Ember’s finger tapped steadily against the polished surface of the mahogany desk—soft, rhythmic, but laced with impatience.
"So," she said at last, her voice edged with restrained irritation, "tell —what exactly is this deal you were talking about?"
Her gaze landed on Linda.
Linda, in turn, glanced at Aren, silently passing the responsibility.
In truth, she knew nothing.
She was rely accompanying Aren.
Even the earlier act, where Aren had implied he would take the offer to Scarlet instead, was also sothing she had been clueless about.
Her only contribution was to remain silent throughout, letting Ember form her own guesses regarding everything.
And Ember had.
Now, the weight of the room shifted.
Aren spoke.
"Miss Ember," he began, voice calm, almost indulgent, "the deal I’m offering will benefit you greatly."
"Then explain it clearly." Her patience thinned, the words clipped.
Aren didn’t rush.
Instead, he leaned back into his chair, posture loose, expression faintly amused—as though he had all the ti in the world.
"I’m guessing," he said, "that the reason you didn’t air the evidence against Lucian Valcourt... is because Titan Crest Entertainnt pressured you."
A brief pause.
His smile deepened.
"They threatened to pull every celebrity under their banner from your platforms."
Ember’s eyes narrowed, irritation flickering across her face.
"Get to the point."
Her restraint was fraying.
If not for the possibility—no matter how slim—that Scarlet might gain sothing from this, she would have already ended the conversation. His circling, his deliberate pacing... it grated on her.
But more than that—
It was his composure.
That quiet, unshaken ease.
Ember was accustod to control. People bent around her presence, adjusted their tone, asured their words. It pleased her—to stand above, to dictate the pace, to decide the outco.
Yet here—
She felt the opposite.
Not overtly. Not enough to call it out.
But subtly, unmistakably—
As though she were being guided, step by step, toward a conclusion he had already chosen.
It annoyed her.
And that was precisely why she stayed.
Because until she understood what he was offering—whether it threatened her, or worse, benefited Scarlet—she would not allow him to walk away.
Across from her, Aren watched, composed.
He had done his howork.
In an era where information was currency, people like Ember and Scarlet were open books to anyone patient enough to read between the lines. Shared schools. Identical career paths. The sa ruthless industry.
Rivals, carved from similar foundations.
It didn’t take much to see it.
And it took even less to use it.
"It’s not a stretch," Aren continued, voice steady, almost conversational, "to assu Titan Crest warned you—air the news, and their stars disappear from Sun Films... and every network tied to you."
His gaze held hers.
"And you, not wanting to fall behind Phoenix or the other platforms... chose to comply."
Ember scoffed, though it ca a fraction too late to be effortless.
"That’s obvious," she said. "Anyone could guess that."
But her eyes lingered on him now, sharper, more attentive.
"What else does Titan Crest Entertainnt possess to make listen to them?"
Even though Ember acted dismissive and indifferent on the surface, internally, she was impressed.
What Aren said was all true.
Titan Crest Entertainnt boasted having eight major stars of the country signed with them along with two top female idols with a huge fanbase. Their existence alone gave Titan Crest Entertainnt enough influence to boss people around in the industry.
After all, which platform or network didn’t want to feature them?
They were sure-shot money-makers.
Their movies attracted large audiences to the theaters, and the platforms fought to buy the exclusive rights to the movies featuring them.
If Sun Films was blacklisted by Titan Crest Entertainnt, they wouldn’t be able to buy or produce any show featuring those stars.
Moreover, Sun Films was a production house as well, which produced movies and dramas.
It thrived on creating its own content. But without access to top-tier talent, what could it produce that would rival the industry’s giants?
Competing against other titans without star power was no different from stepping onto a battlefield unard.
Worse—
Titan Crest’s reach extended far beyond those eight stars.
Nurous supporting actors, drama leads, veteran directors, and influential figures were signed with them.
To make an enemy of Titan Crest Entertainnt—
Wasn’t just risky.
It was reckless.
Ember understood that better than anyone.
And she didn’t believe that Aren could convince her otherwise.
Aren, however, was about to prove her wrong.
"Then what if," he said calmly, "you could poach those stars for your Sun Talent Agency?"
The words landed like a stone dropped into still water.
The ripples were imdiate.
"Wouldn’t that be enough?" he continued, his tone steady, almost casual. "If their celebrities leave... Titan Crest wouldn’t remain a titan. It will collapse into just another mid-tier agency."
Silence.
For the first ti since the conversation began—
Ember didn’t interrupt.
Her gaze sharpened, locking onto him with a focus that hadn’t been there before.
"And you’re saying," she asked slowly, one brow lifting, doubt and curiosity intertwining, "that you can make that happen?"
Aren t her eyes without hesitation.
"Indeed."
"That," he added, "is the deal I’m offering, after all."
A brief pause stretched between them.
"Alright," Ember decided to give him the benefit of doubt. "Tell your plan."
She would judge after hearing his plan whether what he claid was empty ambition or sothing real.
If it was the forr, she would be able to rest easy while sending them away, and if it was the latter, then she would’ve hit a jackpot, which would allow her to leave Scarlet in the dust.
Both outcos were to her favor.
Moreover, after knowing his plan, she could plan her actions accordingly.
For example, if Aren offered the plan to Scarlet and she agreed, then Ember would be able to swoop in and benefit from it because of knowing the plan beforehand.
However, it wasn’t necessary once she heard Aren’s full plan.
Her eyes were left wide open, and soon, a smile spread across her face.
"Wonderful," she said, the word laced with genuine admiration. "Only a fool would refuse after hearing sothing like that."
Aren’s lips tilted upward, faint but knowing.
"Then I hope," he replied, "you are not a fool."
For a brief second, Ember’s gaze sharpened—dangerous, warning.
Then it eased.
"Of course not."
Aren didn’t seem annoying to her anymore; instead, he felt like an angel sent from the heavens to help her.
She didn’t like Titan Crest Entertainnt from the beginning.
It was only because of their threats that she had to keep quiet about it.
But now, she was ready to strike them down and pick up the gold crumbs left behind after they crumbled into pieces.
"Alright then," Aren said, rising smoothly from his chair, as though the outco had never been in doubt. "We should begin preparations."
Ember nodded, all traces of earlier impatience gone, replaced by sharp, decisive focus.
She called her secretary to give her orders.
anwhile, Aren stepped out of her office alone, leaving Linda to prepare for the big surprise for Neil and Iris.
Aren walked down the corridor, hands in his pockets, expression calm—but his thoughts far from idle.
I built that company...
His gaze flickered, sothing colder surfacing beneath the composure.
And now—
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
I’m the one who’s going to tear it down.
...How ironic.
-----------------------------------
(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)
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