Chapter 306 A Vicious Scheme
As they neared the private room, Francis grabbed his phone, looking like he wanted to give some instructions.
After five years together, Audrey knew Francis too well; he was worried about Harper.
She quickly said, "Francis, we're late. Mr. Wood is an important guest. Let's hurry."
Francis glanced at her but stayed silent.
Feeling guilty, Audrey lowered her head and said, "You were getting treatment, and Mr. Wood has been waiting for days. But don't worry, I've calmed him down."
Just then, the waiter opened the private room door. Francis stopped dialing and walked in.
In another private room, Harper had just arrived and saw Maurice Hall from Starlight Entertainment already there.
She apologized, slightly bowing, "Mr. Hall, I'm so sorry. There was a traffic jam."
Before Maurice could respond, a woman next to him chimed in, "Oh my, the general manager of Elodie Studios sure has a big ego, making us all wait."
The voice was sharp and familiar. Harper looked over and recognized the woman—it was Francis's mistress, Chloe.
Harper smiled, "Oh, it's you, the mistress."
Chloe's face turned red.
"What did you say..." Chloe stopped as everyone at the table stared at her.
Chloe gritted her teeth. She never expected Harper to call her out, almost ruining her carefully maintained image.
Chloe forced a smile. "Ms. Murphy, you're joking?"
"Yeah, a real joke." Harper didn't want to show any respect to Chloe; after all, she started it.
Maurice broke the tension, laughing, "Both of you are beautiful. The design industry really has high standards for looks. Our actresses can't even compare."
"Mr. Hall, thanks for the compliment," Chloe responded, trying to smooth things over.
Everyone at the table was a big name in the design industry, and Chloe didn't want her past to spread around, which would ruin her reputation.
Although her reputation wasn't great now, the man behind her would be displeased if he heard about it. He was her only reliable support left.
After that, Chloe kept quiet for the rest of the meal.
Maurice did most of the talking. Tonight's dinner was essentially a selection process for a bid.
Before, these small studios always played second fiddle to Epoch Studio, like an unspoken rule.
But now, with Elodie Studios in the mix, whose style and momentum matched Epoch Studio, everyone was curious.
They wanted to see if Starlight Entertainment would switch studios for their top stars' styling this year, as the star effect was much stronger than advertising.
Midway through, Maurice went to the restroom. Since the private room's restroom was occupied, he went outside.
Not long after, Chloe sneaked to the restroom door. After checking that no one was around, she went in.
It was a family restroom, quite spacious, with a bench.
Chloe had barely stood still when Maurice pressed up against her, his large hands rubbing her waist.
Chloe knelt on the toilet lid, facing the wall. The mirror behind her clearly reflected her bent-over position.
Maurice, not yet fifty, wore glasses that made him look refined, but he was somewhat impotent in bed.
He could get excited only in places like this. With a push, he pinned Chloe against the wall.
Her skirt was so convenient under this circumstance. As he lifted it up, he could see she wasn't wearing anything underneath.
Maurice laughed sleazily, "Baby, you're so considerate."
Chloe panted softly, "At your service."
About fifteen minutes later, they were done. Chloe's face was flushed; just as she was getting excited, Maurice, who was all show and no substance, had finished.
Maurice pinched her waist lightly, asking, "Baby, did you enjoy it?"
Chloe rolled her eyes internally. The men she called for service at home were much better, who could go for three hours without stopping. Maurice, on the other hand, was a self-proclaimed sex addict but utterly disappointing in bed.
Chloe deliberately tried to look flushed and coy. "Of course, Mr. Hall, you're amazing. How are you so good at this?"
Maurice, pleased with her response, pinched her body, "It's all thanks to you."
Chloe continued to flatter him, "I wouldn't have that skill. You're a natural, Mr. Hall."
Maurice, feeling elated, was on cloud nine.
He spanked Chloe's butt, scolding, "Do you hang around with some young kids behind me?"
Chloe giggled, "I swear, you're my only man, Mr. Hall."
Whether true or not, it was pleasing to hear, and Maurice felt over the moon.
After the flattery, Chloe got down to business.
She wrapped her arms around Maurice's neck, purring, "Mr. Hall, tell me. There aren't any surprises this year, right?"
No surprises meant they would still choose Epoch Studio.
At this, Maurice's lecherous look faded, and he said a bit coldly, "This year, I'm not sure."
Chloe's expression changed, and she quickly asked, "What do you mean, not sure?"
"This year, Elodie Studios has some backing. The Murphy family has put in a word, saying it should be a fair competition."
Big entertainment companies often had ways to gain benefits through connections, and many leaders turned a blind eye. But this year, a top leader specifically mentioned it, which indicated that someone from Elodie Studios had also spoken to the higher-ups.
They didn't say directly that they would choose Elodie Studios but said it would be a fair competition, which was a very ambiguous expression.
Nevertheless, it surely meant it wasn't entirely controlled by capital and that Elodie Studios was confident enough to have a fair competition.
Chloe was stunned. Where did the Murphy family come from?
Harper's identity as the Murphy family's daughter didn't go public, and few in Northfield knew. Chloe was not one of them.
Chloe assumed Harper must have hooked up with someone from the Murphy family.
Chloe said furiously, "Mr. Hall, you have to help me. I must get this order."
When Chloe said "must," she meant it.
Maurice frowned, "Then you have to come up with a way. This isn't easy."
It struck Chloe how Maurice had been eyeing Harper during dinner.
He hadn't said anything, but those sitting around him had noticed his improper intention clearly.
Chloe smiled obsequiously, "What if Elodie Studios had a sex bribery scandal?"
Maurice was puzzled, "What do you mean?"
Chloe whispered a few words into Maurice's ears.
Maurice's eyes lit up with excitement, and he slapped his thigh, "Good plan."
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