After asking several staff members, Elisa learned that Asher had been suffering from insomnia these past few days and was currently resting in the lounge area to adjust his mindset.
Carrying her bag, Elisa made her way to the director’s lounge. Asher was a typical workaholic, treating every script as if it were his own flesh and blood. Sometimes, he would be so busy with the production that he had no time to return to the hotel to rest, spending the night on the makeshift sofa in the rest area on set.
This was Elisa’s first time visiting the director’s lounge, and as she stood outside, she knocked on the door a couple of times. The room had poor soundproofing, and after a while, Elisa finally heard some movement from inside. Asher opened the door, confirming what the staff had said about his poor condition. It was clear that he was suffering from severe insomnia, evident from the dark circles and bloodshot eyes.
Upon seeing Elisa, Asher’s weary face brightened slightly, but only just.
“You’re here,” he said.
Elisa nodded. “Mr. Kentala, may I come in and sit for a while?”
“Sure, sure,” Asher said as he turned to pour a glass of water for Elisa. “I don’t have any tea, just plain hot water.”
“Plain hot water is fine,” Elisa replied. The water had just boiled, steaming hot. She took the paper cup and placed it to the side. “I heard from the staff that you’ve been suffering from insomnia these past few days?”
“I never expected Lorelei to be this troublesome. She called me, and when I didn’t answer, she exposed my phone number. I’ve been receiving all sorts of threatening calls. I tried calling the police, but it was no use. I couldn’t turn off my phone either, fearing that I might miss urgent work matters. It’s been quite stressful. On the surface, we may seem to have the upper hand in proposing to terminate the contract with Lorelei, but the actual problem is quite significant. According to the contract we signed with your company, we can’t terminate it unless there’s a major breach. If the court proceedings drag on, the production team won’t be able to start work.”
Having spoken at length, Asher’s throat began to hurt. He had been feeling irritable for the past few days, and last night, he developed painful mouth ulcers out of nowhere, making it impossible for him to sleep. He took a few sips of cold water with a hint of mint, soothing his throat before continuing.
“You mentioned earlier that there would be a solution. What kind of solution is it, Elisa? I trust you a lot. Please don’t just have one plan without a backup. Also, I heard that your company has been acquired by that AW company. I heard there’s been a lot of internal turmoil. A third of the employees were reportedly dismissed, and even the agent who used to represent you is no longer there. Have you met the new CEO? Is he easy to get along with? Will he treat you like Mr. Whitlock did, making things difficult for you?”
As Asher spoke, he sighed repeatedly, not wanting Elisa to see him looking distressed, he turned away from her.
“I just feel that this matter is difficult to handle. Your company just changed ownership. Which boss wouldn’t want to make money? There aren’t many profitable artists in the entire company, and Lorelei is currently the most profitable artist in your company. What will you do if the new boss wants to keep her? It won’t be easy for you then. Elisa, I’ve been thinking a lot these past few days. The best solution would be for you to find Finn or Hamish. These two seem to have a thing for you, so you should…”
“Mr. Kentala, come over and sign the document,” Elisa calmly interrupted.
“Sign what document?” Asher turned around and noticed a document on the table with a stamped seal on it. “What is this?”
Elisa, holding the cup of water, sipped the steaming liquid, which softened her striking features a bit. Asher picked up the document and, upon seeing the words on it, his eyes lit up. The tired expression on his face suddenly transformed, as if a breath of fresh air had swept through. It was a termination contract from A. W Group, clearly stating that Lorelei and the “Revenge and Love” production team were terminating the contract amicably, without legal responsibility or the need for compensation.
“This… this…” Asher was so thrilled that he stuttered. He took a deep breath, rereading it several times. When his emotions calmed down, doubt and disbelief crept in.
“Elisa, where did you get this contract? How could your boss easily terminate the contract withLorelei?” Just this morning, Lorelei’s fans were causing a commotion and were adamant that A. W Group held Lorelei in high regard and wouldn’t let go of such a cash cow. They vowed to support Lorelei and fund her legal battles.
Asher had also believed this, but now, faced with the reality before him, the ease with which the termination had occurred made it somewhat unbelievable, as if he were dreaming, with no hint of reality.
Asher was accustomed to thinking in the worst-case scenario and preparing for the worst.
“Could this be forged by you?” Asher’s trembling hand pointed at the seal.
“Mr. Kentala, forging a seal is illegal.”
Yes…
“Hurry and sign it. The sooner you sign, the sooner this will be resolved, and you can get a good night’s sleep,” Elisa said as she handed him a pen.
Dazed, Asher took the pen and signed. Apart from the director’s signature, the production side also needed to stamp and sign.
As Asher looked at the space for the signature, he asked, “Your boss only stamped but didn’t sign. Could this be a feint, another breach of contract?”
As the words left his mouth, he saw Elisa take the pen from his hand and elegantly pen down “Elisa” in the designated spot.
This couldn’t be described as anything but astonishing. Asher’s mouth gaped as if he could swallow an egg whole. He gazed at Elisa’s calm face and her proficient signing, and a terrifying thought emerged in his mind.
“Elisa, you…”
Elisa set down the pen and turned the contract towards Asher for his confirmation.
Then, she stood up and extended her right hand. “Mr. Kentala, let’s get reacquainted. I’m Elisa, the current Executive Director of A. W Group.”