“Rafferty, what did you just say? Darren is Elettra’s boss?” Leo asked, somewhat puzzled.
“Yes, Elettra is backed by the Hansom Group’s entertainment agency, and the big boss is Darren,” Rafferty quickly responded.
Leo nodded. Initially, he had been somewhat impatient, but upon hearing that Elettra was one of Darren’s artists, he patiently waited again.
Another half an hour passed, and it was nearly four in the afternoon.
“Rafferty, it’s already four o’clock. Is this Elettra playing games with us?” Leo, despite his usually good temper, couldn’t contain his frustration and asked Rafferty with a furrowed brow.
Leo had planned to arrive at the Golden Leaf before five-thirty to pick up Sophia after work.
“I’ll call and ask,” Rafferty was about to get up, but Leo immediately grabbed him. “Give me the phone, I’ll make the call.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Rafferty nodded, dialed the number, and handed the phone to Leo.
“Hello, is this Elettra’s agent? This is Leo, the owner of Leo&Rose Cosmetics. I’ll give you ten more minutes. If you’re not here in ten minutes, don’t bother coming at all,” Leo said into the phone without waiting for a response, and then promptly hung up.
Rafferty quickly took back the phone, perspiring heavily. He could tell that Leo was genuinely angry.
Rosemary smiled knowingly and gave Leo a thumbs-up.
Leo’s call indeed worked. Ten minutes later, Elettra and her entourage arrived, including her agent, assistant, makeup artist, stylist, and bodyguards, totaling over ten people.
“This Elettra sure has a grand entrance. Even A-list celebrities don’t have this kind of entourage, do they?” Leo remarked sarcastically.
“What’s with the rush? Don’t you know I was filming late last night!?” Elettra, upon arrival, immediately snapped at Rafferty, clearly displeased, although her words were directed at Leo and Rosemary.
“Elettra, it’s almost four, and I have a dinner appointment tonight. Giving us half an hour is already pushing it,” Leo said, frowning.
“I don’t have time to waste on you. Get on with it. I only have half an hour!” Elettra retorted coldly, glaring at Leo.
While Elettra used to be polite before, ever since she became a popular figure, her attitude had changed. With her increased fame, she had started to disregard others. This was a common trend in the film and television industry nowadays.
“Half an hour? Elettra, we agreed on two hours earlier,” Rafferty protested anxiously.
“Can’t you see what time it is now? I have a dinner appointment tonight. Giving you half an hour is already generous. Mr. Hansom wants to introduce me to a famous foreign director. If we’re late, can you handle the consequences!?” Elettra impatiently retorted.
“Elettra, your traffic excuse doesn’t hold. I can tell you’ve just woken up,” as a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, Leo could easily tell that Elettra had just caught up on sleep.
“What do you care if I’ve slept or not? Can’t I take a nap in the car on my way here!?” Elettra rolled her eyes at Leo.
Rafferty was afraid of offending Leo and Rosemary, but Elettra wasn’t concerned. After all, she didn’t rely on them for a living.
“Elettra, regardless of the industry, one must have professional ethics. As an artist, you should respect the scheduled shooting time. After all, so many people are waiting for you. This is the most basic courtesy,” Leo said, coldly and without reservation.
“What do you mean? How dare you lecture me? Who do you think you are?!” Elettra, provoked by Leo, lashed out and then, with a toss of her hand, said, “I’m not filming anymore!”
With that, she turned and walked out of the studio.
“Elettra, I don’t think you’re suitable for this industry. I’ll call your boss and help you change your career,” Leo said coldly before taking out his phone.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you know who my boss is?” Elettra sneered, looking at Leo with disdain.
“Your boss is Darren, right?”
“Huh, I didn’t expect you to have already inquired,” Elettra’s face became even more scornful, “Since you know my powerful backing is Mr. Hansom, how dare you treat me this way? Don’t think you’re anything special just because you have some money. Compared to Mr. Hansom, you’re nothing!”
Elettra assumed a domineering stance, confident in herdependence on Darren’s support and her own modest fame, she didn’t take Leo and Rosemary seriously.
Seeing Elettra’s arrogance, Rosemary’s temper flared, and she scolded, “You’re just a performer who’s gotten to where you are through improper means, flaunting your power disgustingly!”
“Damn, who the hell are you cursing? You believe I can make your little company disappear from Langstel altogether!” Elettra was extremely sensitive to the term “improper means” as if someone had touched the tail of a cat, and she glared at Rosemary, spewing out threats.
Rosemary, her patience worn thin, didn’t waste any time. She slapped Elettra across the face.
Elettra was taken aback, and one of her bodyguards moved forward, ready to confront Rosemary.
Leo wouldn’t let Rosemary be assaulted. He immediately kicked the approaching bodyguard away.
The other bodyguard hesitated to step forward, intimidated by Leo’s formidable presence.
As for the agent and the assistant, they were both subdued by Leo’s overpowering aura.
Seeing her own people falter, Elettra, clutching her cheek, cried out in pain, “How dare you hit me! Wait here if you have the guts. I’ll call Mr. Hansom right now. When he arrives, get ready to beg at my feet!”
After uttering this threat, Elettra snatched the phone from her assistant and quickly made a call.
The call was answered promptly, and Elettra immediately cried, “Mr. Hansom, please come to New Century Studios. I’ve been assaulted…”
“What’s going on?” Darren’s voice turned cold on the other end of the line.
Elettra proceeded to distort and exaggerate the story, crying as she narrated her version of events.
At this moment, Elettra, with tears streaming down her face, seemed to evoke a sense of pity, portraying herself as a victim. This stark contrast to her earlier aggressive demeanor demonstrated her acting skills. Despite her flawed character, her acting was commendable.
For Darren, Elettra was a cash cow under his wing. After hearing Elettra’s account, Darren was instantly furious. “Who dared to hit you?”
“The people from Leo & Rose Cosmetics!” Elettra sounded even more aggrieved. “They wanted me to shoot an ad, and when I was a little late due to some personal matters, they physically assaulted me. Sob… Mr. Hansom, they not only attacked me but also tarnished your reputation…”
These were the ways in which Elettra twisted the story.
Leo & Rose Cosmetics, represented by Leo and Rosemary, had risen in recent years to become a formidable force in the cosmetics industry. Their company had been growing at an impressive rate and was beginning to pose a significant challenge to larger, more established brands.