Never Too Far Novel

Fear enveloped Tori’s face when she saw Katrina sitting in the police station, and she reflexively hugged her arms when she sensed a chill.

How is this possible? How did Katrina get arrested? Didn’t she say it was foolproof?! Wasn’t she confident of not being caught?! It has only been less than three hours since Josephine’s scandal was out, and Katrina has already been arrested! She even sold me out! Thank goodness the cops didn’t mention my full name.

However, the words ‘female news anchor’ and ‘Alford’ made her panic, for she was the only female news anchor whose surname was Alford in the station!

Tori held her chest as uneasiness arose within her. What’s to become of me if Katrina’s been arrested?!

Just then, her phone rang. Seeing it was an unknown number, she took a deep breath and answered it, “Hello, who is this?”

“Is this Tori Alford?” the caller went straight to the point.

“This is her speaking. Who is this on the line?”

“This is the city police department. We need you to come and cooperate with us on a case and give a statement,” said the female voice on the other end of the line.

“Now? But it’s already nine,” Tori said, thinking her social status should give her some leverage.

“The station is available 24/7. Someone will be available to take your statement. I suggest you come now.”

“C-Can I go tomorrow?” Tori tried to bargain.

“We will personally go to you if you don’t come on your own. Your choice! Goodnight, Miss Alford.” With that, the caller hung up.

Tori bit her lip in anger. It seemed that her social status didn’t carry much weight with the police. She quickly thought of someone she knew and made a call for help.

“Thomas, I’m in a bit of trouble. Can you help me out?”

After getting the other person’s agreement to help her, Tori finally walked out with her bag. However, she found her colleagues staring at her as soon as she came out, and there were whispers and finger-pointing wherever she went.

No one normally dared speak ill of her behind her back. But this very day, she became a public target.

“It’s her, isn’t it? She’s the one the statement is referring to.”

“It can only be her! Is there another anchorwoman with the surname Alford in our station?”

“To think she’s an accomplice in Josephine’s scandal! Poor Josephine.”

“Tell me about it. I feel so bad for looking down on Josephine now.”

When Tori entered the elevator, she could even feel her female colleagues’ disdainful gazes on her. A bold one even deliberately asked her fellow female colleague. “Say, who do you think is Katrina’s accomplice? Do we have an Alford anchorwoman in our station?”

“Of course, we do! Do you not know?”

“Sigh! I swear these people have nothing better to do! To think they continue to frame other people when they’re already news anchors!”

“You can say that again. The wicked are still wicked no matter how pretty they look.”

Alas, Tori could only suck it up even when she had been insulted indirectly. Now, she finally realized what Josephine was capable of.

After leaving the station, Tori ultimately drove straight to the police station, and when she arrived, the man she asked for help held Tori’s hand with ill intentions from inside the car. “Don’t worry, okay, Tori? I’ll take care of this. This is nothing! Go give your statement and leave the rest to me.”

Tori endured the disgust of being taken advantage of, for the man in the car was in his sixties, and though he was well-dressed, he exuded an old man’s smell that she couldn’t stand. She would’ve rather died than ask him for help before this. But now, he was her only ticket out of this, even though she knew she would have to pay the price.

“Go on, go and make your statement. We’ll talk when you come out.” It was evident what the man was implying.

However, Tori was genuinely fearful. She worried she would end up in jail because of Katrina. That way, her reputation would be ruined. How could she continue to survive in television in the future?!

Hence, she would inevitably have to ‘serve’ this old man if she wanted to get away with it. Fear surged within her, but she had no other choice. He held the highest governmental position among the people she knew.

“Alright, I’ll go in, then. Please do speak up for me if there’s anything, Mr. Zeigler,” Tori said with a sweet smile.

“Go on!” Thomas Zeigler’s eyes beamed lecherously, surprised that Tori would one day come to him for help.

After Tori entered the police station, she was whisked away to give her statement, and the police asked her questions based on Katrina’s testimony. “Tori Alford, according to Katrina Sullivan, you’re the one who incited her to frame Josephine Jacobson, is that right?”

“Katrina’s framing me! That didn’t happen at all! Josephine and I are good friends. No way will I harm her. Besides, why would I want to do that?!”

“But Sullivan insisted that you incited her into framing Jacobson and even promised to promote her to Jacobson’s position after this.”

“What a joke! Her brother-in-law is the station’s major shareholder. She just needs to beg her brother-in-law if she wants a promotion. Who am I to promote her?! I swear I’m innocent, officer. I have nothing to do with this at all. Do you have proof of my involvement?” Tori cleared herself of any involvement in the incident.

