CHAPTER 447: BACKING THE WRONG HORSE

Riley’s face showed a hint of helplessness. "Mr. Taylor, please don’t talk about Selina like that. After all, she’s Logan’s wife. It’s understandable she’d want to attend the press conference with him."

"Hmph! I can’t stand those pampered little vixens who use their Mrs. Reid status to make a joke out of an official event," Eric said pointedly. "She is jealous of everyone. She knew you were the lead on this, Riley, and she couldn’t stand the idea of you and Mr. Reid alone together. That’s her level of ’maturity’!"

There was a dark gleam in Eric’s eyes. He was doing this on purpose.

He and President Brooks were always at odds. Brooks was the chairman’s trusted man; Eric, as VP, was nothing.

He knew Brooks seemed to have a good opinion of Selina, so Eric wanted to ruin her.

Besides, Riley was supposedly the chairman’s unrequited love. Cozying up to her was like cozying up to the chairman himself. A win-win.

Eric continued righteously, "Say what you will, but Riley here knows how to stay professional. That alone makes her a hundred times better than Selina. If Riley actually had feelings for Mr. Reid, Selina wouldn’t stand a chance!"

Riley let out a helpless sigh, shaking her head without saying anything.

Everyone’s eyes widened. It was like they were watching a drama unfold.

Logan had delayed the press conference for Selina? And Selina insisted on coming just because she was...jealous of Riley?

Because Selina lacked the skills, she was insecure about such an outstanding woman standing next to her husband. She had to make a show of it in front of everyone, staking her claim.

Because of her jealousy, because she was afraid Riley would steal her husband, Selina had inconvenienced everyone!

A woman who only knew how to be jealous, who couldn’t help Logan in business and only caused him trouble... People shook their heads.

Too bad Riley returned to the country too late. Otherwise Mrs. Reid’s title would have rightfully been hers, not stolen by someone so shameless!

Riley couldn’t help curling her lips in satisfaction.

Now public opinion was fully on her side. Even if Selina showed up, she couldn’t change it.

Once the murmurs died down, Riley made a show of calming everyone. "Alright, don’t say that. Aside from this, Selina is actually a good person. Let’s focus on today’s press conference. No need to waste time on someone unimportant."

She was loving the attention. She couldn’t help thinking that the whole "chairman’s unrequited love" label was proving very useful. The chairman hadn’t denied it publicly, so he must really have feelings for her—

She smiled confidently and lifted the microphone. "Let me introduce myself. I’m the appointed lead for this merger, handpicked by the chairman of SL—"

Selina had just stepped into the banquet hall when she heard those words.

...

Riley continued confidently, "I will lead everyone through this merger successfully, and—"

"Mr. Reid?!"

Someone suddenly shouted, and everyone instinctively turned to look. It really was Logan.

People also noticed Selina at his side, and someone added meaningfully, "Mr. Reid, while you were gone, Riley here held things together for you. She did it all for you."

"Yeah, Mr. Reid, you came back just in time. Riley and VP Taylor were in the middle of explaining everything."

Riley accepted the praise with demure humility. "It was nothing. Logan, you can take over the rest of the conference now."

Logan’s eyes darkened.

Selina tugged his sleeve and gave him a wink.

He paused for a moment, then walked up to the stage with her.

Riley’s smile wavered, but she forced it back onto her face.

"Logan... why is Selina coming up on stage with you? Today’s event is the Reid Group and SL press conference. Isn’t it a little inappropriate for Selina to be here?"

She didn’t even give Selina a chance to respond before stepping into the moral high ground.

"Selina, honestly—you shouldn’t be like this. I know you can’t bear to be apart from Logan, but this is his work. Can’t you just watch from the audience for a bit?"

A few people in the crowd frowned.

This Selina was too much—a clingy little trophy wife with no real ability, just here to hang onto her man and spoil the view.

Logan’s expression didn’t change. He said calmly, "Selina is important. She’s not going anywhere."

Jack stepped forward and handed Selina a microphone.

Riley felt like she might explode, but kept her voice calm and gracious.

"Logan, I know Selina is important to you, but—"

"The reason she can’t leave," Logan cut her off with a sidelong glance, "is because she’s the lead for this merger."

The reporters froze.

What did Mr. Reid just say? Selina was the lead? But wasn’t that supposed to be Riley?!

"Logan..." Riley looked like she’d been struck, wide-eyed and trembling, her eyes filling with tears.

"I’m not trying to target Selina—I just want you to focus on work. This merger is the result of so many people’s efforts. It’s not something to make light of..."

She choked, voice raw with apparent hurt.

"I’m the one who was chosen. The SL chairman specifically asked for me. I don’t know why you’d just hand it over to Selina, but I have to think of everyone at SL. I can’t let her just... mess this up."

Riley’s eyes were red, her expression strong despite the tears. She looked so pitiful it made people want to comfort her.

"Mr. Reid, I’ve always respected you, but I didn’t think even you would let yourself get distracted by... beauty. Making Selina the lead is a joke!"

"There’s no way SL would agree to that! Selina, if you have any shame at all, give the role back to Miss Nelson!"

Eric stepped forward right on cue.

"I’m speaking on behalf of SL Group," he declared. "Our lead can only be someone of proven character and skill—like Miss Nelson. Not some wife who relies on her husband for everything!"

That last line earned an instant round of applause from the audience. Riley couldn’t stop the small, satisfied curve of her lips.

She didn’t believe for a second Selina could take being humiliated like this without losing it.

Selina just smiled softly and turned to Eric, voice mild but cutting.

"You’re speaking for SL Group? And who exactly are you?"

Eric lifted his chin proudly, voice full of smug authority and condescension.

"Selina, you don’t even know me and you think you can lead this merger? Isn’t that just delusional?"

Riley sighed as if in pity.

"Selina, this is Taylor, the Vice President at SL. If you don’t even know him, how can you handle anything for SL? Don’t fight me for this role just out of jealousy. Don’t be so unreasonable..."

Selina ignored her and interrupted with a lazy smile.

"Miss Nelson, you said you were chosen by the SL chairman himself to be the lead?"

Riley’s cheeks flushed slightly.

"Yes. He and I..."

Selina’s tone turned cool, cutting her off before she could finish.

"Miss Nelson, you sound very confident. Does the SL chairman actually know about that?"

...

Does the SL chairman know?

What kind of question was that?

Wasn’t Riley supposed to be the chairman’s so-called white moonlight? How could he not know?