<b>Chapter </b><b>201 </b>
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<b>Chapter </b><b>201 </b>
<b>While </b><b>Xylic </b>Studio <b>was </b>going full throttle with the Garcia Group’s uniform customization<b>, </b><b>a </b>bombshell hit <b>the </b><b>headlines</b>.
The headline read: [Garcia Group CEO’s Romance with Xylic Studio Owner Leads to <b>Partner </b><b>Exploitation</b><b>]</b>.
The article imed that the Garcia Group had picked Xylic Studio as its partner behind closed doors<b>, </b><b>all </b><b>the </b>while stringing the other studios along.
Besides Bridge Studio, there were dozens more that had been strung along and left empty–handed.
It was a minor issue, but the disgruntled studios stirred up a storm online.
Soon, the scandal made headline news.
Netizens tore into the Garcia Group.
[‘Dating at work? Talk about mixing business and pleasure!‘]
[‘If you already picked your favorite, just say so! Why waste everyone else’s time for nothing?‘<b>] </b>
[‘Seriously, can’t stand people who mix business and pleasure. With a boss like that, the Garcia Group’s gonna crash and burn sooner orter!‘]
[‘Eh, not so sure. Garcia Group is a top–threepany, gossip like this won’t even scratch them.]
[‘Well, hope Xylic Studio tanks then. Heard it’s a brand–new design startup, and Gina rk did a video for them not long ago–made them famous overnight.‘]
[‘Why even bother starting your own studio when you’re dating the CEO? If you wanna be a strong, independent woman, how about standing on your own instead of using your boyfriend’s connections at <b>Garcia </b>Group!‘]
[‘Honestly<b>, </b><b>if </b>I had a boyfriend like that, I’d totally make the most of it too!“]
<b>[</b>‘Fine<b>, </b>climb thatdder, but don’t mess over your business partners while you do it! That’s just shady!‘]
……
<b>Joshua </b>was totally unfazed by a little online hate–news like this wouldn’t make the slightest dent in <b>Garcia </b><b>Group</b><b>, </b>
<b>Most </b><b>of </b><b>Garcia </b>Group’s big clients only came on board because <b>of </b>Joshua himself.
<b>This </b>time<b>, </b><b>they </b><b>reached </b>out to smaller studios purely because big brands wouldn’t bother <b>with </b>something as <b>basic </b><b>as </b><b>employee </b>uniforms.
Some <b>trolls </b>knew that the <b>Garcia </b><b>Group </b><b>was </b>too big to be hurt, so they started <b>steering </b><b>public </b><b>outrage </b><b>right </b>toward <b>Xylia’s </b>studio <b>instead</b>.
<b>7:37 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>
<b>Chapter </b>201
<b>Within </b><b>a </b>single <b>day</b><b>, </b>Xylic Studio lost <b>70</b>% <b>of </b>its orders.
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<b>After </b>factoring in wages and operating <b>costs</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>studio was bleeding money–taking a huge financial hit.
Xylia <b>was </b>feeling pretty down about it all.
Josie <b>was </b>so mad she could hardly sit still.
“They’re saying we got this deal through nepotism? We put our hearts and souls into those designs, and they were vetted by a panel of experts! How is that nepotism?” Josie snapped.
“These idiots talk total garbage every time they open their mouths. I’d love to shut each of them up with a bullet!” Josie ranted.
Good thing gunws are loose in other countries, or Josie might’ve really done it.
Josie was practically breathing fire, her words as sharp as knives.
Sharon and the rest of the team looked pretty crushed too.
Xylia said, “We’ve got to set the record straight, or we can kiss new orders goodbye.”
Saying that, Xylia stood up.
“I’ll go talk to Joshua. If Garcia Groupys out their official procedure, those rumors won’t stand a chance.”
Josie looked worried.
“Garcia Group hasn’t really taken a hit from this whole thing. Do you think they’d actually make their selection process public?” Josie asked.
“They will,” Xylia replied without hesitation. “If not, I’ll just break up with Joshua–then no one can say I only got the deal because I’m dating him!”
Even though it was clearly just Xylia venting, Josie and the others still took it to heart and jumped in to talk her out of it.
“Come on, no need to go that far–keeping business and personal life separate is better anyway,” Josie said.
Xylia smiled, grabbed her bag, and made her way to Garcia Group.
When Xylia arrived at Garcia Group, a few reporters were staking out the front entrance. She didn’t notice them at first, but the moment she walked by, they blocked her path.
“Ms. Sadler<b>, </b>is it true that you and Mr. Garcia are in a rtionship<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“Ms. Sadler, were you aware that Garcia Group was stringing along other studios?”
“Ms. Sadler, when did you start dating the heir of the Garcia Group?”
