The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 265
Callahan had just finished a transnational meeting when his phone screen lit up. Judie’s message was glaringly visible.
[Help! Leilani is being cyberbullied by the Sloan family bunch! Check the trending topics fast!]
His brow furrowed, and he immediately opened the social media app. The top five trending topics were almost entirely occupied by Leilani and Clive’s names. The comment section was a cesspool of foul language, with all sorts of unspeakable abuse covering the screen.
Callahan’s eyes turned cold, and he dialed Leilani immediately.
The call connected, and Leilani’s voice carried a sober calmness. “Hello?”
“Regarding the trending topics, I’ve already had the company’s legal department prepare a
statement.” Callahan’s tone was deep and restrained. “Within half an hour, everyone spreading false rumors will receive a cease and desist letter.”
Leilani hadn’t expected Callahan to call her so quickly. Given the time difference, he should have been resting abroad right now.
The faint sound of breathing came from the other end of the line. Leilani seemed to be thinking. A moment later, she spoke. “Callahan, I understand your good intentions, but I want to handle this matter myself.”
Her voice was calm but carried an unquestionable firmness.
“If we delete posts and suppress the trend now, it will only make me look guilty. The louder the Sloan family sings this opera, the harder the slap will be when the truth comes out.”
Since Leilani didn’t want to send legal letters, he would change tactics. Callahan tapped his finger lightly on the desk.
“Since you don’t want to take legal action, you still can’t just let those people curse you like this. How about I have the official Langley Group account issue a statement to clarify things for you?”
“No.” Leilani’s tone was gentle but resolute. “The credibility of the Langley Group shouldn’t be wasted on such a boring public opinion war. Besides…”
She paused, her voice holding a note of pride. “Those who know will know. My reputation doesn’t need the endorsement of any corporation to be maintained.”
Judie’s quiet mumbling came from the other end of the line. Leilani seemed to turn and say something to her before returning to the phone.
“I have my own plan for this. Trust me, okay?”
Having two proposals rejected in a row, Callahan felt a bit anxious, but he understood Leilani’s personality-proud and self-respecting. She wouldn’t accept his arrangements easily.
Unable to sway her and unwilling to argue, Callahan remained silent for a moment before compromising. “Alright. But when you need something, you must tell me.”
After hanging up, he stared at the vicious comments on the screen, the chill in his eyes deepening.
09:49
Even though Leilani told him not to manage it, seeing these malicious messages… how could he not care? She might not care, but he did.
Callahan turned his head toward his executive assistant. “Contact the CEO at Glitz Entertainment. Have him suppress the current trending topics.”
The CEO of Glitz Entertainment was a close friend of Callahan’s in the domestic entertainment industry. Asking him to kill the heat on Leilani’s current trend was a piece of cake for someone of his stature.
The assistant paused. “Mr. Langley, didn’t Ms. Sloan just say…”
Callahan interrupted coldly. “She said not to let the Langley Group interfere publicly. She didn’t say a third party couldn’t suppress the heat.”
“…Understood.”
After receiving the call from Callahan’s assistant, his friend moved quickly. Twenty minutes later, the rankings of the terms related to Leilani on the trending list began to slide strangely, replaced by inconsequential entertainment news.
09:49
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