At that mont a stunned silence followed.
Samuel didn’t move. He didn’t speak. He just stood there—his hands twitching slightly by his sides, his throat tightening with regret.
In his mind, a thousand thoughts swirled, Why didn’t I keep quiet? Why didn’t I let her introduce herself first?
Why did I assu? Now, looking at Cora... really looking at her—he saw what he hadn’t before. The poise. The grace. The authority that wrapped around her like a tailored suit. She wasn’t just powerful; she was extraordinary. A woman of elegance, class, and command. And he—Samuel Callum, the nation’s beloved actor—had insulted her.
He wanted to hit himself.
If there was one thing he now knew, it was that he didn’t want to lose MK. It wasn’t just about the money. MK had given him structure, backing, a reputation that no other agency could offer. And now, more than ever, he didn’t want to lose her—Cora.
A woman like that was rare. She was the kind of woman a man fought for, not disrespected.
He swallowed hard, then stepped forward. His shoulders slumped slightly, and he ford his voice into sothing softer, sothing vulnerable—sothing almost unfamiliar to everyone in the room.
"I..." he began, then sighed deeply, his tone carrying the weight of guilt. "I apologize. Truly."
Cora remained silent, her eyes unreadable.
"I’m sorry for what just happened," he continued, now sounding like soone who had been cracked open. "And for the way I spoke to you. That wasn’t . I know it doesn’t excuse it, but... I was angry. Just like my representative said—I’ve been overwheld. This new movie role, it’s... it’s pushing ntally and emotionally, and I guess I let all of that out in the wrong place, at the wrong ti."
He looked down, then back up at her.
"I’m a professional. I should’ve handled it better. And I’m... I’m really sad that I let it get to ."
At that mont, Samuel’s male representative quickly stepped forward, eager to support his client’s sudden change in tone.
"Yes, yes," he said with urgency, his hands slightly raised as if begging for understanding. "That’s exactly what happened. Samuel didn’t an any of those things. He was just overwheld. The frustration got to him, and he said things he shouldn’t have."
The female representative nodded quickly in agreent. "He’s not like this normally," she added. "He’s been under a lot of pressure with his current project, and today just wasn’t his best mont. We sincerely apologize again, Miss Cora."
Samuel took another deep breath, then spoke with a trembling voice, doing his best to sound humble and desperate.
"And just to show you how sorry I am..." he said, his hands now in front of him as if making an offering, "I’ll extend my contract for another three years. No increase. I’ll go with my forr pay. Exactly as it was before. No negotiation."
For a mont, silence fell again. But this ti, the shock didn’t co from Cora—it ca from behind Samuel.
His two representatives turned to him with wide eyes, their jaws practically hitting the floor.
What?
They couldn’t believe what they had just heard. Samuel—the sa Samuel who had been ranting for weeks about a raise, who had demanded double what he was getting paid, who threatened to walk out if his demands weren’t t—was now offering to continue for the sa amount? No bonus? No upgrade? Not even a minor adjustnt?
It was unthinkable.
They knew Samuel well. He was proud. Arrogant. He never backed down when it ca to his worth. And yet, here he was, throwing everything aside because of one woman. One woman who had put him in his place and shown him what true power looked like.
But still, they managed to keep their expressions in check, standing behind him and hoping—praying—that this last-minute effort would be enough.
Cora, however, remained unmoved.
Her face was calm, but her eyes held no softness.
She looked at Samuel for a long, lingering mont. Then she slowly shook her head.
"I don’t care about that," she said quietly, yet her words struck like thunder. "You could offer to work for free and I still wouldn’t accept it."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"My decision is final," Cora said clearly. "Your contract is cancelled. MK Entertainnt will not be working with you again."
Hearing what Cora just said—her voice so firm, her decision so final—Samuel felt his heart sink deep into his chest. The weight of disappointnt settled heavy on his shoulders. His mouth opened slightly as if to say sothing, to defend himself, to plead—but no words ca out.
For once in his life, Samuel Callum was speechless.
He stared at the floor, the reality of his prideful mistake clawing at him from the inside. The representatives beside him stood stiff and nervous, not daring to utter a word.
Then, without warning, Malisa leaned in beside Cora and whispered softly into her ear. Her words were low, private, and calculated. She wasn’t begging—Malisa never begged. But she was offering sothing that Cora was willing to consider. Perhaps a middle ground. Perhaps a test.
Cora didn’t respond imdiately. She simply listened, her eyes locked ahead as her mind processed every angle, every consequence.
After a few silent minutes, Cora stood up.
She looked down at Malisa and gave her a small nod. "Handle it," she said, her voice still calm but now carrying sothing else—final delegation. "Just like we discussed."
Without saying anything more to Samuel or his representatives, she turned around, took her elegant steps toward the door, and walked out of the room.
Her heels echoed in the silent space, each step a clear reminder that she didn’t need to raise her voice to show her authority. She was power in motion, and she had made her point.
The mont the door clicked shut behind her, Malisa turned to face Samuel and his team.
Her deanor was sharp, but not hostile. She looked at Samuel directly, her eyes firm but professional.
"Miss Cora has accepted your request," Malisa said.
Samuel’s head shot up in surprise, and his representatives straightened, hope flickering back into their eyes.
"But," Malisa added quickly, "you’re on probation now."
Samuel’s expression froze again.
"That ans," Malisa continued, "if any truthful report lands on Cora’s desk about your behavior, your attitude, or anything that damages MK Entertainnt’s reputation, your contract will be terminated. Instantly. No second chances. No discussions."
Her voice was clipped, serious. There was no space for misunderstanding.
She then pointed toward the sleek, unopened file lying neatly on the center of the table—the one that had almost never been signed.
"That’s the contract," she said. "If you agree to her terms, if you’re ready to follow the rules and finally show so respect, then go ahead and sign it."
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