HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 55: The public conference

’’Find a way to suppress all these articles!’’ In a flash of anger, Arabella snapped and hurled the phone at her manager.

That orphaned cousin was better than her, the Arabella Kingston?! There’s no way!

If it wasn’t that her late uncle had stolen the president’s position from her own father, she would have been the true young miss of the Kingston family and possibly the heiress!

Arabella’s manager barely managed to catch the phone.

’’W-Well...’’ She cautiously stared at the fuming Arabella. She hesitated, unsure whether speaking would calm her or make things worse.

’’What is it?! Do you need me to teach you how to do your job?!’’ Arabella snapped again, her voice rising with mockery. Her anger flared further at the sight of her manager still standing in front of her, frozen like a deer in headlights.

’’T-The PR department received some orders from Director Kingston not to take action against the articles.’’ The manager blurted out hurriedly, as though the words might act as shield against her wrath.

’’....What?’’ Arabella froze for a moment, her expression shifting from rage to confusion.

Her father?

Why would he stop the PR department from taking down those articles? They were clearly speaking against her and tarnishing her perfect image, were they not?

’’S-Sean said so, ma’am.’’ Her manager added cautiously.

Sean was a top member of the PR department. As the manager of the Actress Bella, he would never go against the orders of her artist.

’’.....’’ Right now, Arabella was a bit cool-headed to reason behind her father’s actions.

She was a top actress in the company and one of the company’s good assets. With her father as the managing director and her powerful family background, there was no way the company would allow her to suffer unjustly.

Whatever she wanted as an actress, including her works, the company had never gone against her. Even her father was the same.

’’I’m going to see father!’’ Arabella declared sharply, springing to her feet. Without waiting for any response, she stormed out of the room with her manager scrambling after her.

There was one reason she suspected behind her father’s actions.

Her father’s office was one second topmost floor of the company just below the CEO’s. As his daughter, she did not need to wait for his secretary to announce her arrival.

’’Father!’’ Arabella bursted inside her father’s office without knocking.

’’What did you order the PR department not to take action against those articles?’’ She looked at her father behind the office desk, demanding an explanation from him.

’’Can’t you see that my image is being tarnished online?!’’

’’Arabella....’’ Mark Kingston let out a tired sigh as he lowered his phone to his office desk. He had been expecting his daughter’s arrival, and she did not disappoint him.

’’Are you the one behind those articles, father?’’ Arabella asked sharply.

There wasn’t any other explanation apart from that reason. Why else would her father order the PR department not to take any action?

’’....This is for our family, Arabella.’’ Her father tried to explain.

’’By using my reputation and image as an actress?’’ However, Arabella was not having it.

"Father, people are comparing me with that orphan..."

’’Those articles are not affecting your image, Arabella.’’ Her father tried to reason with her. ’’It’s obvious that a president of a top corporation would undoubtedly be better than an actress.’’

’’Father!’’

’’However, in the next five to ten years, no one will say a word when you became a globally recognized actress.’’ Her father continued. ’’Your fans will know and understand who clearly worked harder between you and your cousin.’’

’’...’’ His words calmed Arabella a bit.

’’Your cousin is still wet behind ears. Once the stock prices are affected by those negative articles, she will be at a disadvantage against the board members.’’ Mark was aware that this wasn’t enough to snatch the president position from his niece.

However, this incident would be stain on her. The shareholders and staffs of the Kingston corporation would start questioning her capability as the president.

An eighteen-year-old-child could never compare to an experienced man like him in business.

Although Arabella did not understand the theory behind stock prices and business, her father seemed confident that her cousin would be affected, nevertheless.

If the result of those articles was that, then she wouldn’t mind a little flaw in her perfect image and reputation as an actress.

*Knock*

*Knock*

Both father and daughter turned toward the door. Arabella’s manager peeked in timidly with her phone clutched in her hand.

"Excuse me, sir.’’ She was polite to Mark before looking nervously at Arabella. ’’Miss Bella, you need to see something." Her tone seemed urgent.

Arabella frowned in confusion as her manager held out his phone. She lowered her gaze to the screen and her eyes instantly changed when she read the headlines above the video.

*A Public Conference with the rumored cousin of Actress Bella, The President Kingston.* Below the catchy headline was indeed the beautiful face of her orphaned cousin on the podium.

In a live broadcast.

Arabella became instantly alarmed.

’’Father....’’ She quickly looked at her father, only to find him on his phone as well.

****

’’Good morning everyone, I am Ayana Kingston, President of the Kingston Corporation.’’ Ayana Kingston began, her voice steady and authoritative.

’’Due to circumstances, I am compelled to address certain matters that regrettably concern both the reputation of the Kingston Corporation and my own.’’ Her sharp gaze swept across the crowd of reporters, cameras flashing incessantly as they captured her every move.

’’Need I remind you that my time is valuable, reporters. I will answer only a limited number of questions that I deem appropriate.’’

The moment her words ended, the room erupted into chaos, reporters shouting over one another in a desperate bid to have their questions answered.

’’President Kingston, is it true that you are the rumored cousin of Actress Bella?’’

’’President Kingston, why didn’t you attend the birthday banquet of Actress Bella?"

’’President Kingston, is it true that you are behind the car accident of your parents?’’

’’President Kingston, did you snatch the president position from your younger brother?’’

’’President Kingston, I heard that you picked the son of your uncle as your guardian. Is there a reason behind your actions?’’

’’President Kingston....’’

’’President Kingston....’’

Ayana raised her hand, and the questions died down almost instantly. Her expression remained composed as she addressed the room after lowering her arm.

’’Indeed, my cousin is Arabella Kingston.’’ She started. ’’ As for our relationship as cousins, I see no need to reveal private family matters to unnecessary outsiders. Concerning the birthday banquet, I am known to be a reserved person. The last banquet I attended was five years ago. Arabella and her family are well aware of this.’’

’’The matters of the Kingston corporation are solely for the employees, the board members and myself to be concerned about.’’ She continued. ’’However, to address the unfounded rumors, my younger brother has always been my late father’s heir. He will succeed me when he is of age and capable of handling our family’s business. I trust this clarifies all of your concerns, reporters.

The reporters immediately sensed that the public conference was about end with the last sentence.

’’President Kingston...’’ They were about to start another parade of questions, but Ayana’s voice sounded clear on the microphone.

"As for the defamatory articles about my family and the Kingston Corporation, be prepared to receive legal action.’’ She coldly swept her gaze over the crowd of reporters. " Reporters and the news agencies behind each of you will be hearing from my lawyers soon. Good morning, everyone." With that, Ayana left the podium with her assistant and bodyguards around her.

’’President Kingston!’’

"President Kingston, one more question!"

"President Kingston, what is your comment on...." Despite the end of the short public conference, the reporters did not give up and surged forward with their barrage of questions.