Indeed, Katrina was the only culprit based on the evidence they found. She superimposed the photos and uploaded them online herself.

“Tori Alford, we reserve the right to prosecute you for this matter. You can go home for now. If necessary, we will ask you to come back.”

Tori was instantly relieved. Katrina’s verbal statement wouldn’t do her any damage. However, she wasn’t sure if Katrina had other forms of evidence.

At that, she looked through her chat history with Katrina, and much to her dismay, they had discussed the matter over text, and she was the one who asked Katrina about the photos.

‘How did it go?’

‘They’ve been superimposed and ready to be uploaded any time. Just sit back and enjoy the show, Tori!’

Tori covered her mouth in fear at once, and she deleted the messages in a panic. However, she still felt disturbed, for she would be doomed if Katrina showed the police the messages.

Later, Tori gulped when she saw Thomas still waiting for her after exiting the police station. Ultimately, she took a deep breath and approached his car.

Meanwhile, Josephine returned home at about 10.00PM, and at this point, the news had turned around as the licentious photos had all been taken down. When she checked the comments again, everyone sympathized and apologized to her. Now, it was Katrina who was receiving public condemnation.

If her hunch was right, Tori was the instigator. Hence, Josephine wouldn’t stop at only having Katrina bear the brunt. She wanted to see Tori punished for her actions and apologize to her.

The woman couldn’t be left out of this.

She had switched her phone off, for she had been bombarded with calls, and a dozen or so of them belonged to Atticus, presumably because his wife wanted him to ask her to settle do a private settlement.

No way! Josephine would pursue the matter to the end. She would have everyone involved suffer the consequences they deserved.

At the same time, the Sullivans had been thrown into chaos, with Ivanka bawling and repenting to her parents, who were also all over the place, worried that this would be the end of their younger daughter.

“Mom, Dad, I promise you I’ll sort this out. I’ll have Atticus save Kat!” Ivanka swore to her parents.

Later, Ivanka threw the responsibility onto Atticus, who had no choice but to drive to Josephine’s home.

It was already 10.00PM, so Heidi couldn’t help but be bewildered to find her daughter’s boss at their doorstep. “What brings you here at this hour, Mr. Kowalski?”

“Is Josephine home, Mrs. Jacobson? I’d like to have a word with her, please.”

“She’s upstairs. Let me get her for you.”

Meanwhile, Josephine got dressed and went down when she heard noises. “I know why you’re here, Mr. Kowalski,” Josephine said, gazing at Atticus in the garden. “But there’s no room for negotiation. Please leave.”

“Josephine, I know that Katrina has gone overboard this time, but as long as you withdraw the charges against her, I assure you that I’ll fire her, and she’ll disappear from your life. Also, I’ll compensate you appropriately and ask her to apologize to you,” Atticus promised.

Unfortunately, Josephine could feel her blood boiling in her veins this time as she sneered, “Mr. Kowalski, this matter has breached my bottom line and you can forget that I’ll ever settle this matter peacefully. If you have any opinions against me, then I’ll submit my resignation first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll leave the company!”

“No, Josephine. That’s not what I mean. I’m not asking you to leave. I just want to know if we can settle this matter in private. After all, we’re colleagues and I would like you to make an exception for my sake.”

“No, I will not. Not only Katrina but Tori is involved in this as well. Please ensure that Tori is also well taken care of. If she remains in the company, I’ll resign as well. I do not want to see these two as long as I continue working here,” Josephine threatened.

Atticus gulped. It didn’t matter who resigned, but that person should never be Josephine! Otherwise, Ethan would be the one asking for him to tender his resignation. “Is there really no other solution, Josephine?”

“No. There’s no other way aside from tossing her into prison. Also, my grandfather is still hale and hearty, so I won’t be allowing anyone to pull any connections to get her out of serving time,” she warned coldly.

Finally, Atticus understood her intentions and could only let Katrina pay the price for her actions. “Okay, the company will take action against Tori as well. Don’t worry and please come back to work.”

At midnight, Tori sobbed while cleaning herself in the hotel bathtub, retching from time to time. Even if she didn’t end up in jail, the Heavens had bestowed upon her a different punishment because of what she did with Katrina.

