….
Danny Foster, after being fired from Ross' assistant, currently stood in uncharacteristically subdued posture.
His usual haughty and irritated demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Instead, his face curved into a meek smile, and his hands were neatly folded behind his back.
"…How is the film shooting going?"
Asked, Hudson Cole - his voice was casual, almost disinterested.
Hudson, seemingly in his late twenties, stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. From the 12th floor of the [Angle Talent Agency]'s headquarters, the endless line of cars looked like ants crawling through a maze of asphalt.
He barely turned his head as he spoke.
And, of course, he was the reason behind Danny's sudden shift in attitude.
Hudson slowly adjusted the cuff of his tailored suit, the platinum links catching the faint afternoon light. His reflection was barely visible in the glass, but it was there, a faint outline of a man who looked the part far better than he played it.
This man, Hudson Cole, wasn't just any executive.
He was the eldest son of the company's CEO. Which meant he didn't need to be particularly good at his job to wield power.
Despite his privileged position, his track record in talent management was abysmal. In reality, he was nothing more than a placeholder with a title.
The industry rumor mill had long whispered that his father kept him around for optics, to maintain the image of a family-run dynasty, rather than for any actual business acumen.
Danny, who had long grown accustomed to Hudson's shallow grasp of the industry, responded.
"Which movie?" His words were clipped, as if implying there were far too many mediocre productions in the agency's portfolio to bother keeping track.
At that, Hudson's thin veneer of authority wavered just a little. "I forgot the title…" He admitted, almost sheepishly. Then, with forced confidence, he added. "But the one with oldie Ross acting in it."
Danny didn't comment on the blatant disrespectfulness towards Ross and responded. "Mr. Ross' schedule wrapped up a couple weeks ago."
But internally, the mention of Ross made his jaw tighten slightly.
That man.
Danny still remembered the exact moment Ross had driven him out of the car and left him stranded in the middle of the road like a piece of garbage.
Even now, just recalling the memory made his fingers itch to clenched into fists.
But he swallowed it down.
Not yet.
He knew when to act.
He had learned how to wait. Bide his time …and when the moment came…
He would make sure it was worth it.
Hudson barely reacted, as if the information didn't quite register.
After a brief pause, he asked flatly. "What about the other guy? The new one from our agency. He is playing the lead role in the movie, isn't he?"
Once again, Danny's expression was forcefully neutralized as he replied. "Yes, boss. But he isn't much of a deal. His acting is… at best, subpar. And to be honest, the chances of the movie becoming a hit are slim."
There was no attempt to mask the prejudice in his voice.
Obviously, he was referring to Timothée Chalamet.
To Danny, the rookie was nothing more than a gamble, a pretty face with some fleeting talent but nothing remarkable. Certainly not someone worth betting on.
Hudson let out a faint, noncommittal hum, resting his palm against the glass.
For a moment, he seemed to be deliberating, the faint creases in his brow suggesting some inner calculation.
Then—
The office door swung open.
A sharply dressed man strode in, Hudson's assistant.
He was carrying a sleek black folder in one hand, his weary expression barely concealed behind a thin mask of professionalism.
As he crossed the room, his gaze flicked briefly toward Danny.
And in that split second, Danny caught it.
The subtle flicker of fear behind the assistant's eyes.
But Danny?
He simply smiled.
Not the warm, reassuring kind.
No.
It was the practiced, insincere smile of a man who knew exactly what it took to make the other person feel smaller.
And it worked.
The assistant's steps slowed ever so slightly, but he pressed forward, walking over to Hudson.
"How much were they willing to pay for him?" Hudson turned slightly, his interest piqued by the interruption.
Understanding the question, the assistant hesitated, his eyes lowering briefly to the folder before answering. "They are offering $750,000 upfront, plus an additional $250,000 for breaching the contract."
Hudson's brow lifted slightly.
It was a surprisingly generous offer, mere pocket change to him, perhaps, but a fortune for a rookie actor with little market value.
Far more than he had anticipated.
...But this move wasn't just about the money. With it, he could finally wash his hands of Timothée. He would have a clean exit, sparing his company the humiliation of being tied to a failed project.
By now, he was convinced the movie was destined to flop.
The supposed contract was offered by none other than Christopher Bennett, the CEO of [Iconique Talent Agency].
…and it all started the moment Christopher caught wind of Timothée Chalamet's casting in Regal's movie.
A new face. A fresh talent.
But more importantly - An actor from Angel Talent Agency.
Undoubtedly, one of the best Agency firms in the field, a position, Iconique Talent Agency, could only aspire.
At first, Danny had assumed it was a lost cause.
Trying to snatch an actor from Angel's roster was like trying to pry loose a diamond from a sealed vault.
But he couldn't just give up either.
So, he decided to take a shot.
One attempt.
Just to see if there was even a crack in the armor.
….
In 2010 Hollywood, it wasn't unheard of for an agency to buy out a contracted actor(:clients), but it was rare - very rare, for a competitor to casually throw around a million dollars for someone unproven.
Established actors with box office pull?
Sure - not like they would agree to give up a golden goose.
But a newcomer?
That was the moment Danny felt it, something was off.
Either the studio was desperate, or they had spotted something in the kid that his agency had somehow missed.
…His gut nudged him with a faint warning, but the resentment toward Ross, and the humiliation of being undermined by some no-name director, clouded his judgment.
