Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 196: A Lot To Do

Chapter 196: A Lot To Do

When Talia returned to her room, she was welcomed by the puppy and she played with him for a while. She noticed her phone ringing incessantly and picked it up to see a lot of notifications.

As expected, there was a new article published that compared her to some of the notable young females of Esteria and on the top of the list was Olivia Graham, who was expected to be the future queen Consort of Esteria.

The article compared how the other women made greater contributions to charities and humanitarian causes while Talia had only focused on herself these past years. They even stated that she even ignored her grandfather even after she knew he is sick.

Talia didn’t mind this article, since it was like every other article about her the past few days. When she read the comments, even she herself was surprised since some people were expressing annoyance with the paper for only publishing negative news about Talia and some even urged the newspaper to stop writing any articles about Talia.

Talia shrugged it off. Apparently, now the people were saturated with the negative news about Talia and the overwhelming positive news about Olivia.

The one user Talia remembered was ’Princess with a Tiara’ who always writes positive comments about Talia. That user’s comment that used to be the most downvoted in the past, now started to appear in one of the best rated comments.

There were some people who commented that there was something wrong with Olivia that they could feel it;intuitively, but couldn’t pin-point. They thought Olivia might not be as good and kind as she portrays herself as. They thought it was all the PR push done by Olivia herself. They said they didn’t want to know what that Olivia did.

But the users were still reading. And until they get clicks, the newspaper won’t stop publishing these kind of articles. Talia just shrugged these off.

As if that article was not enough, another one popped up blaming her of being a ’Diva’ with atrocious demands making life hard for everyone who works for her.

There were even ’sources’ who previously worked in Feldstein Associates, gave their stories as how they were treated badly by Talia Whiteford - the snob, and were fired by her ruthlessly. Some ’ Inside sources’ even stated that Talia left the firm without even a goodbye, because she messed with the relationship between Joseph Feldstein and his wife.

This article was posted in one of the leading tabloids in A-Country. Talia felt it was similar to the article that Joe said he stopped from getting published in one of the entertainment magazines.

As itself, it won’t do much, but when the Esterian media sees this article, there will be endless reports about her.

Well... Who would have this much animosity towards me?

Talia paced to and fro tapping her phone on her cheek and her lips curled to an eerie smile.

Rachel... Rachel...What should I do with you?

She heard her phone ring and it was Rachel calling and she answered the phone.

"You ruined my plans,Talia. And I put a permanent dent in your reputation along with the other dents already there... The one achievement in your pathetic life is ruined now. How do you feel? I wish you get totalled and become unable to stand back again."

Rachel’s voice was filled with animosity and Talia chuckled slightly. Rachel still in her pj’s was rolling in her king-sized floating bed of her apartment. Her heart was filled with joy that she get to do at least a small damage to Talia - the one who cheated her that she was no one and ruined her life. Because of that Talia, she lost Joe. The long game she was playing with Joe got exposed and now Joe absolutely despises her.

More importantly - Rebecca that country bumpkin won!

How could she let that go?

"Oh, Thanks for the farewell gift Ms.Crawley. Don’t worry, I’ll give a return gift for sure," Talia spoke calmly and ended the call. She didn’t feel much troubled.

The moment she ended the call, Arthur’s call came.

"Want me to do end the Crawley business?" he asked calmly. He knew she would want to deal with it herself, but he asked anyway.

Talia’s lips curled to a gentle smile.

"Her father got involved in this?" Talia asked. She wanted to give back, but she didn’t want to obliterate a business just because of Rachel’s stupidity. Why should innocent people lose their job just because their boss’ daughter is stupid enough to anger someone above her level?

"No... You can handle it?" Arthur still was relaxed. So she wants to handle it. Then it is fine. He knew his Iris won’t be ruthless to destroy a business for this little thing. She always takes tooth for a tooth. Not life for a tooth. It’s better if she handles this.

"My cufflinks... I brought five pairs. Why are there only four?" his voice showed some panic.

"You’re wearing a pair," Talia answered calmly and she could hear a slapping noise from the other end.

"Ah, right!"

Did he hit himself?

"I can handle this small fry Rachel... I’ll come to you for big fries though," she bent and petted Bear who now came and curled beside her legs. His eyes drooped and he looked tired.

Guess he likes to sleep a lot!

"I don’t want to leave..." Arthur’s pitiful voice made Talia pause her actions for a moment.

"I’ll come closer to you soon. I might be leaving for Rosandale tomorrow," she said standing up and walking to the sitting area of her bedroom.

"Hmm... You’ll have to make trips to Esteria in the future... Lot of them" Arthur cleared his throat.

"Mmm," Talia sat with her ankles crossed over each other, on the ottoman.

