With a heavy sigh, Anya reluctantly answered the call.

“Stanley,” she said, her voice taut with frustration.

“Anya, listen to me,” Stanley said, his voice not as gentle as she was used to; instead, ant unusual cold emitted from every word.

“If you leave right now, the image online is over. Your bustling career will be dead before you can close your eyes to rest.”

Anya’s grip on the phone tightened, her jaw clenched in anger.

“You, a small ...