Chapter 193

Isabella's words stunned everyone for a moment, but soon they realized she was targeting Madeline and Odette.

Juliet just pondered for a moment and understood what Isabella meant.

"I got it, Ms. Taylor. I won't bite the dog in the future." Juliet glanced at Odette when she mentioned the word 'dog'.

Odette's face flushed with anger. She turned to Isabella, her voice rising, "Are you calling me a dog? How dare you say that? I'm reporting this to Mr. Larson!"

Isabella sighed, somewhat annoyed. "Keep your voice down, Odette. Why are you shouting so loud? You're practically spraying me with spittle! Did I actually call you a dog? I was just telling my assistant about a stray dog I saw on the way back to the office.  What's that to you? Of course, if you want to think of yourself as a cute little puppy, I have no objection. It's your choice after all."

Isabella's sarcastic words stabbed into Odette's heart like a knife and kept twisting back and forth.

"Enough. Odette, let's go." Madeline quickly pulled Odette away, afraid that if they stayed longer, Odette would attack Isabella, and then Isabella would find a reason to fire Odette.

After Madeline and Odette left, Juliet approached Isabella, smiling, "Ms. Taylor, you are really amazing. I've never felt so good! It was so satisfying watching you get rid of them."

However, Isabella shook her head very seriously. "Let me make it clear, I never meant to insult my colleagues. I was just chatting with them, but obviously my words may have made them uncomfortable. That's their problem, not mine."

Juliet nodded repeatedly. "Yes, it has nothing to do with you."

After Juliet finished speaking, she leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "Ms. Taylor, is Mr. Davis really your husband?" Curiosity shone in her eyes.

Isabella frowned slightly and denied directly, "Joseph is my childhood friend, not my husband. You've all got the wrong idea. There's nothing going on between us."

"Then why did you kiss him?" Juliet looked at Isabella with confusion.

Isabella hesitated for a moment, frowning at Juliet. "Kiss him? When did that even happen? We just talked briefly by the door, and now the whole company's buzzing with this gossip? It's spreading like wildfire!"

"It's not a rumor; we saw it with our own eyes." Juliet shook her head, then showed Isabella the photos they had just taken.

Seeing the photo, Isabella felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. Taken from behind, it did look like she was kissing Joseph, but it was all a trick of the angle-a completely misleading perspective.

"You've got it all wrong," Isabella explained. "He had something in his eye, and I was just helping him get it out. The photo's just a bad angle," she added, suddenly realizing how many similar pictures might exist. She didn't care about them being online, but she wondered what Michael would think.

"Damn it, looks like I have to trouble Mr. Larson." Isabella sighed, patted her forehead, and headed to Dwayne's office.

Dwayne felt a bit helpless when he understood Isabella's request.

"So, you want me to send a message in the company chat group for such a small matter, informing all departments?" Dwayne asked, somewhat exasperated.

"Mr. Larson, this is serious," Isabella said, her voice firm. "That photo's all wrong, and it could easily cause problems with Joseph. I just got through a huge media mess, and I really don't want another one. And if my husband saw it, he'd be upset and hurt."

After hearing Isabella's explanation, Dwayne sighed and nodded. "Alright, I'll tell the whole company to stop spreading the rumor."

"Thank you, Mr. Larson," Isabella said with a smile before leaving Dwayne's office.

Dwayne looked at the photo Isabella had given him, rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and figured it was a small thing-no need to bother Michael.

Dwayne then texted the whole company on the internal chat.

Dwayne: [To clarify recent rumors concerning Isabella and Mr. Davis, I want to state that they are not married. A photograph circulating within the company has been misinterpreted. Ms. Isabella was simply helping Mr. Davis with a bug in his eye. Please refrain from further dissemination of this image or any related speculation.]

Dwayne's announcement reached everyone in the company, effectively shutting down the rumor mill.

Meanwhile, Madeline and Odette also received the message.

"She thinks we'll just drop it because she says so? Who does she think she is? I don't care what she says, I'm posting this!" Odette, fuming and irrational, was about to post the photo on social media when Madeline slapped her hand away.

"Enough! Do you have to lose this job to be happy?" Madeline scolded Odette sternly.

"That bitch cursed me, but I have no proof! I am so mad! I need to vent!" Odette looked at Madeline, her eyes were a bit red.

Madeline sighed as she looked at the aggrieved Odette. "My point is, you don't need to do this. The press is all over Isabella; they've probably already got pictures. Let them be the ones to release it-it'll have the same effect. And for heaven's sake, remember what we're really trying to accomplish!"