Chapter 164 Negotiation
"Yeah, Grace got set up. She's totally innocent. If I wanna clean up her rep in Hollywood, Igotta drop some serious cash!" Charles said, dead serious.
"How do you know she got framed? How do you know the news ain't true? Who can say for sure in showbiz? They even got video proof. That's solid evidence!" she shot back.
"She said the video was edited. I believe her!" he said, not budging an inch.
"You?" Nancy was fuming and frustrated.
She wasn't mad at Charles; she just thought Grace was a master manipulator!
'This sneaky chick must be playing all sweet and innocent in front of Charles!
Charles has already blown seventy-seven million bucks on her.
And she's still not happy.
Such greed is just gross!' Nancy thought.
"Whatever, I don't wanna talk about it anymore. Spend your money on her if you want. It's your cash, but be careful. You've already dropped hundreds of millions on Grace, and she still hasn't said yes to being your girlfriend or turned you down. She's just using you like an ATM. Can't you see that? She'll never be satisfied!" Nancy said.
"Miss Hawkins, I think you're getting it twisted. I'm not as dumb as you think!" Charles couldn't spill all the beans.
He couldn't say that the more he spent, the more he'd get back later.
Charles wasn't some gullible fool.
And he never planned for Grace to be his girlfriend, just a lover.
Spending money on a lover naturally costs more.
It's a whole different ball game!
"I know, people blinded by love always think they're not fools!"
Nancy said, thinking Charles was so pathetic!
A guy who's got it all, but with zero emotional IQ!
He couldn't even see through such a two-faced act, happily blowing so much cash on someone.
Nancy thought he didn't get that a real high-quality woman wouldn't just spend a guy's money before locking down a relationship.
Nancy had been taught this since she was a kid.
She glanced at Charles, both mad and amused.
For the first time, she thought this handsome, talented, piano and dance whiz, and super-rich Mr. Smoke, was so naive!
Actually, a guy like that was kinda cute and likable!
[Nancy: Favorability +5
Nancy: Favorability +5
Nancy: Favorability +5
Current Favorability: 45 points.]
'Just like that, the favorability goes up?' Charles thought, almost laughing.
He figured Nancy had him all wrong.
'You think I'm a money tree getting played, but I'm actually the ultimate player! You have no clue about my game!' Charles thought for a sec. 'Since there's a misunderstanding, let it be!'
After all, Nancy was the one misunderstanding, and he couldn't care less about clearing it up for her!
"By the way, where did Grace go? I just saw her a minute ago, and now she's gone. Did you see where she went?" Charles asked, playing dumb.
"I just saw Grace and Olivia head into a private room. They seemed to have something to talk about. Didn't you hear anything I just said?" Nancy replied.
"I heard you, but maybe you should stop trash-talking Grace. Don't you think you're kinda being the two-faced one here?" Charles shot back.
Nancy had just taken a sip of champagne and ended up spraying it all over Charles!
'Did Charles just call me two-faced? Seriously? No one's ever said that to me in over twenty years!' she fumed.
"I was just trying to help, and you think I'm some backstabbing gossip? I hate you!" Nancy snapped, but then she replayed their convo in her head and realized she did sound kinda shady.
'But I was just looking out for him! How can he trust Grace, who's bleeding him dry, but doubt me?' Nancy thought, frustrated.
Meanwhile, Grace was having a private chat with Olivia.
"Grace! It's been a year, and you still look amazing. I thought after that mess, you'd be a wreck!" Olivia said with a sly smile.
"Not as dazzling as you, Olivia. Actually, I came to this charity gala just to see you. I need your help!" Grace cut to the chase.
"What kind of help?" Olivia frowned, sensing trouble.
Grace leaned in and whispered something.
Olivia's face changed instantly. "No way, I can't agree to something so childish and ridiculous!"
"Nothing's impossible. Olivia, you're almost 27. The prime time in Hollywood doesn't last forever, and your opportunities are drying up. Making it to the A-list is a long shot. You might as well use your current fame to expose Mr. Lee's exploitation of actresses. It won't hurt your rep much; it's not that great anyway! And of course, the price is negotiable," Grace said, cool and confident. She had the acting chops and the gift of gab to back it up.
"It's not about the money!" Olivia protested.
"Fifteen million dollars! Speak out, and you get fifteen million. You know it would take a B-list actress at least five, maybe ten years to make that in Astraea. These next five years are crucial for you. Can you guarantee you'll make fifteen million in that time?" Grace pressed.
The offer made Olivia hesitate.
'But this could wreck my reputation. If I expose that I was exploited by Mr. Lee, who knows how the internet will react? My career could tank. As a B-lister, I'm already doing well. I want to take a shot at the A-list before I hit thirty. But if I do this, I might be done for!' Olivia thought.
"No! It's really not about the money. Mr. Lee isn't easy to take down. He's been in the game for over twenty years. Do you think we can topple him with just a few of us? If we fail, we're all screwed!" Olivia wavered.
"Then what do you think of Mr. Smoke?" Grace asked.
"Mr. Smoke?"
"Yeah, do you think Mr. Smoke's power is less than Mr. Lee's? Mr. Smoke has already agreed to invest in two $77 million movies. If you say yes, you'll get fifteen million and be the second lead in both movies!" Grace laid it all out.
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