The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Chapter 4

The tension inside Gray Entertainment had reached a boiling point, and it all centered around one unanswered question: Was Serena really leaving the company? Laurent's subtle lie during his fashion show interview had set off a wave of gossip that grew stronger each day. Oddly enough, Serena had remained completely silent, fueling speculation even further.

Everyone within the company whispered behind closed doors, unsure whether the rumor was true. And with each day that Serena didn't make a public statement, it became harder to believe she wasn't planning to leave.

Meanwhile, Laurent reveled in the chaos he had caused. His daily visits to the entertainment offices were no longer a chore, but a chance to parade around, basking in his small victory. Every day, he walked through the halls with a wide grin, greeting everyone in his path.

"Hey, Emily" Laurent called out to one of the receptionists as he strolled in, his smile as wide as ever. "How's your morning going?"

Emily blinked, slightly taken aback by his unusually cheerful demeanor. "Uh... y-you know my name, Mr. Gray?"

"Of course. It shows on your name tag"

Omg.. he's talking to me, she thought, "O-Oh.. well, I-I'm good--"

"Fantastic," he responded, his voice smooth and upbeat. "It's a beautiful day, don't you think?"

He continued down the hall, nodding at the various staff members who were equally surprised by his chipper mood.

"Looking sharp today, Daniel," Laurent said to a producer, patting him on the back as he passed by. "Keep up the great work, buddy."

"T-Thanks, S-Sir Laurent," Daniel replied, though his confused expression lingered long after Laurent had moved on.

Alen, Laurent's manager, was not fooled. He knew exactly why Laurent was behaving this way, why he had been coming in every day with that smug expression on his face. Alen had seen it all before-this was Laurent's way of rubbing salt in the wound, of savoring his victory over Serena. But as much as Laurent tried to hide it behind his false charm, Alen also knew there was something deeper going on beneath the surface.

Later that afternoon, as Laurent relaxed in the office lounge, Alen approached him with a concerned look.

"You've been in a suspiciously good mood lately," Alen began, his tone cautious. "Do you... have any conscience about what you did to Serena?"

Laurent leaned back in his chair, smirking. "What, about that little rumor I dropped? Nah, Alen. It's just part of the game. She'll bounce back. Besides, if she was smart, she'd have made a statement by now. The fact that she's silent means it's probably true."

Alen sighed, shaking his head. "Just remember, Laurent, this kind of thing can backfire. Don't push it too far."

But Laurent shrugged it off. For him, this was all just part of their rivalry. A game of who could come out on top. And right now, he was winning.

A WEEK PASSED

Still, there was no word from Serena. The rumor that she was leaving Gray Entertainment had begun to solidify into fact in the minds of the employees, and even the public was starting to believe it. The whispers grew louder, and Laurent's confidence swelled.

But something else started happening. With each passing day, as Serena remained absent from both the public eye and the office, Laurent's mood began to shift. It was subtle at first-he'd ask Alen casually if he'd heard any news about Serena, if there had been any sightings or announcements.