C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 15 - Elementary, My Dear Katherine

Meanwhile, before the phone call...

The V.I.P list printed out on a piece of paper in hand, Katherine glances up at Tamara, who's sitting next to her at a table, in the vintage café that's unintentionally become their usual hangout spot.

Tamara sips on her Latté in a plastic cup whilst leaning close to Katherine to look at the paper. "Do you recognize anyone on this list?"

Katherine's scanned over this list several times already, but takes another look anyhow in case she overlooked something. Most of the names are people she knows from media. There's a producer she recognizes from one of her favorite movies, and then there's a singer or two she listens to occasionally, followed by other names she bets are big time.

She sees Maximillan Hart's name, Selene's boyfriend, and the description below his name says he's (apparently) the head technician of a production crew. She assumes that's how he'd met Selene. Perhaps a runway show and an accidental bump-in backstage.

And then there's James' name. Why hadn't they been notified of so? Or maybe they were and Katherine simply forgot to check her mail thoroughly.

But there's another name that she's highlighted herself when she first printed out the list. That name is at the top of the list, and currently at the top of their suspect list as well.

Hayden Redd, a stage manager, whose production crew so happen to be the one in charge the diplomatic dinner that night. Katherine and Tamara wouldn't have pinned the blame on him just because he's the stage manager and the incident involved, well, the stage... if it weren't for the history he shares with both James and Dmitri.

For one, Hayden Redd is the reason why those two threw hands at a dinner that one time. It began when Hayden overheard Dmitri talking trash about Artino Holdings' funding campaign, saying Reen Real Estate would've execute the plan much better. Hayden then told James of what he heard, and James so happened to be in a bad mood at the time, which led to him popping off.

And that wasn't all that happened between them. Hayden was also the one who went online and painted James as the villain when he first broke up with Selene. It ended with several emails pertaining death threats and articles covering idiotic theories and the such.

Social media is fucking scary.

James had to go under the radar for a while right then, till the fire dies down, and Selene had to make several claims just to lessen the fire as well. James did say he was aware this could happen. What's to expect from dating a supermodel ambassador? Katherine made the conclusion that's probably one of the reasons why James hasn't had romantic connections since.

Well, apparently until Dmitri. She shoves that thought far, far away though, for now.

So obviously, Hayden Reed is the main suspect.

"Okay," Tamara stands up, having finished her iced Latté. "Let's go meet Redd."

"Hm?" Katherine's brows raise. "Like, right now?"

"Yeah," Tamara takes out her phone and her fingers are already starting to type. "His latest gig is not far from here. Good thing he never shuts up online. It's best if we catch him now though. Who knows if tomorrow would even give us the chance to."

Tamara had a point. It's best for them to proceed as soon as possible. Evidence is temporary. If they wait any longer, then the evidence will disappear, and Katherine would never forgive herself.

They're in the streets now, heading to the nearest bus stop to wave for a taxi and drive to their newly decided destination. It's not far from here, they'll have to cross the street and then another. Katherine realizes just how out of shape she is when simply jogging across the crosswalk gets her out of breath, but she takes it as a good thing that Tamara prefers to walk and is encouraging her to do more so.