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.

sat down for a few minutes after that farce of a meeting when the phone on her desk started ringing,

my office upstairs,” a husky

eyes widened a little.

floor,” he

here to

company was

once more

up. The

as she trotted to him. Her entire demeanor made him grin in amusement as he complained, “Why are you acting like a

me here?” she

Ethan led her into his office, he closed the door, slumped back lazily on the couch,

face

car for you,” he said with

was stunned to silence for a few seconds. Is this guy okay? Why did he buy me

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

bit her lip and tentatively inquired, “Can you return

“Nope.”

the first place before making such a purchase!” Isn’t this guy a little

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 anything with it, except return it

Josephine had several run-ins with overbearing 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 sports car,” she huffed as she bit her

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

fluttered as she caught sight of his pearly whites and felt

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

reservation in a restaurant tonight. I’ll pick you up

to buy him a meal, she readily agreed as she didn’t see a need to bail on

there was one thing—she had decided to make things clear to Luke that they

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

and there was only one person around her who checked all the boxes. So, she turned her attention back to

arched his

you do me a favor?” she asked, her eyes filled with utmost

To her surprise,

my boyfriend and make Luke

excited, and a look of

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 youth on her. “Mr. Quarles, I’ll be

“Sure, go ahead!”

Someone posted some pictures they had taken at the basement parking lot. Under the lighting, an eye-catching red Ferrari with its bright, glossy

is that standing

I think it costs at least

belong to? Will someone in the group tell

enthusiastically, “Joey, do you know whose Ferrari is that? Just look at what a

iPad in utter astonishment. Is this the car Ethan bought for

it belong to Tori? She has had many suitors recently, and I heard that they’re all rich

company, she was beautiful, talented, and

blurted, “It’s

it be if not Tori’s?” Immediately,

feeling her face burning in embarrassment, an assistant placed a paper bag on her desk. “Josephine, someone told me to pass this to

the bag from the outside. When she picked it up and peered in, she could feel her scalp numbing from the shock. Just as she feared, there was a box with the Ferrari

head. What am I going to do now? The entire office is talking about this and if I admit that it’s my car…

Wren narrowed her eyes

the bag under her desk and held her aching

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

made such a mistake. Undoubtedly, she started to resent her sister as well for devising such a foul idea. Ultimately,

showed up at work as usual. She was the target of sneers and ridicule yesterday, but some who scorned her were avoiding her like the plague today, and some even greeted her without

now genuinely afraid of crossing her. On the other hand, Josephine appeared

a sigh of relief as she stated, “Katrina is completely rotten.

course, there’s another person besides her,” Josephine said. “The

I have never once thought that Tori could be such a person. I just assumed that she was just a little

happy that Katrina made such a dumb move. Because of this, she didn’t have to face the two people she hated the most on a daily

scandal that had taken the company by storm. Instead, her performance was amazing, and several netizens deliberately waited to watch her news broadcast just to see how talented the framed host was.

Tori was placed under investigation and suspended without pay.

god, Josephine. You’re amazing! You have no idea how people are complimenting

pretty, graceful, and

I’ll do my best to take care of myself,

about to step into the elevator, Tori suddenly dashed out from one of them. She appeared to be

she retorted mercilessly, “You brought this upon yourself. Why should I be delighted

and was now facing such criticism from Josephine, she felt the very last strands of

a flurry of skirts. “Just what are you doing here? Didn’t I already tell you not to show up at the

This doesn’t affect my work in any way. Please let me return

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

can’t lose this job. I promise that I won’t cause

perfectly clear about this. If you keep pestering me, I’ll fire

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.

her job here, it would spell the end of her career in the industry

in surprise at the sight,

ready. Are you leaving now?” the assistant inquired professionally, smart enough

out. Unfortunately, Tori followed closely behind like a piece of gum and grabbed his arm.

open and Ivanka came out. The instant she caught sight of Tori holding her husband so intimately, she

Slap!

loud that everyone around came over to check out the situation, and they seemed to be enjoying the show when they

a day coming for

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

she had never encountered such a situation before. Since she had no

watching on the sidelines as she received a beating. Some even

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

Ivanka was 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

the other hand, Atticus couldn’t allow things to escalate any further. So, he pulled his wife

on the floor with a big, red palm mark on her face. She slowly staggered to her feet as she glared at everyone with her bloodshot eyes. Usually, she always had her nose up in the air and barely looked anyone straight in the eye. Now, she could clearly see that the people she thought were nothing but nobodies, were mocking and criticizing her. Amongst the crowd, she even found Josephine with her hands crossed over her chest as she watched the scene in triumph. Thus,

instant. The one who uploaded the video was an assistant whom Tori had bullied in the past. The assistant had nursed a grudge of rather massive proportions due to Tori’s abuse. So, there was no way she would let go of this golden opportunity when she finally had the chance

straight to the dumps. The top searches of major websites were dominated by Katrina and Tori. Not only do they have to endure public

had a future. She could continue living in reality, but she

knowing she had to pay a high mortgage every month.

spending habits prevented her from saving anything. Now, besides her ruined reputation, she also

easy to achieve, but it was difficult to go from luxury to simplicity. She couldn’t return

hate you,” Tori exclaimed, venting her collapsed

the mirror, the mark of the slap from Ivanka still visible on her face. She looked

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

the door being pushed open from outside. Shortly after, Ivanka entered with a bunch of gifts in different sizes and packages. She had just

up, intending to leave. But

was unwilling to

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

don’t do this. My stance on this matter is clear—I will not agree to

same company. Can’t you be forgiving and spare my 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 sister,

caused harm to her, she didn’t

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

Can’t you spare my sister for his sake?” Ivanka tried to appeal to Josephine through

at her and asked abruptly, “Mrs. Kowalski, may I ask, did you know about your sister’s actions? If you were aware, why didn’t you stop her? Instead, you allowed

changed and a hint of guilt flashed in her eyes. How could she have stopped it when it was her idea to begin with? Otherwise, Katrina wouldn’t have come up with any plan

I apologize on behalf of my sister.” Ivanka kept apologizing, hoping to

not a person easily swayed. She simply dismissed Ivanka, urging, “Mrs. Kowalski,

She genuinely and sincerely pleaded with Josephine. Usually, she was an arrogant person who didn’t care about others, but today, not only did Josephine not give her a chance, but she even

husband are also partners. Are you purposely trying

your husband to maintain a

gifts in front of her and said, “I spent over three hundred thousand on these gifts just to apologize to you. Can’t you show some understanding and spare my

blame-shifting. She even suspected that Ivanka

be best if you leave now. Let’s avoid escalating

left. As she walked out, she

picked up her phone to send a

Apparently,

Her pictures had been deleted, and they couldn’t be found on the Internet

are you leaving

at the Arctic,

communication is enough.’