Chapter 4: The Scandal

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Well-known business tycoon, Noel Walker's engagement broke off last month which has made him completely disappear from the media. Some say he's not ready to face the questions and some say he didn't want to marry in the first place. A few underground Sources claim that the fiance of Noel Walker, Natalie Davies who also happens to be a brand ambassador for a well know brand "XVS" had a few internal conflicts before they decided to call it off. Some reports say that Natalie Davies was found cheating on Mr Noel Walker with a famous actor "Edward Campbell" giving Mr Walker a heartbreak and he break up with her. Lastly, a few agencies have shared an "abusive" side of their relationship. A few things were not going on right between the couple and they decided to break their engagement. We are yet to discover a lot from their side. Be with us till the end to know the full truth.

"BULLSHIT!"

Noel cussed with jaw clenched as Louis closed the new channel that was di splayed on the screen a few seconds ago.

"Utterly. Purely. Bullshit!" Noel hissed gritting his teeth. Louis saw the vexation that crept on his face. For sure Noel was angry and not only angry but furious with the media channels making anything up to feed the audience which will help their channel ratings go to the top.

"The situation is getting out of control" Aditya sighed as his eyes shifted away from the screen towards Noel who sat beside him with his jaw still clenched and eyes flared in exasperation.

"It's been a whole damn month and they're still not over yet" Elijah spoke in utter disappointment before his eyes shifted to Noel.

"Of course, they will not until they get what they want" Louis shook his head in disbelief.

"These media channels play lies in the name of headlines. They should be f#cking banned" Elijah gritted his teeth.

"So are we just gonna sit here and do nothing? It's getting out of hand and on the other side, Natalie is still unreachable. We don't even know where she is" Aditya exasperated shifting his eyes back to Noel who just sat there holding the glass of scotch in his hand.

Aditya heaved a light sigh before exchanging the glances with other two friends who looked equally concerned as him while looking at Noel's face.

"You're utterly silent, Noel. What's going on in your head?" He asked.

"Do you perhaps got any source about where Natalie is?" Louis asked.

"I didn't yet" Noel replied shortly. The irritation and anger on his face yet didn't decrease. It only looked like he was getting angrier with each passing second.

It's been more than a month since his and Natalie's engagement has been called off. Some of the issues happened so quickly that there was no other option left.

Even If Noel has answered shortly to the media. They're still making a lot of drama out of his name. At this point, so much so that it was getting out of control. And for sure someone was behind it all for their benefit.

Who could it be?

"Whatever has happened is causing too much of an effect on the business market. On top of that, Herbert Addison is demanding your presence because of whatever has happened. He was utterly disappointed with your calling off your engagement" Louis informed.

Noel's eyes flickered before he looked at Louis. Though his eyes looked calm there was an unsettling fire filled in them.

"Herbert Addison was the happiest to see Noel getting into a marriage commitment. Of course, he's disappointed now" Aditya added to Louis' words.

"The gala is estimated to fall between October to November. Addison expects you to make a comeback with a partner" Louis reminded.

Noel let out a grunt of irritation before looking at the sight of the laptop. The article is about the 79th gala that is going to happen in between October and November.

"It's getting real f#cking annoying!" Noel cursed before holding his temple. Hissing in vexation at the sight displayed in front of him.

"Trust me, Noel. The matter is getting harmful with these cunning TV and news articles spreading online about Walker groups. You need to take some action" Louis emphasized.

"I am doing everything but these damn news outlets won't shut their mouth unless I blow out their headquarters and offices" Noel hissed gritting his teeth, his fists tightened in rage that crept into him.

"Walker groups is been getting some serious amount of negative coverage in the media. That's concerning!" Aditya grabbed everyone's attention with his words. Louis looked agreed with him, Elijah looked a bit concerned whereas Noel was utterly and purely filled with rage.

"I swear I'm gonna make Natalie answer everything when I'll find her. She needs to hold accountable for her stupid actions. All of a sudden, she's just disappeared into thin air when the engagement was going to occur in 24 fucking hours!" Noel's fists tightened at the mention of Natalie's name. The sudden change in his facial features was caught up by every other man sitting in the room.

"Do you perhaps have any idea she was involved with someone or something?" Elijah inquired and Noel glared at him.

"She didn't give a single strange signal till the last minute she disappeared. All the time she behaved telling me how much she can't wait till our engagement and all that shit when in her mind, she was planning on escaping the engagement" Noel replied.

"Damn that's fucked up" Elijah sighed shaking his head in disbelief.

"I wonder where she's right now. Does she have any idea about the mess that she has caused and have guilt for leaving without even informing" Aditya said.

"I'm sure we will find a way to deal with all of this," Louis said before giving Noel a reassuring eye nod.