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7:37 <b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>
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<b>There </b>weren’t many reporters around—just a handful hoping to get some info about her rtionship with Joshua.
After all, the heir of the Garcia Group hadn’t had any romantic rumors floating around for
<b>ages</b>.
Any tidbit about his love life would be headline–worthy.
“I’m not avable for interviews at the moment,” Xylia replied coolly.
The reporters tried to block her path.
Xylia shot them a cold look. “If you keep harassing me, I’ll call the police,” she warned.
The reporters backed off.
It wasn’t until Xylia had stepped inside Garcia Group that some of the reporters let out disdainful snorts.
“Just a nobody running a tiny studio. She only leveled up because shetched onto the heir of the Garcia Group. Now she walks around like she’s some queen bee!” one journalist scoffed.
“What else is new? These days it’s all about clinging to power. People love to ride on someone else’s coattails<b>!</b><b>” </b>another added, voice dripping with sarcasm.
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Xylia had just stepped in when she practically bumped into Joshua, who looked like he was about to head out.
“Xylia? Didn’t expect to see you here,” Joshua said, his stern face immediately softening at the sight of her.
He strode over to her, then shot a quick nce out the door, spotting a few shady figures hovering nearby.
Yep, the same reporters from before.
“Did they hassle you?” Joshua asked, concern flickering in his eyes.
Xylia shook her head. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Joshua gently took her hand and headed outside with her.
“I’ve got a dinnering up. Come with me–we’ll talk on the way,” he suggested.
Xylia didn’t hesitate and slid into the car beside him.
The moment Joshua and Xylia got into the car together, the reporters pounced–cameras clicking like crazy <b>to </b><b>catch </b>the <b>juicy </b>shot.
But before they could even send those hot pics back to their editors, a couple of employees from Garcia Group strode over, catching them red–handed,
“Sorry, but you need to delete those photos, now. If you don’t, we’ll take legal action–your choice,” one of the staff said coldly.
<b>7:37 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b>Sep 19
<b>Chapter </b><b>201 </b>
The <b>reporters </b><b>just </b><b>froze</b>, <b>totally </b><b>caught </b>off guard.
back
Xylia hopped into the <b>backseat </b>of <b>the </b>ck Rolls<b>–</b><b>Royce </b>with Joshua.
“What’s the dinner for?<b>” </b><b>she </b>asked.
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“<b>It’s </b><b>just </b>a simple meeting with one of Garcia Group’s partners. Nothing special—juste along, <b>eat </b>and drink,” Joshua said.
He pulled her hand in, their fingers locking together, his fingertips gently teasing her palm.
“You’re here about all that talk online, right? The stuff about me ‘stringing along‘ those studios<b>?</b>” Joshua asked, his voice gentle.
Xylia nodded, then shared what was on her mind with Joshua.
Joshua smiled at her, amused.
“So I guess we’ve basically made our rtionship official online?” he teased.
Xylia was momentarily speechless.
‘Looks like that’s how it is…‘ Xylia thought to herself.
Noticing those fox–like eyes Joshua was giving her, Xylia shot him a look. “Are you really that happy?”
“Of course!” Joshua pulled her firmly into his arms.
“Honestly, I’d tell the whole world you belong to me!”
Xylia couldn’t help butugh.
She nestled into his arms, breathing in that light, familiar scent he always wore.
“I don’t really care, but now your romantic luck has totally dried up–aren’t you gonna miss your little fan club?” Xylia joked.
“Romantic luck? What luck?” Joshua blinked at her, ying dumb,
“Noelle, <b>Jessica</b>…” Xylia ticked the names off on her fingers.
<b>Joshua </b><b>caught </b>her counting admirers and quickly held her hand. “I swear, I’m not interested in any of those <b>other </b>girls<b>–</b>you’re the only flower <b>I </b><b>care </b>about.”
<b>As </b>he spoke, he leaned in and stole <b>a </b>quick kiss from Xylia’s <b>lips</b>.
<b>Xylia </b>couldn’t help but smile.
<b>Up </b>front, David quietly lowered the divider between the front and <b>back </b><b>seats</b><b>, </b>acting like he <b>hadn’t </b><b>seen </b>anything.
7:37 Fri<b>, </b>Sep 19
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‘Honestly, it doesn’t matter who starts dating–everyone gets cheesy when they’re in love,‘ David couldn’t help thinking to himself.
As they pulled up to the ce, Xylia realized Joshua still hadn’t answered what she’d asked him earlier.
Joshua shot her a reassuring nce.
“Don’t worry, I’ll sort out everything online. Since it’s messing with Garcia Group’s reputation, I’ve gotta handle it myself,” he promised.
With that, Xylia finally felt at ease.