After Ethan left the hotel, he went to the TV station. As the biggest shareholder of the station, he had a spacious and bright office that he didn’t usually use for work. Instead, he was here for fun. Right after he arrived, he checked the list of phone number extensions next to the phone. He narrowed his eyes as he carefully scanned the list until he found Josephine’s extension number and dialed it with his slender fingers.

a meeting when the phone on her desk started ringing, and she instinctively picked

my office upstairs,” a

beautiful eyes widened

floor,”

here to

the company was the last thing she

he repeated once

she pressed the button for the eighteenth floor and went all the way up. The eighteenth floor was reserved for higher management, and she didn’t know which way to go. Just as she was anxiously pacing, sounds of footsteps echoed from a

her head lowered as she trotted to him. Her entire demeanor made him grin in amusement as he complained, “Why are you

you call me here?”

office, he closed the door, slumped back lazily

her face burning. “I’m still

sports car for you,” he said with

Is this guy okay? Why

and it will be delivered in the afternoon. What am I going to

she bit her lip and

“Nope.”

asked for my opinion in the first place before making such a purchase!” Isn’t this guy a little

parking lot, and you can use it whenever you want.” Ethan had always been a rather overbearing person, so he would never take back the gift that he had specifically bought for someone else. The instant it was out of his hands, it wasn’t his problem any longer. The other party could do

people, she had never met one such as Ethan, who was completely unreasonable. “Return it! My car still works, and I don’t need a

fine. A sports car isn’t a big deal to me. Plus, if you refuse to use it, I’ll just let it

she caught sight of his pearly whites and felt her heart racing. This man can

ringing, and she saw that it was Luke calling her. So, she hastily scrambled to the window and picked up the

I’ve made a reservation in a restaurant tonight. I’ll pick you

him a meal, she readily agreed as she

make things clear to Luke that they could only ever be friends. So, he

Therefore, she reckoned that he might not give up so easily if she simply rejected him

more outstanding, better looking, and richer than him, she thought, and there was only one person around her who checked all the boxes. So, she turned her attention back to the person on the couch, paced toward him, and

arched his brows.

you do me a favor?” she

her surprise,

you to pose as my boyfriend and make Luke give up on me,” she

became excited, and a look of delight flashed in his eyes.

was so happy to help, she breathed a sigh of relief and truly hoped that Luke would come to his senses today. That way he would not waste his

“Sure, go ahead!”

the group chat. Someone posted some pictures they had taken at the basement parking lot. Under the lighting, an eye-catching red Ferrari with its bright, glossy paint was parked there, marveling

whose car is that

I think it costs at

belong to? Will someone in the group tell me who this

“Joey, do you know whose Ferrari is that?

as she stared at that sports car displayed on the iPad in utter astonishment. Is this

belong to Tori? She has had many suitors recently, and I

was beautiful, talented, and also

suddenly blurted, “It’s

not Tori’s?” Immediately, Wren

paper bag on her desk. “Josephine, someone told me to pass this to

picked it up and peered in, she could feel her scalp numbing from the shock. Just as she feared,

got stuck in her chest. It really was the car that Ethan bought for her! She sighed inwardly as she felt a throbbing pain in her head. What am I going to do now? The entire office is talking about this and if I admit that it’s my car…

could it be?” Next to her, Wren narrowed her eyes and pondered

her desk and

couldn’t sleep a wink at all because she was busy blaming herself. In the meantime, Katrina was in the lockup. The beautiful makeup she wore in the morning now looked utterly ghastly. She wrapped her arms around herself as she trembled pathetically. Although she was devastated, she had run out of tears of remorse

core. If Tori hadn’t instigated her, she would have never made such a mistake. Undoubtedly, she started to resent her sister as well for devising such a foul idea. Ultimately, however, she hated her own

up at work as usual. She was the target of sneers and ridicule yesterday, but some who scorned her were

genuinely afraid of crossing her. On

found an opportunity to approach her, she breathed a sigh of relief as she stated, “Katrina

there’s another person besides her,” Josephine said. “The one who gave

just assumed that

made such a dumb move. Because of this,

talented the framed host was. By the end of it, some of them were even smitten with her looks and professionalism and turned

host as Tori was placed under investigation and suspended without pay.

have no idea how people are complimenting

they said you’re pretty, graceful, and have a

smile spread across Josephine’s face. “Really? I’ll do my best to take

of them. She appeared to be in a rush, but when she saw Josephine, she glared at her furiously.

