Justin leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the desk. He shrugged and said, “I’m not sure. But Orion Entertainment always tries to grab whatever resources they can. If this keeps up, Bianca’s company might fall apart. Oh, and there’s something else. Remember Natalie King? After you turned down her meeting request, she’s now joined Orion Entertainment.”
“Natalie King?” Dave’s frown deepened as he wondered if there was a connection between these two situations.
Dave found it hard to believe that Natalie could be influential enough to persuade a giant like Orion Entertainment to go after Bianca.
As the secretary entered with coffee, she noticed Dave’s furrowed brow and trod lightly, careful not to upset him again.
Tapping his fingers on the desk, Dave said, “Handle this however you think is best and help Bianca resolve the issue. Also, I need you to find out who the major shareholders of Orion Entertainment are.”
Another thought crossed his mind: Bianca’s stepsister, Ashley, was an artist at Orion Entertainment.
Even though Bianca had put Ashley in her place, it was unlikely that Orion Entertainment would jeopardize its reputation for a controversial artist.
Unless…
A shadow of suspicion crossed Dave’s face as he thought about it.
‘What if his uncle Rupert was involved?’
Rupert’s beloved daughter had been sent to prison. Known for his vindictive nature, he would certainly want revenge. Dave realized he had overlooked this possibility.
If that were the case, it would have made sense for Rupert to support Orion Entertainment.
No wonder Orion Entertainment had been growing so quickly, nearly rivaling Phoenix Entertainment. Maybe Rupert had been quietly sabotaging Phoenix Entertainment all along.
Dave scoffed, realizing that his uncle might be organizing everything from the shadows.
At that moment, Rupert was sitting in the general manager’s office of Orion Entertainment. The general manager was a middle-aged man with a big belly.
“Mr. Walsh, I’ve done what you asked, but I’m really curious. Why target a small agency like that? Cherish’s partnership with Emerald Artists Agency was due to Madison’s influence. Now that Madison is out of the picture and Bianca’s firm isn’t a threat, why bother?”
Rupert narrowed his eyes and leaned forward with a mysterious smile. “Those who oppose me won’t end well. Besides, this will draw out the one I’m really after. When he’s worried, he’ll slip up and reveal himself without me having to do anything.”
The general manager of Orion Entertainment couldn’t understand Rupert’s vague hints. He just stared at Rupert in silence.
Even though he was the general manager, he knew that Rupert really controlled Orion Entertainment. With over half the shares, Rupert preferred to stay out of the spotlight, quietly guiding the company’s direction.
His support was the key to Orion Entertainment’s rapid growth, making it a strong rival to Phoenix Entertainment.
Knowing that Phoenix Entertainment was part of the larger Phoenix Alliance Group didn’t bother Rupert; instead, it only confirmed the rumors about the power struggles within the Walsh family.
With these thoughts in mind, the general manager’s eyes narrowed in uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Bianca returned to her company, completely exhausted, both emotionally and physically, from the recent troubles.
Bianca wasn’t sure if Justin would really help her. The uncertainty weighed on her like a shadow.
Despite her worries, she knew she had to push those thoughts aside and keep moving forward until she got an answer.
In the afternoon, as she rushed through a flurry of tasks that made her forget about the talent show, her phone rang.
With a tired voice, Bianca answered, “Hello, this is Emerald Artists Agency…”
But within seconds, her attitude changed as she heard the news. She stood up abruptly and asked, “Pardon?”
The voice on the other end said, “This is Star Search. We made a mistake with the guest list. We should have canceled the other guests, not Reese and Blake. We’re sorry and would like to extend a renewed invitation for them to participate in the show.”
Bianca was confused. ‘They got it wrong?’
The assistant director had been so aggressive before, and now the crew claimed it was a mistake.
Were they trying to fool her?
Trying to keep her rising frustration, Bianca listened as the caller continued, “Additionally, we’d like to invite Ms. Sophia Johnson from your company to be a judge. Her vast experience and talent make her a great choice. We believe this partnership would benefit both of us. Please consider it.”
The caller gave Bianca a graceful way out, leaving her little room to argue.
“Okay, I understand. However, I need to talk to Sophia first and see if she’s interested. I’ll get back to you later. Is that okay?”
“Of course,” the caller replied.
Once the call ended, Bianca’s emotions were a whirlwind, swinging from one extreme to another.
Still, she had managed to tackle one issue. Feeling cheerful, she quickly called Sophia.
Bianca’s laughter rang out as Sophia answered the phone. “What’s going on, Linds? You sound so happy.”
“I just cleared up a major headache,” Bianca said, smiling widely.
She shared all the details with Sophia before asking, “So, what do you think about being a judge?”
Sophia replied cautiously, “Do you think I’m the right fit?”
Bianca could sense Sophia’s hesitation. After all, with the company’s trainees involved in such a big event, any mistake from Sophia could create controversy and bring unwanted attention to the company for all the wrong reasons.
Having just returned and faced the past public scrutiny, Sophia was understandably cautious about getting involved in such things again.
However, the potential benefits were clear.
“Your recent projects have kept you out of the public eye. Now that your latest film is finished joining this show could boost your personal profile and improve the company’s image. It’s also a chance to promote your new film. I believe the positives outweigh the negatives.”
After a moment of thought, Bianca added, “But the choice is yours.”
“If it helps the company, then I’m in,” Sophia replied sincerely. “I know we’ve missed out on program invitations lately. A chance like this doesn’t come often, and I want to help your company succeed.”
“Sophia…” Bianca was really touched.
Sophia was always kind but also decisive, thinking about the bigger picture.
“Another thing, Sophia, now that you’ve agreed to join the show, there’s something important to keep in mind. You’ll be a judge in the talent show, where two of our trainees will be contestants. To avoid any claims of bias, you should feel free to point out any problems. Don’t hesitate to be strict; it’ll help them grow. I’ll let them know to expect honest feedback. Just be bold with your critiques.”