"By the way, how's everything at the company been lately?" It had been a week or two since she left, and she casually asked the question.
It truly was a casual inquiry because her absence from the company for a week or two at a time was quite normal. However, she wasn't like her unreliable father, who let entertainment and leisure take up his work time. Most of the time, when she wasn't at the office, she was either writing scripts or working on films, so everything she did was related to the movie industry. You could call her a workaholic.
The reason she could confidently leave the company to work outside was mainly due to her trust in Louise and the competence of her subordinates. She believed that the company's operations would not encounter any issues in her absence.
What surprised her, though, was that her casual question left Louise stammering for words.
"Why? Is something wrong?" Before she could even get an answer, Laila asked in astonishment.
Louise was torn. In principle, when the boss was away on business, she shouldn't burden her with "family matters," but she was genuinely worried that if something went wrong, she wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Well, it's not a big deal, but Roy introduced a friend to the company, hoping that the talent agency department could sign him."
Laila suddenly realized that Roy had actually taken her advice.
"I know about this. If he's not a troublesome figure, then give Roy some face and sign him. Whether he becomes a star or not doesn't matter. With so many films in production at the same time, what we lack the least are various supporting roles. Are you saying he's a troublesome person?"
"Maybe... he is really a troublesome person..." Louise sighed and replied with a somewhat bitter smile.
This only made Laila more surprised. "Who did he introduce, and even you find him troublesome?" She was well aware of Louise's abilities, and for her to consider someone troublesome meant that person must be incredibly problematic. Just how troublesome was this person?
"Well, this person is someone you know. It's the same Robert Downey Jr. who got into a fight with Roy last time and even ended up in the police station."
"Clang!" Laila's phone dropped to the ground. She quickly picked it up and confirmed, "Did you say Robert Downey Jr.? The one who played 'Chaplin'?"
"That's him," Louise replied with a sigh. Bringing an actor like him, who had such a bad reputation, into the company—what was Roy thinking? "I don't deny that the man is indeed very talented, but his condition is too bad. Now no one in Hollywood is willing to ask him to make movies anymore. If we sign him, if something happens to him again, I'm afraid it will damage the reputation of our company."
The company's development can be called a miracle in Hollywood. Step by step, she watched it sink into the mud and then watched it rise step by step. How could she let go of this hidden secret? A place where you have worked so hard was ruined by a bad actor?
A good reputation requires the accumulation of countless things, but a bad reputation only requires one stain.
Laila placed her hand over her chest, finding it hard to believe her luck. "Has the company already signed him?"
"Not yet. Susan from the talent agency department applied. She believes Robert has the potential and is worth nurturing."
That was also why Louise was conflicted. On one hand, she recognized Robert's talent and believed he had the potential to become a superstar. On the other hand, his personal issues were severe, to the point where he might self-destruct before reaching stardom. She couldn't gamble the company's future on a person like him.
Laila tried to suppress her excitement but couldn't help making the call to Roy.
As soon as the call connected, she exclaimed, "Roy!"
To her surprise, a sultry and lazy female voice responded from the other end, "This is Roy's phone, but he's not here. Who's calling?"
"Where's Roy? And who are you?" Laila's excited expression vanished, and she pursed her lips, her tone turning icy.
"He's in the bathroom. I'm his friend."
"The bathroom? Friend?" Laila's eyes narrowed dangerously. This scenario was all too familiar; was she insinuating an intimate relationship between her and Roy?
"Who are you talking to?" Roy's angry voice came from the phone, followed by some struggling. "I'm Roy Seasonstar. Who's calling me?"
"I'm Laila Moran."
Laila's voice suddenly appeared on the other end of the line, nearly causing Roy to throw his phone away. Damn it! He cursed in his heart. This was the worst possible situation!
"Laila, let me explain, it's not what you think!"
"You can explain, and I'm listening." Laila's voice was calm, without a hint of emotional fluctuation, as if nothing unusual had happened.
This sudden change made Roy's heart cool down. He suddenly realized that he probably didn't need to worry about her misunderstanding. After all, how could someone who had no feelings for him care about what had happened to him?
Thinking of this, he suddenly felt disheartened, and he no longer had the mood to explain.
"Never mind, you don't care anyway. Is there something you need from me?"
Laila's gaze turned cold by half a degree. She wasn't one to let her emotions show, especially in front of someone like Roy.
"Let's get back to business. I called the company earlier, and Louise told me that you've introduced a friend to the company?"
"Since Susan is interested in him, let him change all his bad habits from the past. You know I'm not just a director; I'm also the company's owner. While I can give him an opportunity, I can't watch him drag the company into trouble. If I find any signs of him getting involved in prohibited activities again, don't blame me for kicking him out of the company!"