Chapter 313: Framed
Abby sat in her office, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk as her mind raced through a whirlwind of emotions. The shattered phone lay in pieces on the floor, but her rage had cooled just enough to begin thinking clearly. She had always known Nicole was a threat, but now she could see it all clearly: Nicole wanted to take Remo from her, and she was willing to use any means to do so. But Abby wasn’t going to let her win. She couldn’t. Nicole had to be dealt with, and she had to be dealt with permanently.
The sudden ring of her office phone startled her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the caller ID—Remo. Her heart skipped a beat as she reached for the phone, her hands trembling slightly. Forcing herself to breathe, she pressed the answer button.
"Abby?" Remo’s deep voice came through, calm but with an edge of concern. "I saw the news."
Her grip on the phone tightened, but she kept her voice steady. "So, you know?"
There was a pause on the other end before he spoke again. "It’s just tabloids. You know how they are, twisting everything for a headline. You and I know the truth, and that’s all that matters."
Abby’s jaw clenched. The words were meant to soothe her, but they only fanned the flames of her jealousy. Did Remo really think he could brush this off so easily? That a simple explanation could erase the image of him with Nicole?
"I don’t care what the tabloids say, Remo," Abby said, her voice laced with venom. "I care about what you’ve been doing behind my back. With Nicole."
Remo sighed heavily, his patience clearly wearing thin. "There’s nothing going on between me and Nicole. She’s trying to stir up trouble, that’s all. I’ve already cut her off—she’s not going to be a problem anymore."
Abby’s eyes darkened as she stared at her reflection in the glass window. "Oh, Remo," she whispered, her voice sweet and icy. "I believe you. I do. But I think it’s time Nicole learned a lesson about staying in her place."