mercilessly, “You brought this upon yourself. Why should I be delighted when I’m

an old man and was now facing such criticism from Josephine, she felt the very last strands of her sanity snap. “Don’t get so cocky, Josephine. You’ll receive your retribution,” she spat viciously and

skirts. “Just what are you doing here? Didn’t I already tell you not

my work

your actions? Just look at what you’ve done to Katrina!” Atticus was furious. Because of this matter, his wife was in a cold war with him, leaving their three sons alone and

begging you. I can’t lose this job. I promise that I won’t cause any trouble after this.” Tori blocked Atticus’ way

clear about this. If you keep pestering me,

was willing to do anything to save her job as she suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Atticus and said humbly, “Mr. Kowalski, I’m begging you. I can do anything you say.

career in the industry because none of the other TV stations would accept her. Hence, she could only

assistant opened the door to deliver a document and caught her kneeling on the floor. The assistant jumped in surprise at the sight, and Tori hurriedly sprang to her feet to

you leaving now?” the assistant inquired professionally, smart enough to read the

to open the door and walk out. Unfortunately, Tori followed closely behind like a piece of gum and grabbed

doors of the elevator slid open and Ivanka came out. The instant she caught sight of Tori holding her husband so

Slap!

situation, and they seemed to be enjoying the

such a day coming for

snatch my husband as well? You b*tch, I’m going to kill you!” Ivanka showed the masses just how shrewd she could truly be as she ruthlessly grabbed Tori’s hair, pushed her to

her head as she had never encountered such a situation before. Since she had no experience in this, all she could do was scream while protecting her

they were watching on the sidelines as she received a beating. Some even went as far as to record

trouble all because of you, jinx! Why didn’t you go to jail instead?! How could you still have the

venting all her frustrations on her, Wren dragged Josephine over to watch the show. When Josephine silently watched the sight of the disheveled Tori as Ivanka rained hits on her, she only had one thought: That Tori really

escalate any further. So, he pulled his

people she thought were nothing but nobodies, were mocking and criticizing her. Amongst the crowd,

Internet, causing a heated round of discussion in an instant. The one who uploaded the video was an assistant whom Tori had bullied in the past. The assistant

Tori. Not only do they have to endure public criticism, but someone deliberately exposed Tori’s dirty past. A wealthy woman even told a story using her real name, claiming

no longer had a future. She could continue living in reality, but she had lost her favorite job. Even if she was

to pay a high mortgage every month. She

some money, her extravagant spending habits prevented her from saving anything. Now, besides her ruined reputation,

was difficult to go from luxury to simplicity. She

hate you,” Tori exclaimed, venting her collapsed

still visible on her face. She looked disheveled and swollen,

in custody, suffering more than Tori. She not only lost her reputation but also her freedom, awaiting

her office when she heard the door being pushed open from outside. Shortly after, Ivanka entered with a bunch of gifts in

leave. But Ivanka immediately extended her arms to stop her. “Josephine, don’t leave.

to discuss between us, Mrs. Kowalski.” Josephine was unwilling to talk, nor

in front of Josephine. “Josephine, I apologize on behalf of my sister. She is foolish and naive, just a young woman in her

don’t do

sister? I promise she’ll never appear in front of you again,” Ivanka pleaded, no longer concerned about her image. If it meant rescuing her

caused harm to her, she didn’t consider the consequences. So now, Katrina

sister is an adult, and she knows very well what is right and wrong. If she insisted on ruining my reputation, then she should have expected this

you. Can’t you spare my sister for his sake?”

and asked abruptly, “Mrs. Kowalski, may I ask, did you know about your sister’s actions? If you were aware,

it when it was her idea to

genuinely realizes her mistake. Please spare her! I’m sorry, I apologize on behalf of my sister.” Ivanka kept apologizing, hoping to soften Josephine’s

dismissed Ivanka, urging, “Mrs. Kowalski, take your things and there’s no need to apologize to me.

arrogant person who didn’t care about others, but today, not only did

of the same company. Your boyfriend and my husband are also partners. Are you purposely trying to make things look ugly?” Ivanka stood up as her expression

want my boyfriend and your husband to maintain a working relationship, it’s important to separate the company matters from personal issues. Let’s keep them separate and

and said, “I spent over three hundred thousand on these gifts just to apologize to

noticed the change in her attitude, from apologizing to blame-shifting. She even suspected that Ivanka and Katrina were colluding, so Ivanka might have played a role

be best if you leave now. Let’s avoid escalating things further.” Josephine gestured toward the door,

left. As she walked out, she glanced back at

picked up her phone to send a message to Ethan. ‘What are you up to?

but thinking of you.’ Apparently, he was unaware of what had

Her pictures had been deleted, and they couldn’t

leaving for

There might not be a good signal once I arrive at the Arctic, so I won’t be able to stay in constant

communication is enough.’ Josephine reassured