Chapter 87

Hailey entered her room and went to her nightstand, searching for her phone. It wasn't there, so she checked the bed, moving aside the pillows. She eventually found it wrapped in her duvet. She reached for it, unlocked it, and saw numerous missed calls and several text messages. Cole had called 18 times and texted 7 times; Tyler had also called and texted.

Hailey decided to call Luis, the head manager, first. She dialed his number and paced the room, waiting for him to answer. "Hi, Luis," she said. "Good morning, Ma'am," he replied.

"Good morning. How's everything going?" Hailey asked, holding the phone to her ear while fiddling with the hem of her nightdress. "The press were here earlier. Security handled them well."

"Sales haven't decreased yet, but we'll monitor closely and report tomorrow. Several partners have inquired about our situation. However, ENROL Incorporation has been trending all day on social media."

"There are no attacks on our products or their quality—only attacks on you, tied to the company. Some people want to 'cancel' the company because you own it."

Hailey sighed deeply. "It's crazy. I built this company from scratch, and now I'm ruining everything."

"Please don't say that, Ma'am. These things happen. Success brings challenges. Some people can't stand your success, so they try to bring you down. The public will always pick a side."

"I guess this is your first time experiencing this. Don't panic. Everyone here knows how hard you work, and your staff will remain loyal."

"The company is thriving so much that Vanessa used lies to defame you, but we have proof. Evidence of your startup is with the company registrar, so she has no case. I hope you sue her for damages."

Hailey massaged her temples. "Yes, I just spoke to Ludacris."

"That's a good move, Ma'am. I met with the PR team. We're working to address the rumors and have contacted all partners to clarify the misunderstanding."

"That's reassuring. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Ma'am. Everything is under control. We have a partnership meeting tomorrow. Will you attend in person or virtually? We can postpone it if needed."

"Let's have it next week."

"No problem, Ma'am. I'll send a memo with the new date." Hailey ended the call. She walked to her vanity, stared at her reflection, and placed her hand on her flat belly, lost in thought.

She wasn't freaked out about possibly being pregnant again; she was scared of the changes. She wasn't sure if she was physically and mentally ready.

A knock came at Hailey's door, snapping her out of her thoughts. She removed her hand from her belly and looked toward the door. "Debbie?"

There was no answer, but the door opened, revealing Cole with a food tray.

After leaving the kids with a promise to return, Cole went to the counter. Debbie had prepared the tray. "Her tastes have been unusual since yesterday, so I'm unsure if she'll like orange juice. Maybe coffee instead?" Cole asked politely.

Debbie shook her head, wanting to avoid a coffee discussion. "She said she craved orange juice, so I made some. Hopefully, she'll enjoy it." "Okay. Thank you."

"Would you like something to eat?"

"No, I have no appetite."

"Worried about what's happening?"

"It's becoming continuous. I fear Hailey will eventually tire of me."

A small smile touched Debbie's lips. "I don't think so."

"I try to tell myself that, but I wouldn't blame her if she did. I'm angry about what's going on. I can only imagine how upset she is."

"Don't feel that way. She needs you now more than ever. Follow your heart, and everything will be fine. I'm rooting for you!" "Thank you," Cole mumbled, taking the tray. It contained pancakes, eggs, bread, bacon, and orange juice.

"Babe," Cole murmured, carefully shutting the door with one hand while holding the tray.

He placed the tray on the nightstand and went to the vanity where Hailey stood. "My love," he said, hugging her and kissing her forehead.

"I'm sorry," Cole said, holding her hand and looking into her eyes.

"For what?" Hailey's voice was hoarse.

"You didn't answer my calls or texts, hug me back, or kiss me after our hug. I was worried sick. I know you're mad at me."

"I didn't have my phone."

Cole looked down at Hailey's hand, where she held her phone.

08:43 Mon, 8 Jul

Chapter 87

Hailey sighed. "I just found it. I had to call the office first, to make sure everything was okay."

"You're mad at me. It's okay to lash out."

Cole expected Hailey to shout, but his heart sank when she burst into tears.

"Sweetheart," Cole cupped her face, wiping away her tears. But the more he wiped, the more tears fell. "Please don't cry, my love. Everything will be okay, I promise." He hugged her, caressing her back until she pulled away. Her eyes were red and her face blotchy.

Cole found a handkerchief, wiped her face, intertwined his fingers with hers, and led her to a chair. He leaned close, kissed her forehead, knelt, and kissed the back of her hand.

"Seeing you like this, knowing it's because of me, makes me so mad at myself. I'm sorry Vanessa pulled this trick. I'm sorry your reputation and your company were damaged. I'll do everything to make amends. I'll give an interview clarifying your innocence and exposing Vanessa."

"I contacted Jessica; she's ensuring Vanessa is punished for defamation."

"I was insanely worried. I'm sorry I made you cry, baby. I'll fix this. Vanessa will be dealt with, I promise." He caressed her cheek. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me, baby."

"This isn't your fault. It's depressing that we're attacked constantly. I'm not mad at you; I'm sad."

"I'm not happy either. I was scared I'd lost you. It's been one sickening episode after another because of a jealous psycho. I promise this will be the last time. I'll protect you and the twins with my life."

"I have a social media account. I'll retrieve the password, respond to Vanessa's allegations, and make a video. The world should know her evil deeds and how she ruins our family moments."