Chapter 1574 Incident Occurs
The following day, Ann stayed at the office until the afternoon. She had scheduled a meeting with an agent from another entertainment company regarding a star who wanted to transfer.
Stanley Ortiz, a top-tier celebrity from that entertainment company, was looking to sign with S.M Corporation.
He had been famous for over a decade, starring in numerous TV dramas. Those fantasy series from ten years ago remained a nostalgic cornerstone for countless fans. Online forums buzzed with speculation about his expiring contract.
What no one knew was that he had already contacted S.M Corporation, and Ann had promised him a substantial signing bonus. But this matter required her personal touch.
When the appointed time arrived, Ann grabbed her purse and headed out.
Lester was already waiting at the hotel, explaining that Stanley was still resting next door.
"Ms. White, I'm ordering some food for Stanley. Would you mind knocking on his door to wake him? He had a night shoot yesterday, but I told him you were coming. He should be awake by now," Lester said, checking his watch.
Ann had already negotiated with the other company beforehand. Given the generous signing fee she offered—plus some leverage she held over their executives—management was willing to release Stanley. It helped that Stanley was straightforward, without the usual industry games.
With nearly twenty years in the spotlight and 80 million Twitter followers, he was the definition of enduring stardom.
They'd chosen this hotel for its exceptional security—no reporter had ever successfully infiltrated it—ensuring their meeting wouldn't generate unwanted speculation.
Ann rose and walked to the adjacent room.
Stanley had just awakened and, assuming it was his agent, opened the door wearing only a bathrobe.
Seeing Ann, he froze.
Ann also hesitated, her raised hand pausing mid-air. Clearing her throat, she said, "Come over when you're ready. You and your agent need to review the contract."
Stanley ran his fingers through his hair, quickly regaining his composure. "Of course."
Back in the other room, the signing process went smoothly. Lester, representing the original company, raised several pointed objections, all of which Ann skillfully deflected. When Ann's lawyer arrived, they swiftly finalized the agreement.
Stanley chose not to leave with his agent. Since Lester would remain with the original company, Stanley accompanied Ann in her car, planning to head directly to S.M Corporation where executives would determine his upcoming schedule.
At the hotel entrance, Stanley shook Lester's hand. Despite their four-year partnership, their diverging visions had made this separation inevitable.
Once in Ann's car, he exhaled with relief.
Ann glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Did you finish shooting last night?" she asked.
"Yes. I have no commitments now, otherwise I wouldn't dare switch agencies," he replied.
"Don't worry. The company will arrange new projects for you quickly."
Stanley smiled. He carried himself with a seasoned confidence, though at thirty-two, he was still relatively young—precisely the age when male stars typically hit their prime.
His former company had pressured him to mentor their newcomers and had orchestrated a fake relationship for six months, drawing widespread criticism online. By capitalizing on Stanley's fame, they had successfully launched several actresses' careers, creating bitter feuds between his fans and theirs.
Now that his contract was expiring, his Twitter mentions exceeded 30,000 comments, nearly all urging him to leave.
As they approached the company's entrance, Ann received a call from Ronald.
"Ann, where are you?" he asked.
"Just outside the building. What's wrong?"
"Come up right away."
Ann sensed trouble. When she reached the office, Ronald showed her the trending topics.
The number one trend concerned Stanley.
#BREAKING: Stanley Terminates Contract—Affair with Rival Company Executive?
The story came from a popular entertainment journalist known for explosive scoops that reliably generated massive engagement.
This time was no exception. The post included several photos.
The male celebrity's face was blurred, but the woman's wasn't.
The first photo showed the male star opening the door wearing only a bathrobe.
The second captured the woman leaving, her profile visible while the man remained pixelated.
Modern fans were relentless—they could identify celebrities from just a glimpse of their eyes. And in these photos, the male star's chest muscles were clearly visible.
Comments came flooding in:
[It's Stanley! Isn't he dating Azalea Gray?]
[They were spotted together last week! Azalea even hinted at 'good news coming soon.' Did he cheat?]
[Azalea's livestreaming right now—she's crying, saying she's heartbroken!]
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