Jilted Ex-wife Billionaire Heiress

Chapter 9 Public Backlash

Netizens liked to think of themselves as smart and didn't appreciate being cheated.

So when they realized that Zenith's original post had made a fool out of them, they lashed out.

Those who'd left abusive comments on Darya's account now directed their wrath at Zenith.

"I thought the Cavanaughs were rich! Why did Felicia have to pawn a ring to get herself out of casino debt?"

"And it was her sister-in-law's wedding ring. That's pretty low, bro."

"Aren't you supposed to keep your wedding ring after divorce? Why is Darya's ring with the Cavanaughs?" "Did anyone forget Darya's first post? She left Micah because he cheated. I don't think she'd want to keep a cheater's ring."

"That broke my heart I used to like Micah Cavanaugh-rich, handsome, successful, and I hear, super smart. But I guess faithful is not one of his virtues." "Once a cheater, always a cheater."

"Aw, I used to like Zenith products. Their Bluetooth headphones are the best. But now I don't think I want to buy products made by a cheater's company anymore."

"Yeah, upvote the previous post! Let's boycott the cheater's company & its products. P.S. my sister's ex-husband cheated on her, so I say-death to all cheaters!"

Though the Cavanaughs held majority shareholding in Zenith, a small portion was released on the stock market for public investors.

That share price had been doing a nosedive ever since Darya's post went viral, and showed no signs of stopping

until it hit the limit down.

At half past midnight, Micah stood in his home office, watching the stock report with a grim face.

On another screen was the sweating face of his PR manager, Sidney Kane.

Since Kane had been roused out of bed just two minutes ago for this midnight video call, he was dressed in a blue-and-white pinstriped pajama top and a pair of grey slacks instead of his usual suit and tie. a

"Who authorized you to publish that post? I didn't sign off on it. Zenith's account is to be used for official announcements only-product launches, marketing campaigns, and so on. Who told you to post about my... my personal affairs?"

Kane bowed his head as he took the tongue-lashing from the president.

"It was, ah, it was Mrs. Cavanaugh's idea."noveldrama

"Darya?" Micah frowned. "She doesn't have access to the corporate account."

"Uh, no, not that Mrs. Cavanaugh. Mrs. Judy Cavanaugh, your mother."

Sidney kept his eyes on the floor and mentally started updating his résumé-he'd probably need to look for a

new job soon.

He would understand if President Cavanaugh decided to fire him for this unauthorized use of the corporate

account.

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Personally, he agreed that it was in bad taste to use an official account for private business, especially to air the boss's dirty laundry in public.

But Judy was the boss's mother.

It was not as if Sidney could say no to her.

He was caught between a rock and a hard place, and Judy hadn't given him the time to call Micah to ask for

permission.

Besides, Judy told him Micah had signed off on the post, which he now knew was a lie.

Micah listened to the PR manager's explanation without a word, though the energetically popping vein in his

forehead spoke volumes about his current mood.

"My mother doesn't work at Zenith." His voice was low, which made it all the more menacing. "You should

have come to me."

Sidney mopped sweat from his face. "I know, I'm sorry, Mr. President. I should've contacted you."

But Judy had waylaid him when he was on his way home and didn't let him go until he'd created and published that post under her orders.

Micah's hands, resting by his sides, were balled into fists.

What was done was done.

The priority right now was damage control.

He fixed his dark eyes on Sidney. "I expect you to clean up this mess. You have twelve hours. If the post is still in the top trending position by then, consider yourself fired."

"Yes, Mr. President. I'll try my best. Thank you for-"

Micah ended the video call, then made another.

Elliott answered his phone after four rings.

The efficient assistant sounded awake and alert even though it was past midnight. "Yes, Boss."

Micah updated him on the situation. "Get in touch with the platform. Ask them to bump the post down."

"Yes, Boss."

"Call me as soon as you have the result."

Elliott called back forty-five minutes later. "Boss, there's a snag. Someone beat us to it. Their request to the platform is to bump up the post, not down. Mrs. Cava-l mean, Darya Miller's post is to remain at the top trending spot for another seventy-two hours."

"Call back. I give you carte blanche to offer them whatever amount they ask for."

"I tried doing just that. But the platform informed me that whatever we are offering, the other party will double

it."

Micah drummed his fingers on the desk. "Who is it?"

"Bradley Gould, CEO of Eminence."

"The showbiz company?"

"Yes, Boss."

Eminence was so much more than just a showbiz company.

It started off as a talent agency and eventually ventured into record production,

event management, concert production, and music publishing.

It was known for producing multiple Oscar and Grammy Award winners.

But Darya was neither an actress nor a singer, as far as Micah knew.

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Chapter Public Backlash

So why would the company help her?

"Did Mi Gould give a reason?" Micah asked

"No," Elliott said. "I tried contacting Mr. Gould. As it's now close to two a m., I left

him a voicemail." "Got it."

Micah ended the call, pushed to his feet, and started pacing in his home office.

Darya and Bradley Gould.

Could they know each other?

But how? And why?

Having dealt with social media platforms before, Micah was well aware of how

much money it cost to manipulate the trending posts-eithet to keep one at the top

or to remove it from the public eye.

Why would Bradley Gould spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for Darya, knowing full well that he'd be going toe to toe against Zenith?

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