The room was tense. The employees found it too suffocating to even breathe as they watched the power struggle between the two CEOs. Surely, CEO Wang would not lose to a man that did not even have up to half his experience, but CEO Zhao was not backing down. He came in here for something and he wasn't going to leave without it.
"Gentlemen, perhaps we should discuss this," a small frightened man, trapped between these two men, whispered.
"Stay out of this. I will deal with this matter and we can move on with our conversation." CEO Wang said.
CEO Zhao cocked his head to the side. "I don't want to ruin George's career, so you shouldn't try to give him a role that belongs to my actor."
"What do you mean?!" CEO Wang asked, with nostrils flared. "Do you think I cannot ruin the careers of your own actors?"
"I'd like to see you try. Xian Mina, the most controversial actress in the country, is still the highest-paid actress in the country because of me. Do you think there is any dirt you can dig up on my actors that I haven't already put out there? Can you say the same for your 'perfect' actors?" The air quoted around the perfect. "I asked the writer to make that script for my actor and you dare still the role? Mr Shu, I am pretty disappointed that you would betray me like this."
"Ah! CEO Zhao, it's not like that," the writer chuckled nervously.
CEO Zhao glared at him and the already trembling man almost melted into a puddle on the floor. "If Lifen is not the main lead of this drama, it is not going to happen, both of you should not tempt me."
"What? What can you do?"
Zhao snapped his fingers, and one employee at the side handed him a large brown envelope. He opened it and placed very incriminating pictures on the table as well as a document.
CEO Wang's eyes widened when he saw the pictures. "This... this..."
"What do you think people are going to say when they find out their perfect George used to be a male prostitute? And you? Who are you to be giving out roles for my drama?"
The writer stared at the document with wide eyes and parted lips. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Exactly what you see there. So if you don't want to go to court for stealing, then you do as I say."
"I don't remember signing this!"
"It doesn't matter. You will still get a royalty for it as long as we remain on the agreement that Lifen has the lead role. And you, CEO Wang, try anything like this again and I will release those pictures to the press. Goodbye, gentlemen." He said as he got up and left the office.
"Oh my goodness, CEO! How did you pull that off in just two days?" His secretary gushed as they left the room.
"CEO! CEO! There is a big problem!"
He frowned as he watched his chief of operations rush to him. "Arin is causing a big problem on set. She has refused to do any shoots since yesterday."
CEO Zhao frowned. "Why am I just hearing about this now? Is there something she doesn't like? Is anyone bullying her on the set?"
"No, it's nothing like that. She refuses to let anyone but her makeup stylist do her makeup and she refuses to go on set."
"And no one else is allowed to do it for her?" He asked.
"If it's not Fiona, she says she doesn't want anyone else."
"Why is the make-up artist refusing to do her makeup?"
"Well, sir..."
"Spit it out."
"She protesting."
"What?"
"She says she won't come back to the company unless you go and bring her yourself."
"I'm sorry, what?"
***
Zena watched as Logan went through her file with increasing frustration. It had been five minutes now, and he still hadn't said a word. He seemed so talk active yesterday. What happened now?
Clearing her throat, she leaned forward and broke the silence. "Do you not have any questions to ask?"
Logan looked up and shifted in his seat. "It says you are getting discharged today?"
Zena nodded. "Yes, all that remains is my report."
"Yes, the very important report. Do you know Chairman Zhen's secretary called me to ask about this?"
Zena frowned. "Why are you telling me that? All you need is to determine the truth."
Logan sighed heavily. There is no way she was lying about losing her memories, but what was making her so confident? "Alright, let's do that. Tell me about yourself, Zena."
Zena's eyes narrowed. "It's Xian, my name isn't Zena." She replied bluntly. She was smart enough to not fall for such a cheap trick.
"Then why did you claim otherwise? Why did you lie?" Logan asked.
"Because I didn't want to walk away from my children. I made a mistake signing them away, so I thought that would be a way to stay by their side. But I know now that was the wrong way to go about it." She said bluntly, and Logan nodded.
"I'll ask some personal questions now. Answer within three seconds. Okay?"
Zena hesitated for a split second before she nodded. "Okay."
"What are your parent's names?"
"Jason and Jessie Mina."
"What do they do now?" He asked, and Zena smiled. Another trick question.
"They're dead. They've been dead for twelve years now."
"Hmm, then what are the names of the people who raised you after they died?"
"Clint and Maisie Mina, my uncle and aunt. I grew up by the side of my younger cousin, Ningning, but we are now estranged."
"Why is that?"
"Because I am a horrible and ungrateful person, apparently." She retorted.
"Apparently? You don't believe you are a horrible and ungrateful person?" Logan asked with a raised brow.
Zena sighed. She wanted to know about Xian, but she was not prepared for what she heard from Molly. But some questions were answered. She had no one in her corner because she pushed them away with her horrible behaviour.
"I guess I am just realising it." She said bluntly, and Logan nodded.
"Let's move on for now. What is your occupation?"
"I'm an actress. A very successful one."
"No, you are a very problematic one and in that light, I'll ask you about the biggest scandal of your career," Logan asked, and Zena froze for another second. She did not know the answer to this. She kept a straight face, however, as she prepared to dodge it.
"How should I know? Do you know how many scandals I have had in my career? How am I supposed to decide which one is the biggest? I don't pay attention to those things."
Logan smiled. "Good try, but not good enough."
Her expression darkened. "What do you mean?"
"You have been giving short and direct answers till this question. I can not help but think you are lying."
"Lie?! I did not lie!"
"Oh really? Then answer the question."
"I already told you I don't pay attention to stuff like that. What makes you think am lying? Are you in my mind? Or were you there when I suddenly cared about the scandal?"
Logan scoffed as he leaned forward. "Yes, yes, I was there. And if you were really telling the truth, then you would know."