Oaks; that awkward question would only invite blame.
Press spokeswoman Kelly walked in. "Dr. Eddie, we need your help as a guest to release a statement proving the Western Federation is not involved in bioweapons research."
Eddie studied the woman: Kelly's expression was haughty, her tone irritating, tinged with a racist superiority that looked down on everyone else.
She was both arrogant and shameless—he wondered who had taught her that.
"Are you married?" Eddie suddenly asked, completely off-topic.
Kelly froze, then replied curtly, "Doctor, we're discussing official business. That question has nothing to do with the issue at hand."
Eddie set down his coffee, his face full of mockery. "Your tone offends me. Think you're above me? What gives you the nerve to flaunt superiority in front of me—just because you're a pretty White Woman?"
Kelly sneered, "It's my position and what I do. You're part of the Federation too; contributing is your duty."
Even now, the beautiful spokeswoman still hadn't wised up; she clung to her stubbornness.
"You can get lost—and shut the door on your way out." Eddie was done talking. A woman this stupid was fit only to be a breeding tool; how could she be a spokesperson? A laughingstock.
"You—!" Kelly wanted to retort, flushed with anger. She, a dignified spokeswoman of status, couldn't stomach being scolded like this.
"My master told you to get lost—so get lost!" Jessica roared, sending Kelly stumbling backward, her heart nearly stopping.
Kelly backed into the glass door before she steadied herself, her heart racing as if it might leap out.
Click—Eddie lit another cigarette, his expression dripping with ridicule.
Fuming, Kelly snapped, "Just you wait!" and stormed out.
"Should I kill her?" Jessica asked calmly, her words ice-cold. No one was allowed to stain or slander her master.
"No need. When the time comes, I'll tell you. Jessica, your killing intent is heavy; when we get back, I'll have to adjust that."
Jessica's pretty face blossomed in a radiant smile. "I'm looking forward to it."
While the two chatted, Kelly found her superior—the Whip of a parliamentary faction.
Francis was busy. He wasn't a good man, but definitely a ruthless one! "Ms. Kelly, you should be discussing the upcoming script with Mr. Eddie, not chatting with me."
Kelly was furious. "Uncle, that Eddie was awful—he looked down on me, said I'm unworthy, ignorant; he discriminated against us!"
Bang! The moment she finished, Francis slammed his fist on the desk, making the coffee cup jump.
"Don't give me that nonsense. I can tell when you're lying. A call just came through—your husband's been reassigned as ambassador to the Middle East. His plane took off minutes ago. Go apologize to Mr. Eddie, then head home, Whip up a lavish dinner with some good wine, and make yourself look presentable," Francis snorted.
Kelly knew exactly what this meant—she'd been marked.
She never imagined that a high-ranking Federation spokesperson like herself could be threatened and reduced to a pawn for a man's amusement.
"Uncle, please, save me!" Kelly had to beg her own uncle. Raised in a senatorial family and spoiled rotten, she'd never faced anything like this.
Kelly couldn't fathom how she'd fallen from a powerful woman at the top to groveling like a nobody. "Is this really the only way, Uncle?"
Francis nodded. "If you don't, just wait for death. Don't drag me down—I don't want to die!"
Kelly knew her uncle was busy and a man of his word. For the family's survival he could be brutally ruthless. If a family member made no mistakes, it was perpetual spring; one error that harmed the clan meant endless winter.
Kelly drew a deep breath. "I know what to do. Don't worry, Uncle, I won't bring trouble on the family."
Francis nodded. "Good. I've told you before—there's no need to act superior. You didn't listen, and now look."
In a daze, Kelly walked into the reception room and saw Eddie swiping through documents on a tablet.
Kelly bowed deeply, her expression pitiful. "I'm sorry, Dr. Eddie. I was wrong. To earn your forgiveness, I'll prepare dinner at home tonight. Please, you must come."
Eddie's smile was playful. "Oh? I have to be there?"
"Please, give me a chance. Please, okay? Please!" Kelly was terrified; only insiders knew how chaotic this circle was—one wrong word could mean death. It was no joke.
Chapter 615: Spokesperson Kelly's Dead End
This is the advantage money brings—this is capitalism. As long as you're willing to spend, you can have anything.
With a face full of humiliation, Kelly left the conference room. She knew her career was over; from now on she would spend her life atoning for her mistake.
A woman who had sailed smoothly through the early stages had finally become a failure, a pitiful creature who lost everything through arrogance.
Soon Helena returned with a document. "Eddie, I've resigned—I'm a free woman now." She waved the paper.
"Congratulations. Now you're free to do whatever you want," Eddie said with a smile.
Helena hugged him. "Thanks. I want to go see Deborah."
Eddie's expression turned odd. "Why do I feel you're more like her mom than her sister?"
Helena beamed. "She's the only family I have left. Of course I want her to have a good life."
A deep bond between sisters—perhaps this is what real sisterhood looks like, not some flimsy fair-weather friendship.
"Wait here—don't leave. I'm off to a meeting. Looks like the Federation needs me now; this is business." Eddie gave a cold laugh; everything he did was a deal, and anything free hid a bigger trap.
Just like online games: the free stuff is the most exploitative—it'll swallow you whole.
Leaving the reception room, he saw spokesperson Kelly already packing a box—she'd been fired.
Eddie stepped over and whispered, "Tonight, wear your evening gown, look stunning, and add heels and black stockings. If I'm not satisfied, you'll never turn your life around."
The words made Kelly tremble with rage, but she was powerless. "I understand. I'll do as you say."
Angry? What good does anger do? Without power to resist, it's just impotent fury.
Eddie wasn't worried in the least; a small fry like Kelly couldn't turn the tide.
Inside the conference room, the family elders had all appeared. These usually reclusive old foxes, every one of them sharp in crisp suits.