novelraw Chapter 135: Sweetie
Chapter 135: Sweetie
Artist Director: ’Whoa, what on earth did Holly Summers do to get personally shelved by the big boss?’
"Yes, President."
Just as the artist director sent out the notice, a freshly-styled Holly Summers walked into the company. Sandra Holloway had also received the president’s notice.
So, when a gleeful Holly Summers pushed open Sandra Holloway’s office door, ready to sign her contract, she heard news that struck her like a bolt from the blue!
"Ms. Halloway, what are you saying? I landed that variety show myself. Why can’t I sign the contract now?"
Sandra Holloway lifted her gaze and sized Holly Summers up. "Tell me the truth. Who is the person backing you?"
Her real intention was to have Holly’s backer smooth things over with the company and get the President to reverse his decision. Holly Summers was one of her artists, after all. No matter how little she earned, it was still income, and Sandra didn’t want to lose that.
But could Holly tell her?
She couldn’t!
"Ms. Halloway, you can’t give up on me. I’ve been under your wing ever since I joined the company. I’ve done everything you’ve said, following your every direction without question. If you wash your hands of me, I’m really and truly finished."
At this, Sandra Holloway’s expression turned cold. "Riley Perry just got hit with a smear campaign that went viral, and now you’re in trouble. I suppose that means you were the one who bought those hit pieces on her.
Between an artist who clearly has the potential to make it big and one who can’t even be considered C-list, the company will obviously choose her. Since you’re not willing to talk, you can go discuss it with your backer yourself. If he can help you, maybe this situation can still be turned around. Beyond that, my hands are tied!"
"Ms. Halloway~"
Sandra Holloway: "Don’t bother. It’s useless. If it really comes to that, just terminate your contract." She had always known Holly Summers had her own schemes and was willing to go to extremes. ’I just hope her sponsor can pull some weight this time.’
Hearing the words "terminate your contract," Holly Summers gritted her teeth. As good as Stardust treated its artists, the termination fee was a massive sum. Although she’d earned some money, it paled in comparison to a penalty that was nearly eight figures.
"What about my variety show? I earned that spot myself..."
Sandra Holloway’s face grew even colder. ’And who does she think I’m doing this for?’
"Do you even know what it means to be shelved? As long as you’re with this company, and as long as the boss doesn’t change, you can forget about ever getting another gig.
If you want to terminate your contract, however, then none of this matters. You can go sign the contract directly with Director Warren."
After all, that contract had indeed been offered directly to Holly Summers.
Hearing this, Holly Summers knew the decision was final. She stepped out to make a phone call and had a plan when she returned. "I’ll terminate the contract. Ms. Halloway, thank you for everything over the past few years. Goodbye."
Sandra Holloway detected the hint of resentment in Holly’s voice, and it made her laugh in exasperation.
’Is she taking her anger out on me?’
She’d seen plenty of arrogant, ambitious young women in the entertainment industry. She would just have to wait and see how long Holly Summers could last in this business.
Holly Summers stormed out of Sandra Holloway’s office in a huff. She waited in the company lobby for about half an hour until a sharp-looking man in a suit arrived. After a brief exchange, they went to the artist director’s office, stated their business, completed the necessary procedures, paid the fee, and left.
After she left, the director reported the matter to Thomas Lynch.
"As long as the fee is paid, we’re good. Also, have the PR department issue a statement about her contract termination." He didn’t want the company’s reputation to be tarnished if she got into trouble down the line.
The artist director agreed and went to handle it. ’She was just a minor artist, after all. The money she’d earned for the company over the years didn’t even amount to the termination fee. If she had just kept her head down, the company wouldn’t have treated her poorly. Her mistake was targeting another artist from the same company—and most importantly, an artist with the potential to become a huge star.’
He’d also watched Riley Perry’s latest variety show. It was impossible not to; she was trending every single day. As his secretary put it, Riley Perry practically lived on the trending list—you couldn’t avoid seeing her.
So, smart, beautiful, and apparently skilled in real martial arts... it would be a travesty if Riley Perry didn’t make it big.
Online, several topics related to Riley Perry were still trending. Of course, the hashtag #VernonJacobs:TheBestExIsOneWhoActsLikeThey’reDead# had also shot to the top of the trending list—the kind that couldn’t be taken down no matter how hard you tried.
Although the affair between Vernon Jacobs and Gigi Walsh had diverted some of the public’s attention, everyone still assumed Riley Perry had been thoroughly crushed by the scandal.
In the minds of the netizens, Riley Perry must be an absolute wreck right now!
What they didn’t know was that she had accepted a certain man’s invitation and was leisurely enjoying a meal at a three-star Michelin restaurant.
After finishing a delicious dessert, Eric Sinclair finally got down to business. "Are you sure you don’t need my help with the online situation?"
Riley Perry elegantly dabbed the corner of her mouth, a small smile playing on her lips as she looked at him. "And how were you thinking of helping?"
"Take down the trending topics, sue the verified account that first published the smear articles, find the mastermind, have them locked up for a couple of days, make them pay damages, sue the marketing accounts that jumped on the bandwagon, and go after the netizens who slandered you online. Something like that."
"No rush. Stardust will handle all of that. Besides, I want to use this opportunity to set a trap for a couple of people."
A flicker of interest flashed in Eric Sinclair’s eyes. "Trap who?"
"The one who stuck her neck out, and my dear ex-boyfriend who loves to kick a person when they’re down~"
At this, a hint of resentful poutiness appeared on Eric Sinclair’s face. ’That Vernon Jacobs isn’t all that great. He’s not as handsome as me, not as tall as me, and doesn’t have as much money as me. What did she ever see in him?’
Riley Perry: ...’What is that look in his eyes? It makes me want to pull him into a hug and just squish him!’
’I really didn’t expect this side of Cole Sinclair. How is it that he’s actually kind of cute?’
"Well, hurry it up, then. Doesn’t it bother you that so many people are trashing you online?"
Riley Perry raised an eyebrow. "I’m not in a hurry. Why are you?"
Eric Sinclair’s expression remained unchanged, but his long fingers on the table twitched. Then, he puffed out his cheeks slightly. "...I, I don’t want to see your name next to another man’s, and I hate it when people insult you."
In the quiet private dining room, the man looked at Riley Perry a little nervously after he finished speaking. He saw her suddenly break into a radiant smile, her eyes curving into crescents and two deep dimples appearing on her cheeks. The seductive aura she usually carried suddenly vanished, replaced by something that he found even more endearing!
"Hahaha~ Cole Sinclair, I’ve discovered you’re even cuter than you were before!"
Eric Sinclair’s face flushed red in an instant.
’A handsome boy, his face bright red, looking at you with a mix of shyness and vexation... Who could possibly resist a sight like that?’
Riley Perry couldn’t resist the temptation. She stood up, sat right down next to him, pulled him into her arms, and planted several hard kisses on him.
This time, Eric Sinclair didn’t push her away. He even naturally wrapped his arms around Riley Perry’s slender waist, pulling her tightly into his own embrace, and lost himself in her fiery kisses.
Riley Perry felt like her lips were about to be kissed swollen by the little wolf pup in her arms before she finally let him go.
The man in her arms gazed at her with dazed eyes. He licked his lips, his expression one of pure, unsated longing as he said, "Sweetie, I want more."
Riley Perry felt an urge to clutch her chest, afraid her heart might leap out of her ribcage. Only a single thought remained in her mind: ’Yes! Yes! You can have it all!’