Chapter 77

Soon, a man’s voice came through the line. “It’s me!”

Phoebe was a little taken aback. She hadn’t expected Leon to actually call her. Feigning indifference, she replied, “And who are you?”

Leon was momentarily stunned. “Theebs, you seriously can’t recognize my voice!”

Phoebe’s response was equally layered. “How could I recognize the voice of a stranger? Enher state your name, or I’m hanging up.”

Leon’s face darkened. “It’s me, Leon.”

Phoebe let out a cold laugh. “Leon? I don’t recall having a Leon in my life. You must’ve dialed the wrong number,” she added before immediately ending the call.

Leon listened to the dial tone, his face a picture of disbelief. In the past, whenever he treated Phoebe poorly, she would give him the cold shoulder, but she had never gone so far as to hang up on him outright.

His face darkened further, and he gritted his teeth. Fine, seems you really want to test me! But to coax her back to the company and eventually back home, he dialed her number again, only to find that she had blocked him.

Unable to contain his frustration, Leon smashed his phone. His assistant, who had been standing behind him, froze. That was his phone.

Leon took a deep breath after venting. He opened his office door and pulled over a passing employee to borrow a phone. He dialed Phoebe’s number once again. “Hello?”

Phoebe’s voice came through the receiver. This time, Leon wasted no time with pretense. “It’s me, Leon,” he said bluntly.

Phoebe sat on the couch, watching Brenda continue trying on dresses. “Oh, if it isn’t the star agent from Jenkins Group. What can I do for you?” she replied.

Leon, much like Jamar, both shameless, never missed a chance to stir things up. Whenever Phoebe spoke to them reasonably, they always acted up. But when Phoebe put them in their place, they suddenly knew how to speak politely. She had really given them too much leeway before.

Leon disliked the tone Phoebe addressed him in, yet he also knew that if he said anything to irritate her, she’d hang up again. “Why has she become so temperamental?” he wondered.

Leon got straight to the point. “I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Phoebe replied, “What would we possibly need to discuss! You must be joking.”

Leon swallowed his frustration. “I talked it over with Ollie, and we want to offer you a new contract. I’m talking about the top-tier contract, the same one our number-one female star gets. What do you think?”

He added, “With this kind of offer, I guarantee you won’t find a better deal at any other entertainment company.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Thank you so much for your generosity. But I’m not one for handouts, so save it for someone else.”

Leon couldn’t believe what he was hearing, raising his voice. “You’re refusing?”

Phoebe held the phone away slightly. “I thought I made myself clear. Have you lost your ability to comprehend, dear gold agent?”

“No wonder all these years you haven’t managed to train any famous movie queens and best actors. So here’s a suggestion. Why don’t you get checked out to see if there’s something wrong with you?”

“Or, better yet, take some time to consider if you’re even cut out for the entertainment industry. Stop sabotaging others along with yourself.”

For a moment, Leon was utterly speechless. Leon had barely said a few words before she lashed at him with a barrage of sarcasm. He’d always known Brenda had a sharp tongue, but he hadn’t expected her to be this cutting.

Gritting his teeth, Leon replied, “Thanks for your concern, but I don’t need you worrying about that.”

Phoebe scoffed, sounding annoyed. “One more thing, could you keep it down! You’re practically shouting in my ear.”

She smirked. “For someone who claims to be a gentleman from a prestigious family, that booming voice of yours would be enough to scare off any high-society ladies. No wonder you’re still single.”

Phoebe had been itching to take Leon down a notch for ages. Since he’d offered himself up for ridicule today, she was more than happy to oblige.

Chapter 77

Leon was momentarily taken aback, suddenly wanting nothing more than to wring her neck. Unable to hold back, he said, “Phoebe, don’t push it.”

Phoebe chuckled, then promptly hung up and blocked his number. Brenda turned to ask, “Was someone from the Jenkins family?”

Phoebe nodded. “Leon called to offer me the company’s top-tier contract. He actually thinks dangling this so-called opportunity is enough to lure…”

Brenda rolled her eyes. “Is he out of his mind?” Curious, she asked, “Do you think he’ll call again?”

Brenda’d gotten a kick out of listening to Phoebe cut down that high-and-mighty jerk, Leon. When it came to clapbacks, Phoebe had never once been outmatched. Brenda had picked up her feisty style from Phoebe, so she dared to stand up to Ophelia and the others at home.

