The reply came back almost instantly.
Got your nails done? They look great.
I'll make it up to you tonight.
Emmy stared at the messages, thinking for a moment before her fingers moved across the screen.
Don't come over for now. I need to stay clear-headed and keep my focus.
She let out a quiet sigh.
Whenever James was around, her thoughts would spiral. Once that happened, it was impossible to see things clearly or handle anything with the logic she needed.
After she sent the message, she saw the little “typing…” bubble at the top of the chat, and it lingered there for ages. Long enough that she half-expected some kind of heartfelt monologue.
But in the end, only one word appeared.
Okay.
Emmy didn’t answer. She set her phone aside and threw herself straight into work.
By now, the storm online had brewed for days. The situation looked so hopeless that anyone watching would think Emmy could never clear her name.
She ignored the noise and focused on her code.
Around noon, her phone lit up with a call from an unknown number.
She picked up. A deep, steady male voice came through.
It was Jared.
Mr. Lincoln, why haven’t you released a statement yet?
His tone gave nothing away. The government’s quarterly support program won’t wait around forever. If you can’t handle this crisis, I’ll have to end our partnership early.
Emmy’s voice stayed calm and steady. Don’t worry, Mr. Nelson. Before the spring planting season is over, I’ll show you the turnaround you want.
The call ended.
To sweet victory, Shelly answered, grinning as she handed over a folder.
Claudia took it, glanced at the contents, and her smile grew wider. This time, Emmy won’t get out of it, no matter how clever she is.
With just a little help from you, Mrs. Nelson, she’s guaranteed a one-way ticket to prison.
Shelly’s whole body relaxed hearing that. All the days of frustration and anger melted away.
She took a slow sip of her wine, eyes shining with satisfaction.
She could already see Emmy being led away in handcuffs, her reputation destroyed, doomed to spend the rest of her life behind bars.
But just then, the giant television in the corner of the room interrupted with breaking news.
Recently, the controversial Torch Machines have officially joined the hit show ‘Let’s Farm Together.’ The team will be livestreaming a multi-camera, round-the-clock review to finally reveal the truth to viewers…
Claudia’s smile froze.
She frowned, grabbed the remote, and switched straight to the livestream.

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