That handwritten notes were in Arthur’s handwriting and he had written about that guy who was captured and that he confessed something about Cyrus’ death. He expressed his doubts that his room might be bugged by the Royals and so he passed this note discreetly.

Talia didn’t know what to get of all this now. So she decided to keep it in the back of her head and think about it when she has more details known. She wanted to know what happened that day Cyrus was killed by her so badly and what prompted Cyrus to ask her of that cruel thing. But without any details what is the use mulling over it now?

Regarding Arthur’s distrust towards the Rosandale Royals, she could only roll her eyes. Bugged his room? Did he think that through? If they bugged his room, can she really face anyone of them after what happened in that room the previous night?

She didn’t have absolute trust towards the Royal family. But she had a sense that they really loved her. At least they showed themselves to be that way. She could sense no deception although she couldn’t understand the reason behind their love towards her.

But their interest towards that captured guy and Cyrus is a little bit...

Whatever!

"When are you going to vote regarding the nationalisation of Northern Star?" she asked.

"Beginning of spring...?" Arthur wasn’t so sure. But she needs to be voting for other matters soon. He didn’t want to tell her about all that now.

"You aren’t ready yet? Come on! The jet is ready for hours, what are you-" a pretty annoyed voice of Jordan came through and Talia smiled. Jordan’s like a mother.

"Get out!"

Talia Heard Arthur’s shout followed by the door locking and started chuckling, "Bye then."

"You aren’t coming to send me off?" he asked pitifully.

"Should I?" Talia did want to run to his room now.

"I want to hug you and kiss you once more," he said. But he knew it would be impossible for her to come down since there will be more activity around and they didn’t want to get caught by anyone who knows either one of them.

"I do too," Talia played with the bracelet she was wearing. After returning the jewellery she wore last night, her stylist gave her another set of jewellery for today. Talia didn’t wear the necklace Arthur gifted today since she didn’t want it to be out in the public yet.

She wanted to explain it as Arthur’s gift when she wears it. Now is not the time for that.

"I’ll call you when I reach Esteria," Arthur said and Talia could hear him sigh.

"Have a safe journey," Talia spoke softly, " I’ll be expecting your call. Mwah!" she gave a kiss through the phone.

"Hmm," Arthur said softly and she could hear him laugh softly.

There was a long silence after that with both of them in a standoff about who will end the call. Both of their breathing could be heard through the call as everything else was so silent and with heavy heart, they waited for the other to end this call.

"End the call, Iris," he said with a sigh.

"You do it," Talia didn’t want to end the call. After she ends the call, he would leave. It made her heart heavy.

Arthur left the room and he was near the elevator, "I’m at the elevator. The line will cut off. End the call," he said.

"Okay..." Talia said but her finger somehow didn’t press the red button to end the call.

"Iris..."

"Hmm,"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Fred"

"I’ll miss you so much"

"Me too"

"Take the dog for walks yourself. It will be a good exercise," he said and took in a deep breath.

"Okay," Talia was a little touched. He does care for her. She knew it is better to exercise.

"Good. You need some endurance. You get tired in bed pretty soon... Just after once you-"

"Idiot Fred!" Talia ended the call.

He was in the elevator. What is he saying? What if someone heard what he said? Shameless rascal!

Arthur heard her shouting and smiled as he stepped in the elevator. Soon his mile turned to a sad frown. He really wanted to grab her with him. But he can’t. And he has a lot to do.

---

Talia ended the call and she wasn’t actually mad. Fred speaking that way... It would be weird if he spoke only respectfully with her. That’s the kind of relationship they always had. And she loved it.

She wondered what she should do with Rachel and got out of the bedroom and to the living room. That bright eyed assistant of hers was sitting on the couch with his laptop open and typing something.

That brown haired, hazel eyed boy said he was twenty four, but for Talia he passed as a twenty year old. He was the son of a Viscount and wanted to work with a Royal and he was appointed as her assistant.

He was told to be very smart and was good with computers.

It is time to check his skills!

"Raphael Barnett," she called him and only then he realised Talia standing in front of him and immediately stood up and gave a bow.

"Your Highness!"

"The Crawley Hotels... There are complaints that they suppress negative reviews. Check if that’s true. I don’t like dishonesty, " Talia really liked that bright-eyed boy and spoke in a soft voice.

Mr. Ed who was standing by the kitchen, heard what she said and he had a small smirk too.

"Yes, Ma’am" he bowed and Talia could swear she saw a little smirk on his face. It felt weird for Talia and he looked even a bit evil, but Talia shrugged it off.

How could this cute little boy be a devil?

She was dead tired and she wanted to take a nap as she was told she doesn’t have any appointments that day.

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