Chapter 594: Failed Scheme

Dave's calm invitation stunned the crowd. Some reporters hesitated, thrown off by his confidence. A few moved toward the bathroom to check.

When they came back out, their hands empty, confused murmurs spread through the group.

Reese wasn’t there.

Dave walked up to Bianca and gently held her hand. “Are you feeling better now?”

Bianca gave a small nod, some of her worry starting to fade.

“What’s happening?” she whispered.

“It looks like someone set up a trap,” Dave said under his breath, his eyes darkening as they moved to Brenda standing just behind Bianca.

Brenda’s smile twitched, but she quickly covered it with a calm, graceful look. Inside, though, she was seething.

What was Blake thinking? How could he ruin a plan that was supposed to be flawless?

Meanwhile, the reporters shifted uncomfortably, their earlier energy fading. They looked at each other, unsure of what to do next.

“Mr. Evans, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding…”

“Yes, just a small mistake. A generous man like you wouldn’t take it to heart, right?”

Dave’s face was cold as he stared back at them. “You barge in here like this is some kind of game. Do none of you think about what happens when you offend me?”

He tapped the table with his fingers. The mood in the room instantly changed.

At that moment, the doorway was filled with men standing straight and alert. Dave’s private bodyguards had arrived. They no longer looked ordinary; their presence was sharp and commanding.

“Mr. Evans,” one of them said clearly, “we’ve secured the entire floor.”

They moved in perfect sync and stood quietly, waiting for Dave’s order. The sight made everyone in the room tense. The reporters were stunned.

The room went dead silent. Then Dave spoke in a sharp tone. “You have three minutes to hand over every memory card and negative. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you’re not just sued, you’ll be blacklisted.”

The cold certainty in his words shook even the toughest in the room. Some of the reporters started to tremble; their earlier confidence had totally vanished as if it had never been there.

Brenda watched everything unfold, her mind spinning. Had Dave figured out her and Blake’s plan from the start? How?

And what if the reporters caved under pressure and exposed Blake?

Bianca’s voice suddenly rang out, sharp and clear, grabbing everyone’s attention. “Ms. McGee, please don’t misunderstand our artists. Emerald Artists Agency will fully investigate this and give both you and Universal Pictures a proper explanation.”

Her words hit Brenda like a cold slap. But Bianca clearly hadn’t connected her to any of it. Her secret mask was still intact for now.

Brenda forced a polite smile, hiding the frustration boiling inside her. “Well,” she said with a stiff laugh, “it’s obvious someone’s trying to ruin our partnership. But maybe that just shows how powerful your company really is.”

“Exactly,” Bianca spat. “Cheap tricks like this only prove how strong our name really is.”

The tension in the room shifted when one of the reporters pulled out a memory card and dropped it on the table.

His voice was low and tired. “Here. I’ve left it. Can I go now?”

Dave stood with his arms crossed. He gave a slight nod. “You can leave now. I always keep my word.”

The moment someone made the first move, the rest followed quickly.

Dave didn’t stop them or ask who leaked the info, which only gave the others more courage.

They pulled out memory cards and deleted photos in a panic, trying to hide what they’d done.

“Aren’t you even going to ask who did this?” Bianca asked Dave in a low, angry voice.

Dave stayed calm and quickly answered, “They were just pawns. I’ll find out who’s really behind it. No need to hold it against them.”

His calm presence helped ease the tension in the room.

"Mr. Evans is really sharp. This was just a big misunderstanding," one reporter said, trying to smooth things over.

"Damn it. The guy who gave me that tip is finished," another muttered quietly.

"Yeah, I’m cutting him off the moment I’m back. Not trusting him again," a third added with a scowl.

While the others kept apologizing, one reporter stepped forward nervously and held out his phone. "Mr. Evans, I didn’t know the source personally, but they sent me this photo. It’s what started all of this."

Dave took the phone and looked at the photo. It showed Reese helping him into a room.

Bianca spoke up, knowing things would only get worse if they upset the press. "What’s the issue? Mr. Evans had too much to drink at the business event yesterday, so I asked Reese to help him rest. Is that a problem?"

They still didn’t know who was behind it, but it was obvious someone was trying to ruin Dave and Reese’s names. Bianca wasn’t going to let that happen.

Dave turned to the reporters with a calm smile, wrapping his arm around Bianca. "Since we have so many media friends here, we can’t let you leave without something for your stories," he said. "Bianca and I are getting married soon, and we’d love to have you join us."

The crowd reacted with stunned silence.

Trying to cause drama right before their wedding? That was just dirty.

“We’re really sorry, Mr. Evans. You and Miss Scott look perfect together. Wishing you both a happy life,” the reporters said quickly. Then they offered their congratulations and left. The misunderstanding was over.

Brenda stepped aside, saying she’d be in touch. “I’ll contact you later.”

“Alright, Ms. McGee,” Bianca said as she walked her out.

Outside the hotel, Brenda was furious. She pulled out her phone and called Blake, barely holding back her anger.

Why did luck always seem to be on Bianca and Dave’s side? The plan was supposed to be foolproof, but wasn’t Reese supposed to do her part for Blake? How could they mess up something so simple?

She had even searched the room and found nothing. No sign of Reese. Not a single trace of a woman being there.

“Blake!” she snapped, trying to keep her anger from boiling over.

“How did it go?” Blake asked, sounding excited. “The scene must’ve been wild. Dave and Reese are probably trending already. We’ve finally nailed step one.”

He spoke like they had already won, completely blind to the fact that everything had gone wrong.

"Didn’t you say everything was under control?" Ashley snapped, her voice full of anger. "Why don’t you come here and see for yourself? Reese’s not in Dave’s room. Blake, you’ve really disappointed me."

Blake froze, his face pale. "How could this happen?" he said quietly. "Reese wasn’t there? What about the reporters?"