Aren pushed the glass door open.
It swung inward with a soft click, unveiling the eting room beyond.
The space was clean, deliberate in its design.
A long wooden table stretched through the center, chairs aligned neatly on either side, their symtry lending the room a quiet formality. In the corners, tall floor plants softened the sharp edges of the interior, adding a controlled touch of life to an otherwise polished environnt.
A whiteboard hung on one wall, and a projector screen rolled above it—tools of routine etings, strategy, and decisions.
The room was well lit, and under that lighting, two females sat on chairs on one side of the table.
One leaned back slightly, legs crossed, arms folded—every inch of her posture radiating entitlent. Her beauty was striking, but it was overshadowed by the arrogance etched into her expression.
She was Iris Valcourt.
Waiting did not suit her.
The very act seed to offend her pride.
Beside her sat another woman in contrast—upright, composed, a polite smile resting on her lips. She was her secretary, Shirley Fens.
As they noticed the door swinging inside, they both turned to look at Aren and Lisa.
Lisa stuck close to Aren, not even daring to look at Iris, her gaze lowered to the floor as she walked.
Aren, however, didn’t shy away; instead, he even matched their gaze with an amused smile on his face.
The current situation entertained him. He knew Lisa held the power, and Iris—well, she was here to beg Lisa to forgive her husband.
As he reached the table, Aren pulled out the chair opposite Iris and sat down with unhurried ease.
The movent alone seed to irritate her.
Iris’s gaze sharpened, her expression tightening into open displeasure.
"Why are you here?"
Her voice cut through the room, cold and disdainful.
"I only asked to et Lisa Vern."
There was pressure in her tone—subtle, but deliberate.
Her eyes swept over him like he was sothing beneath notice.
Sothing unworthy of her ti.
How could he, a faded idol and an actor with only one hit drama, and that too as a second lead, be at the sa level as her, the president of Titan Crest Entertainnt?
She didn’t even consider him worthy enough to sit in the sa room as her.
Thus, she treated him like an uninvited guest, not hiding her contempt for him.
Aren, however, looked at her with an amused expression, not offended in the slightest by the lack of respect.
He had known her since her childhood, so her entitled behavior wasn’t sothing new to him.
However, even then, he couldn’t help but be entertained by her ignorance.
She was here to beg, yet she still acted like she was above everyone else.
She clearly didn’t understand the gravity of her situation.
She was underestimating the calamity that was upon her and the Titan Crest Entertainnt.
"She asked to accompany her." He pointed at Lisa with his thumb, speaking confidently. "If you want to speak with her, I co as part of the package."
Hearing his claim, Iris eyed Lisa with a questioning gaze, inquiring: "Did you invite him?"
Lisa nodded silently, her hands pressed against her thighs.
Iris’s eyes flickered with irritation.
Annoyance rising.
She turned back to Aren, her expression hardening further.
"Then why are you sitting there?"
Her voice dipped, gaining that familiar edge of superiority.
"I want to speak to her."
A slight tilt of her chin toward Lisa.
"So let her sit here."
She was practically ordering him at this point, her tone commanding.
It was as if Aren and Lisa were students and Iris was their teacher, treating them with a sense of authority.
Aren, however, wasn’t a child, nor was he her student.
He knew she was just trying to intimidate both Lisa and him; however, he wasn’t inexperienced as Iris might have assud.
Even though he appeared young on the surface, making people assu he would be inexperienced and easy to intimidate or manipulate, in reality, however, the truth couldn’t be any more different.
He was soone who had practically built Titan Crest Entertainnt into what it was today.
Iris couldn’t even dream of comparing to him in terms of these little negotiation tactics.
From his past life’s experience, he already knew the perfect response to her pathetic attempt at intimidating him.
He leaned back on his chair, appearing as relaxed as possible as he answered in a flat tone:
"No, I don’t want to."
"What?" Iris was startled by his answer, looking at him with a dumbfounded expression.
Had she heard him wrong?
She couldn’t help but wonder in her mind due to the ridiculousness of his response.
However, soon, she ca to terms with reality.
Her fists clenched.
The corner of her lips twitched, her expression darkening as she forced the words out through gritted teeth:
"What... did you say?"
Her voice contained suppressed anger and threat, trembling slightly as she spoke.
Aren, however, didn’t even bother to look impressed.
