When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie) novel Chapter 226

"Hypnotize? A snap of the fingers, and you cry when told to cry, laugh when told to laugh?"

"Melanie, have you caught whatever bug Clyde's got? Lost your marbles?"

Warren looked at me as though I had two heads, and I just rolled my eyes and pulled out my phone.

"Look, this is Rachel, her outfit and all, pretty much a carbon copy of my old style."

"And the stuff she's buying, it's all right up my alley."

"You think she's trying to mimic you, to convince Clyde she's you?"

Warren pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting between me and the phone screen.

I nodded vigorously.

So, if Clyde's noggin wasn't scrambled, maybe, just maybe, it was some sort of mind trick?

I know it sounds far-fetched, but isn't it said that art imitates life, and sometimes transcends it?

He gave me a look that screamed 'I can't even' before glancing back at the phone.

"Did Rachel study psychology?"

I shook my head.

"Does she know Clyde was gonna get hit by that frisbee?"

I shook my head again.

"Is she a magician's apprentice or something?"

I rolled my eyes at him.

Warren handed back my phone, "Alright, I'll look into it. You just take it easy."

I had more questions, but seeing the pile of files on his desk, I swallowed my words.

Little did I expect that this seemingly juicy piece of gossip would thrust the Patterson Group into the eye of a storm.

Online, Clyde was being lambasted left and right, and past mistakes were being dredged up.

"Mr. Patterson ditched our darling Suzie for some flash-in-the-pan starlet, and look how that turned out!"

"He's the one who took his mistress out on their anniversary, right? I remember his wife was all over the tabloids."

Feeling uneasy, I made my way to the office, where the conference room was packed with executives.

As I entered, all eyes turned to me, especially Clyde’s, which bore a mix of resentment and anger that made me squirm in my seat.

After a while, Merritt tapped on the table to signal the start.

"Now that everyone's here, let's begin," he said.

York Patterson glanced at the man next to him, prompting him to stand.

"Given the current state of our stock, a clarification wouldn't be amiss, would it?" he started.

"Clyde's past escapades were one thing, but now it's affecting the whole company. We need explanations!"

His words opened the floodgates, and the room erupted with demands for accountability.

"Absolutely, we need an explanation."

"Personal affairs shouldn't bleed into company affairs! Mr. Patterson has gone too far."

"When it starts affecting all our interests, it's a different story. We're innocent in this!"