Alexander's POV
The doors to my office opened quietly as Adam Brooks ushered our uninvited guests inside.
Three people immediately caught my attention.
The first was a middle-aged man dressed in an expensive navy-blue suit whose smile failed to reach his eyes. There was something distastefully greedy about him that I found immediately unpleasant.
The second was a woman in her late thirties. Despite her simple appearance, there was an unmistakable intelligence hidden behind her tired eyes.
The last was a beautiful young woman who I recognized almost immediately.
Jada Vale.
No wonder Seraphina had chosen her as the female lead.
Her almond-shaped brown eyes, caramel skin and espresso-brown hair possessed the kind of beauty cameras adored. Combined with the reputation she had built over the past five years, she was undoubtedly a rising actress within Thide Country's entertainment industry.
The three of them sat opposite me after exchanging brief greetings.
The middle-aged man smiled before extending his hand politely.
"My name is Roland Pike, Mr. Alex. I'm the CEO of Pike House Pictures."
Before I could respond, he continued.
"This is Miss Mara Kade, Jada's manager."
He gestured toward the woman seated beside him.
"And lastly, Miss Jada Vale."
I nodded lightly.
"Please continue."
Without another word, Roland Pike abruptly slammed both hands against my desk.
BANG!
"Chairman Alexander Blackwood, Pike House Pictures demands one billion Farqus in compensation!"
The sudden outburst caused Sebastian's brows to furrow immediately while Adam Brooks looked equally surprised.
"..."
Meanwhile, I simply stared at him quietly while he continued speaking aggressively.
"Miss Jada's reputation has suffered tremendously because of Seraphina's scandal! We've spent five years building her career and now everything has been affected because of Birch Entertainment!"
He paused briefly before pointing angrily toward me.
"Birch Entertainment has severely damaged our image! If this matter isn't resolved immediately, we'll take it to the internet and expose everything!"
"..."
"We're also demanding the immediate termination of Miss Jada's contract with Birch Entertainment Company."
Silence descended upon the office.
Somehow, I found myself wondering whether I looked particularly approachable today.
"Have you finished?" I finally asked.
"No!" he snapped immediately. "One billion Farqus isn't unreasonable considering..."
"It is."
"..."
"..."
The atmosphere became awkward immediately.
I shifted my gaze away from him before looking toward Mara Kade.
"Miss Mara..."
"With all due respect, we aren't acquaintances, Sir."
I raised my brows slightly.
"Excuse me?"
She straightened her posture slightly before speaking respectfully.
"I apologize, Sir. However, I don't believe we've met previously."
For the first time since she entered my office, I found myself mildly impressed.
I nodded lightly before shifting my gaze toward Jada instead.
"How should I address you?"
"Everyone calls me Jada."
"I see."
There was silence for several moments before I asked calmly,
"Do you genuinely wish to terminate your contract with Birch Entertainment Company?"
"Yes, I do."
"And receive one billion Farqus in compensation?"
"Of course!"
I nodded lightly.
"Would you be interested in becoming an artist under Birch Entertainment Company instead?"
Before Jada could answer, Roland Pike immediately became alarmed.
"Mr Alex..."
Jada suddenly frowned before interrupting him.
"Mr. Alex, I hope you aren't attempting to destroy my career."
"..."
"Also," she continued coldly, "not everyone can be controlled by your money."
Silence immediately descended upon the office once more.
"It isn't as though I wish to become one of the countless women throwing themselves at you."
Sebastian slowly closed his eyes while Adam Brooks quietly lowered his head.
For the first time since becoming chairman, I genuinely found myself speechless.
Slowly, I leaned back against my seat before laughing quietly.
"I thought that was why you came asking me for one billion Farqus."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Jada's face immediately became bright red.
Ignoring her entirely, I turned toward Sebastian.
"The contract."
"Immediately, Master."
Several moments later, Sebastian returned carrying the contract before handing it over respectfully.
"Thank you."
"..."
Sebastian looked at me as though he had seen a ghost.
I ignored him and began reading through the contract quietly before finally stopping at a particular page.
"Everyone, kindly turn to page eight."
The sound of flipping pages immediately echoed throughout the office.
Roland Pike smiled confidently while Jada sat proudly with legs crossed and arms folded across her chest.
Meanwhile, Mara Kade silently continued reading.
"It states here," I began calmly, "that neither party may terminate this agreement before the stipulated period expires."
The smiles upon Pike and Jada's faces slowly began disappearing.
"It further states that whichever party attempts to terminate the contract shall compensate the other party one hundred and fifty million Farqus."
Silence immediately followed.
"Lastly..."
I smiled pleasantly before continuing.
"Any party found intentionally causing emotional distress, reputational damage or unnecessary financial burden upon the other party shall additionally pay ten million Farqus in damages."
The office suddenly became deathly silent.
Slowly, I closed the contract before lifting my gaze toward Roland Pike.
"Mr. Pike."
He visibly swallowed.
"Y-Yes?"
"Would you prefer writing me a cheque or making a bank transfer of one hundred and sixty million Farqus?"
"...Excuse me?"
"You now owe me one hundred and sixty million Farqus."
His expression immediately froze.
"I don't particularly mind whether it's today or tomorrow."
Jada's beautiful face immediately turned pale while Mara silently closed the contract and slowly adjusted her glasses.
Only Roland Pike remained staring at me in absolute disbelief.
After several moments, an awkward smile suddenly appeared upon his face.
"Chairman Alexander..." he laughed nervously. "I believe there's been a misunderstanding."
"Oh?"
"We didn't come here to terminate the contract!" he immediately explained. "We merely came to confirm that Seraphina's scandal wouldn't affect our Jada's career."
"Is that so?"
"YES!"
The confidence from several minutes earlier had completely disappeared.
Before he could continue speaking, Jada suddenly smiled sweetly.
"Mr. Alex..."
"Disgusting."
"..."
"..."
"..."
For the second time that afternoon, the entire office became speechless.
I slowly folded my hands together before speaking calmly.
"You have until tomorrow to compensate Birch Entertainment Company."
"T-TOMORROW!?"
I turned toward Sebastian.
"What time is it?"
"Two-thirty in the afternoon, Master."
I nodded lightly before looking back at Roland Pike whose face had become considerably paler than when he first entered my office.
"I suppose I am feeling rather generous today."
His eyes immediately brightened.
"I'll give you until three o'clock tomorrow afternoon."
The smile upon my face widened slightly.
"Fail to pay before then and I shall sue Pike House Pictures with both the contract and today's surveillance footage serving as evidence."
Roland Pike's face immediately lost all color.