"I wonder how?" Elijah sighed shaking his head. While the other three kept sitting falling into deeper thoughts of finding out an alternative for the problem.

~~~~

"Have you found out something, Mr Victor?" Scarlett settled herself in her chair as Mr Victor sat the opposite of her. Scarlett just finished meeting for a project just a while ago before Mr Victor finally arrived at her office.

Now they sat in her office discussing the case. Cal was still not here. He informed me that his mother's fine for now but she needs good care because of which Cal has to take leaves for a few days until he settles everything down before coming back.

"There are the papers and written statements for the hearing. But the previous owners said he doesn't wanna get involved in this and has refused to help" Victor shook his head in disbelief. Scarlett eyes widen at this statement. The owners and dealers were her last hope and now they have refused to help her.

Where will she go?

The thought of shutting down Adair's event management churned her stomach. She put her heart and soul into it. The company is like her breath. The day it will be taken away, she will die.

"Are there any other options available? We surely have to get to them for their voices. Why aren't they ready to help us?" Scarlett asked out in despair. Mr Victor looked at her anguished.

"They say Kacey Williams is a dangerous man. They don't wanna get involved with him" Scarlett couldn't believe Victor's words. Those dealers and previous property owners refused to help. This wasn't settling well with her.

How can they refuse her request?

Scarlett's fists curled tightly into fists. She had this unsettling fire of despair filled in her heart.

She felt the fire of despair in her heart.

She felt helpless.

How long will this all go on?

Why is that man even doing this?

"Honestly, I think we should sincerely request a meeting with Kacey. This man seems cogent. We need to discuss it straight with him without involving any other party. I think that will be the best idea" Victor recommended.

"Are you sure because I've already tried a couple of times but this man won't budge even give a proper answer" Scarlett gritted her teeth at the mention of all those times she tried contacting Kacey Williams but never received a respectful response from him.

"Scarlett, that's the only way left we can try before the final hearing" Victor sighed.

Scarlett's hands clenched onto the hem of her top wear. She felt anguish.

Isn't there any way left to save my company?

~~~~

"I heard about whatever happened to you. Quite a bad omen"

Noel sat opposite the man focused on his meal as the old man uttered the words that were enough to give him the sense of defeatism he was feeling for a while. His hold tightened on the fork as he stared at the food on his plate.

He didn't want to look at the old man spitting those bitter words. The way his voice sent rancour to Noel's chest was enough.

"I guess" He shortly replied with a dry tone before focusing back on his dinner.

Herbert Addison is a man of bitter words. In his early eighties, he is now sitting back in his mansion having meals and medicines with gardening and planting. Herbert Addison still holds the major authority in Addison Groups though he's no longer the CEO of the company. It's been voted for his grandson, Mike Addison. Twenty-nine, intriguing, and very scrupulous Mike Addison is a conceited man. He never doubts his abilities and never fears challenges.

His partnership with Noel is in the long run. But the recent negative coverage that Walker groups has received because of Noel's broken engagement, is pretty unfortunate. Both Mike and Noel have been in alliance for a very long time now. And Negative media exposure to Walker groups has not only affected it but also Addison's as well.

The man sitting in front of Noel- is a god-father of the industry.

"Any words to say, Walker?" Herbert let out a scornful smile. Noel had nothing to say, he still doesn't have any idea of Natalie's whereabouts. He's been doing everything in his power to shut the media's mouth but one thing is for sure he knows that they're carrying it on behalf of someone's orders. Since Walker Group is one of the top leading companies, this comes with a price.

It's definitely one of the dissenters. Many are jealous. And they love to see Noel break. But what they don't know is that they're very wrong for thinking that way. Noel isn't a man who would give up easily. He always has his ways to deal with the obstacles.

He is very clear about it. Now, he only has to get the name of that man who's behind all of these ridiculous rumours.

"Any idea about where Natalie's been?" Herbert asked again.

"Not yet" Noel replied. Herbert let out a sigh of dissatisfaction.

"I always knew that girl is a wrong choice for you." Noel arched an eyebrow in his direction. His face was plastered with amusement. For sure Noel is amused because of the person whom he's talking about.

Is none other than his granddaughter.

Natalie Davies is the granddaughter of Herbert Addison's blood-related sister, Dahlia Davies. To catch her dreams, Natalie ran away from Davies Empire when she was merely sixteen. Dahlia asked her brother to help in finding Natalie. Luckily Herbert did. He brought her with him where she met her cousin Mike and another guy named Aden Grayson whom she met for the very first time.

Natalie told Herbert how she live a life like a caged bird. Her dream was to be a supermodel that was never gonna be fulfilled if she stayed with Davies and that's why, she left the Davies Empire. Herbert understood her feelings and talked with Dahlia. Though Herbert never matched ideologies with Natalie. She is more of a free spirit whereas he is a reputed personality of the country who has to keep their image clean and great.

But he didn't stop her from pursuing her dreams of being a model.

Though he might be quite right with his words when he said that Natalie is a wrong choice for Noel. She at the moment, only thought about herself and ran away from the engagement hiding far away from the families and Noel. That's what frustrated Noel.

If she never wanted to marry him she could've said a straight "No" but she chose to run away like a coward.

Noel's fists clenched as her thought crossed his mind.

How can she be so selfish?

"Gala is about to take place on the nineteenth of November this year. I expect you got quite a time to deal with this mess" Herbert said.

"Don't worry, I'll deal with it before the gala. I assure you"

Noel responded before his eyes rose to Herbert's level. They held a promise to Herbert that no matter what obstacles he might face, he will get through it. Herbert was impressed with the confidence that Noel's eyes held. The auspiciousness in them relaxed Herbert.

Now that Noel has given his words to Herbert that he will find a way to fix the scandal that the media is causing, Herbert just rests back and waited patiently for Noel to make his comeback.

He was proud of himself for the man that he has made. From Aden Grayson to Noel Walker.

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