All those emotions tangled together, blurring his vision.
But Hudson?
He didn't seem particularly impressed. A mockery tugged at the corner of his lips, as though he already knew the outcome - a gesture that suggested he believed he was playing the long game.
"Okay… let's make them wait a little longer before we agree to the deal." He said, his tone nonchalant.
The assistant shifted uncomfortably. He expectedly looked at Danny for a second before avoiding his gaze.
"Sir… should we ask Mr. Ross for a second opinion?"
It was a reasonable suggestion. After all, Ross was one of their more established clients - a seasoned actor with clout. And given that he was working on the same film, it only made sense to get his insight.
But—
Hudson's eyes narrowed slightly.
He didn't like Ross.
Not even a little.
To Hudson, Ross was nothing but dead weight - a relic of a bygone era who had outlived his usefulness.
He still couldn't understand why his father kept him around. After all the trouble they had faced because of him, Hudson thought he should have been cut loose years ago.
In fact, if it were up to him, he would have kicked Ross out without a second thought.
And if that wasn't enough - there was also Danny.
Hudson didn't know all the details.
But he knew enough.
Just the fact that the man he personally recommended, his own man, and someone he put his name behind, had been thrown away after being used…
That alone was enough to make his blood simmer.
That incident sat like a splinter under his skin.
An itch he couldn't scratch.
So no.
He didn't care about Ross's opinion. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"No. No need for that." Hudson replied dismissively, not even bothering to look up.
His father had 'taught' him early on - that appearing decisive was more important than actually being competent.
And right now, Hudson truly believed he was making the best decision.
Not just for himself, but for the company's future and its welfare. Or at least, that's what he told himself.
The assistant exchanged a quick glance with Danny, but said nothing.
It was clear he wouldn't be able to convince his boss.
Not now.
Not ever.
Besides… there was Danny.
If the assistant pushed too much, he knew he would get chewed out again.
So, for now - He let it be.
While there was a slight hope in him ….maybe Hudson wasn't completely incompetent.
After all, he had been in the business for years.
Surely, he had picked up a thing or two.
Right?
But the real question was - Did he actually know what he was doing?
Or was he just stalling for the sake of his ego?
….
"I will take my leave then, sir…"
- the assistant took his leave, but there was a faint edge of urgency to it. It was as if he was trying to slip away before Hudson's mood shifted again.
Hudson simply waved him off wordlessly.
However, Danny spoke and called the assistant who was about to exit the door. His tone was casual, almost too casual. "I should assist him in moving the contract too, sir… our assistant Jaxon."
Once again, Hudson didn't even blink. "Whatever."
His words were clipped, careless.
….
As the assistant, now Jaxon, made his way toward the door, his pace quickened slightly.
There was a subtle tension in his shoulders, a stiffness in his posture.
Because he knew.
The moment they were outside, he was going to get 'chewed' out.
Right now.
Right there.
No reprieve.
And from the way Danny's lips barely twitched, a faint glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes, it was clear.
He knew it too.
….
.
Christopher was on a call.
And the person on the other end?
Regal.
"Director Regal… Can you give me a hint? Think of it as a personal request." Christopher's tone was measured but firm, the kind that didn't leave much room for casual refusal.
On the other end, Regal's low chuckle filtered through the line. "President, when did I ever agree to let you buy off my actor behind my back? And now you are asking me to put a price on him for you? Isn't that a bit much, even as a favor?"
There was a faint trace of amusement in his voice, but his words carried a clear edge. He knew exactly what Christopher was trying to pull.
Truth be told, Regal wouldn't have minded if Christopher managed to pry Timothée Chalamet away from Angel Talent Agency.
In fact, he actually respected the boldness of the move.
It was one thing to negotiate discreetly, but Christopher's aggressive play showed confidence in Regal's judgment.
The man clearly had an eye for talent, and Christopher knew it.
No more beating around the bush.
Christopher cut to the chase. "Director Regal, I am thinking of betting around $1.5 million on him. What do you think?"
His voice was steady, the number laid out with deliberate weight.
It wasn't an offer, at least not yet.
That was just the ceiling he was willing to reach for now.
But was it a smart investment …or just reckless spending?
Even he wasn't sure. And that's why he had called Regal in the first place.
Regal's response was cryptic. "Mr. Christopher, let me put it this way… How much would you have been willing to pay for Keanu if he were in another agency right now, with zero films under his belt… and you were the only one who recognized his potential?"
There was a brief pause.
Then, before Christopher could respond.
"Anyway, that is all I can say for now."
And just like that, the line went dead.
Christopher exhaled slowly, pulling the phone away from his ear and setting it down on the table.
His fingers drifted to his temple, rubbing it lightly, a small, fleeting attempt to soothe the building tension. Then his eyes lifted slightly, landing on the woman standing before him.
"Anna… if they don't agree to $1.5 million, I am giving you the green light to push it up to $2 million."
There was no hesitation in his voice. Only resolve. And then, after a slight pause, he added. "Just make sure we get him."
"Yes, sir." Anna's response was immediate, her voice firm.
She didn't need to ask twice.
She understood perfectly.
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
Author Note:
Visit Patreon to instantly access +1 chapter for free, available to Free Members as well.
For additional content, please do support me and gain access to +10 more chapters.
–> p@treon.com/OrgoWriters