Chapter 16

Carly stood alone, happy, not angry. Melody approached, stomping her foot. "Carly, Celine is shameless! How dare she write a love letter to Nathan?"

Celine hadn't written the letter; Carly had instructed Benjamin to do so. She hadn't told Melody, intending to kill two birds with one stone: Celine and Nathan would become a couple, and Melody would hate Celine even more.

"Melody," Carly said, "Celine isn't a good match for Mr. Lynch. Men always want what they can't have. He'll tire of her in a few days."

This was Carly's honest opinion. She awaited Nathan dumping Celine. A pretty face might fool men like Adam and Nathan temporarily, but Celine's rural background and having left school at sixteen would eventually lead to their disdain. Melody, while agreeing, remained unhappy.

Carly comforted her, "Melody, you're like a sister to me. I'll help you get together with Nathan."

"Carly, you're the best," Melody replied, then hugged Carly. Carly smiled half-heartedly.

Benjamin entered. "Since everyone's falling in love, I suppose it's my turn."

Curious, Carly and Melody surrounded him. "Benjamin, who is she?"

Who had captured the heart of Mercity's little tyrant?

Benjamin said mysteriously, "She's Miss Genius C, Adam's junior."

Carly froze. She hated and envied Miss Genius C. "Benjamin, you've met Miss Genius C?"

"It's an online relationship?" They were surprised Benjamin was involved in online relationships. He pulled out his phone. Adam had previously added him to a group chat with Miss Genius C. Benjamin started flirting with her, tagging her and asking, "Hello, do you have a boyfriend?"

He smiled. "Let's see her reply."

Jealous, Carly said bitterly, "Mercity's little tyrant, a son of the Alvarez family, is flirting with her. She must be overjoyed."

Miss Genius C replied.

Benjamin exclaimed, "She replied! She said, 'Get lost!'" Miss Genius C had replied to Benjamin's message with two words: "Get lost!"

Adam returned to the CLO's office. He stood by the four-length windows, Celine the only thing on his mind. She had written a love letter to Nathan. When flirting with Nathan, playfully punching his chest, she'd seemed like a kitten, alive and full of youth. During a video call last night, she’d offered him a partially eaten sandwich. Today, she'd shared it with Nathan. Adam scoffed. Since he wasn't reciprocating, she'd turned to Nathan, using the same methods.

(The final sentence, "This plane's codification four sounded," is incomplete and nonsensical and has been omitted.)