Knowing Leon’s personality well, Phoebe replied, “Oh, he’ll definitely call again.” He never gave up until he got what he wanted. The more Phoebe resisted, the more he’ll want her back under his thumb.

Among his brothers, Leon had the strongest need to be in control.

Sure enough, before Phoebe even finished speaking, her phone rang again. This time from a third unfamiliar number. Brenda blinked, asking, “You gonna answer? I’d love to hear you roast him some more.”

Phoebe chuckled. “Answer it.”

Of course. We’re bored. Might as well have a little fun taunting him.

Brna gave her a thumbs-up. “Classic Pheebs?”

If Leon knew how Phoebe was describing him, he’d probably go ballistic. This time, tense but restrained, “Theebs, can’t we just have a civil conversation?”

Phoebe put him on speakerphone. Leon’s voice came through.

Leon was holding back from yelling, desperate not to have her hang up on him again. Phoebe yawned. “First off, we’re not that close, so drop the ‘Pherbs’ already. You’re giving me goosebumps. It’s revolting.”

Leon froze. Is she seriously going to make this so difficult? he wondered.

Grinding his teeth, he said, “Fine, no more ‘Theebs,’ Happy! I’ll send you the contract. Just give it a look. You’re a smart woman, so why turn down the best deal you could get?”

Phoebe scoffed. “Precisely because I’m smart, I won’t associate with idiots like you.”

Leon was barely holding it together. “Are you sure you don’t want this, Phoebe!”

Phoebe’s tone was firm. “Absolutely not, not interested.”

Seeing the soft approach wasn’t working, Leon shifted to a threat. “You do realize this could end your career in the entertainment industry.”

Phoebe snickered. “You all threatened to blacklist me ages ago, yet here I am, not only surviving but thriving. Your threats are as meaningless as hot air, and you’ve got the nerve to try it again?”

“If I were you, I’d go find a hole to hide in. At least spare yourself the embarrassment.”

Leon was so angry he nearly fell backward. “You’ve got some nerve,”

Never in his life had anyone dared to ridicule him like this. Not only was Phoebe’s temper flaring, but her nerve had grown with it.

Phoebe answered with a bright smile, “Thanks for the compliment. I’ve always been this good.” Then, with a hint of disgust, she added, “And why do you talk so much? If you have a point, make it. Otherwise, I’m hanging up.”

Leon quickly interjected, “Wait! Just think it over about the contract. If you’re willing to sign, you know where to reach me.”

Leon held his tongue, fearing Phoebe might hang up on him immediately. Quickly, he tried to appeal to her with a softer approach. “Mom misses you. She wants you to come home for a visit.”

Phoebe shot back, “Mom? Who’s that? I don’t know her.”

Leon hadn’t anticipated that even the mention of their mother would fail to move her. Taking a deep breath, he tried again. “Fine, let me put it another way. Mrs. Jenkins misses you and hopes you’ll come home.”

Phoebe laughed. “I told you before to get your heads checked at the hospital. A lot of you must have faulty memories. Have you forgotten how recently I cut ties with the Jenkins family!”

2:45 PM

Chapter 77

“That’s not my home, and I’d appreciate it if you remembered that next time.” She added with a biting tone, “One more thing. Don’t forget to bring your brain along whenever you go out.”

This time, Leon couldn’t hold back and, in a frustrated outburst, began, “Phoebe, you…”

But before he could finish, he was met with a familiar dial tone. His words were left hanging, frustration mounting to the point of nausea. When he tried calling back, he realized she had blocked him again.

He felt an overwhelming urge to vent, and this time, he didn’t bother with polite diplomacy. He was ready to hurl insults right back at her. Borrowing yet another phone, he dialed again. Phoebe didn’t answer and simply declined the call.

Phoebe knew Leon’s temper. By now, he was probably calling just to chew her out. So she ignored it, leaving him stewing, hoping he’d be mad enough to choke on his rage.

But Leon was nothing if not persistent. Borrowing more phones, he kept calling, a dozen times or more, only for each one to end the same way.

Realizing at last that he was being deliberately played, he returned to his office, fuming and smashing things in frustration.

Yet, instead of dissipating, his anger only built. He regretted the calls. He never should’ve dialed that infuriating girl in the first place. She was downright impossible.

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