He yawned, as if the confrontation in front of him wasn’t even worth his full attention.
Leaning back further, he nudged his chair, letting it rotate slightly left... then right...
He exhaled a tired sigh.
"Do I really need to repeat myself?" he said, voice laced with lazy indifference. "Gosh, why didn’t you hear it the first ti?"
He paused briefly.
"I said—" His gaze flicked back to her. "I’m not changing my seat."
The words landed harder this ti.
Iris couldn’t help but feel that he was mocking her right now.
As soon as she realized that, her expression shifted.
A smile appeared—but it wasn’t pleasant.
It was thin... dangerous.
She folded her arms slowly, her gaze darkening as she leaned forward just enough to press her presence into the space between them.
"Are you challenging ?"
Her voice dropped, each word deliberate.
"Do you really want to offend the president of Titan Crest Entertainnt?"
Aren shook his head imdiately.
A humble smile appeared—too quick... too smooth.
"No, no. Of course not. How could I dare?" he said lightly. "I just don’t want to change my seat."
The contrast was obvious.
His words said submission; his tone said the opposite.
It wasn’t respect; it was ridicule.
"You—!"
Iris snapped—
But before her voice could rise, Shirley leaned in swiftly, her whisper cutting through the mont.
"Ma’am, please calm down."
Soft, asured.
"There’s no need to get worked up over sothing so small. Let’s focus on why we’re here."
The words grounded her and pulled her back.
Iris turned her head slightly, staring at Shirley.
For a mont... tension lingered.
Then she exhaled.
Slow, controlled.
The anger didn’t disappear.
But it receded, contained.
She straightened, regaining her composure piece by piece.
Still, her eyes flicked toward Aren one last ti.
Sharp, displeased, unforgiving.
Then, she shifted her attention... to Lisa.
Iris straightened slightly, her posture regaining its practiced composure.
When she spoke, her tone was formal—polished, controlled, devoid of any real warmth.
"Ms. Lisa Vern," she began, her voice carrying the weight of authority rather than remorse, "I have co to apologize for my husband’s... inappropriate behavior toward you."
She paused, just enough to make it sound deliberate.
"I assure you," she continued smoothly, "he was acting on his own. I had no knowledge of it."
Her chin lifted faintly.
"Titan Crest Entertainnt does not tolerate such conduct. You may rest assured—Lucian will be removed from his position. You will never have to see him again."
She paused again.
Then, a smile, proud, almost indulgent.
As though she were granting a favor.
"As compensation," she went on, "your contract will be elevated to the highest tier. You will be prioritized for major roles, endorsent deals, and premium resources."
Her tone didn’t soften.
It sharpened with promise.
"With that, you will also receive twenty million as a gesture of apology... along with a confird role in an upcoming film."
She leaned back slightly.
Confident.
Certain.
"And of course," she added, "Titan Crest will extend its full support to ensure your rise to greater heights."
The room fell quiet.
All eyes—
On Lisa.
Iris held her gaze, unwavering.
Then, calmly—
As if it were the most natural thing in the world—
She stated the condition.
"All we ask in return..."
A slight tilt of her head.
"...is that you withdraw your complaint against Lucian. And hand over the evidence to us."
She was practically demanding Lisa to do as she asked of her, as if it was her right.
Moreover, her apology didn’t even sound like an apology; it was more like her stating her offer in return for Lisa to agree to her conditions.
She acted as if she was doing charity to the poor Lisa, who was in need of her support.
She neither showed any sympathy to Lisa, who suffered a r*pe attempt nor did she feel any guilt on her part.
She passed the bla to Lucian, even feeling that she herself was a victim to be forced to apologize on his behalf.
She felt more sorry for the loss of twenty million that she was offering Lisa than for Lisa, who had suffered so much thanks to her husband.
Lisa, on the other hand, didn’t know what to say to her.
Yes, twenty million was an enormous amount, and the roles and other benefits were attractive as well; however, she didn’t feel like accepting.
After all, she had to hand over the evidence and take back her complaint against Lucian in return for what Iris offered.
It was thanks to Aren that she could even have this conversation with Iris; therefore, she felt that it was more appropriate if Aren made the decision instead of her.
Thinking that, she turned to Aren and asked: "What do you think we should do?"
-----------------------------------
(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)
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