A Fake Heiress’s Guide to Love and Power novel Chapter 381

Chapter 381

“Of course I’ll remember, but you need to take care of yourself too, you know.” Carla muttered, slightly stung by Vera’s words.

“Don’t worry. Today was just an exception. Have you ever seen me like this any other time?” Vera replied, a faint smile in her voice.

Carla thought about it and realized Vera had a point, so she let it go. She picked up her phone, then paused as if something had suddenly struck her, and set it down again.

“Oh, right! That video came in handy, didn’t it?”

Carla spent her days in the hospital with nothing to do but browse the internet. Vera often talked about her boss, so when Carla saw Alessia’s name online, she immediately called Vera.

Vera had been busy coordinating with suppliers at the time and had just mentioned it in passing. She hadn’t expected Carla to remember the very first video she’d sent, urging her to check at home to see if she’d thrown it

away.

That was what led to this morning’s events.

But Carla had spent the whole day in treatment and physical therapy, so she’d forgotten all about it until she picked up her phone and everything came rushing back.

“Yeah, we used it,” Vera confirmed.

“That’s good, then. Such a sweet girl–she shouldn’t be targeted by those shameless gossips.”

“Don’t worry. Rumors like these can’t touch her.”

Vera chuckled softly. The two women had never met Alessia in person, and yet Carla followed her every move online. “Fan” barely did her fixation justice; nearly everything she read on the internet was about Alessia,

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But Vera understood. It was the old story: you care about the things and people your loved ones care about. Affection by association, perhaps.

“She’s barely out of high school–no wonder kids born with a silver spoon are so different,” Carla mused.

Vera didn’t respond, turning her attention to her dinner instead.

She’d met with Fortune that evening but hadn’t eaten a bite with him. After coming home, she’d gotten caught up organizing files, working straight through until now.

And she had no intention of telling Alessia about dinner with Fortune. It wasn’t that she worried Alessia would misunderstand–Alessia simply wasn’t that kind of person–and besides, Vera had nothing to feel guilty

about.

Fortune had only wanted to lure her over to his company. He needed a reliable right hand, and if he managed to poach her, it would catch both A&P and Alessia off guard.

He was smart–he knew she was well–known in the industry, that plenty of others had tried to recruit her with high salaries, but money alone wouldn’t tempt her. So, he’d dangled a different, more enticing carrot: free treatment for her mother’s leg, from the top specialist in the country. Vera had to admit, Fortune knew people’s weaknesses. He’d clearly done his homework to know exactly what to offer.

He assumed she’d compromise for her mother’s sake–or for money. What he didn’t realize was that Alessia wasn’t just her boss anymore. Their relationship had long since gone beyond something that could be measured by a paycheck.

When Vera finished her takeout, she saw that Carla had already fallen asleep. She tossed the empty containers, washed her hands, and gently tucked the blanket around Carla’s shoulders before settling back at her computer to finish her work.

The spreadsheets that had once felt so daunting now seemed almost

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effortless.

“You’re working way too slowly. If you just select everything first and then check the box here, it’ll be done in seconds,” came a young, slightly impatient voice from behind her.

“Okay,” Vera replied, startled by little Alessia Tate’s sudden appearance, but she immediately followed her instructions. Sure enough, what had taken her ages was now finished in less than ten seconds.

She let out a relieved sigh. Turning around, she realized Alessia was still standing by her side, and jumped in surprise.

Alessia shot her a look, unfazed, her brow furrowed in concentration.