"Rose, do we have to go?" I asked about the nth time as we walked towards the conference hall.
"We should go and see what he is going to announce. Didn't you hear? Everyone needs to go inside the conference room," she replied with curious expressions.
I huffed in annoyance. We walked into the room, and almost all the seats were full. Everyone seemed eager to see Noah Anderson.
"Look, all the employees are here," Rose muttered under her breath.
"You are amazing, Tina. How did you make Noah agree to come here just a day after his return?"
We were walking to find a seat when we heard a group of girls talking. Rose gave me a look, and I rolled my eyes at the blatant lie of this person.
"Don't they fear that their lies will be exposed if she keeps bragging like this?" Rose said in a low voice.
"I think they are fearless," I replied.
"Of course, Tina is the beloved wife of Mr. Anderson. He came here to support his wife," another girl chimed in, flattering the imposter.
"Guys, you are saying too much. That is the company under the Anderson Group. He is here just for normal work," Tina said, but anyone could see the smug look in her eyes.
"Good afternoon, everyone. I am Louis Smith, the president of this company, and today we have a special guest with us—our chairman, Noah Anderson."
The room instantly fell silent as all eyes turned towards the stage. The tension in the air was palpable, with whispers dying down as Louis Smith continued his announcement.
"Noah Anderson has graciously taken time out of his busy schedule to visit us and share some exciting news. Without further ado, let us welcome him." Louis gestured towards the side of the stage, and within moments, Noah appeared, exuding an air of authority and elegance.
A collective gasp rippled through the audience. He was dressed impeccably in a tailored black suit that seemed to enhance his commanding presence. His sharp features and calm demeanor left the room in awe. Even though I was familiar with this side of him, seeing him like this in public stirred something inside me.
"He really knows how to make an entrance," Rose whispered, leaning slightly toward me.
I nodded absentmindedly, my eyes fixed on him as he took his place at the podium.
"Good afternoon," Noah began, his deep voice resonating through the hall. "I appreciate all of you for taking the time to gather here today. I won't take much of your time, but there are a few important matters I want to address regarding the future of Starlet Entertainment."
"First of all, I want to thank President Smith, who has been taking care of the company for the past two years in my absence," Noah said, and the entire audience applauded. "Now, about the announcement we are going to make—I will not take up too much of your time, so let me get straight to the point.
"First, we are going to hold a live concert for the debut of our new artists."
Everybody fell silent, surprised by the announcement, including me. We were singers who usually debuted with songs released on public channels by some production house, but holding a concert like pop stars for us? That was something truly thoughtful, I had to admit.
"I think it's time to let raw talent shine as much as possible," Noah continued. "So, I have talked with the directors of your company, and we will decide on the date for the concert. During the concert, when the artist sings their song, we will simultaneously release the album on TV to give them even more exposure. Senior singers will also attend to ensure the concert goes smoothly and to help our new artists gain as much audience attention as possible."
His words earned a round of applause, much louder than before.
"Wow, Tina, how sweet of your husband. He actually decided to hold a concert, a debut concert, just for you," a girl behind us chimed in, flattering Tina.
I really wanted to stand up and tell them that the girl they were flattering was living in a fantasy. She was nowhere near being Mrs. Anderson. But I chose to remain silent.
"Now, onto the second part, and it's a little serious," Noah said, his face turning cold. The room instantly fell silent.
"So, I have seen—or rather, I have heard—that some executives in this company are manipulating new artists and exploiting their positions. For instance, taking songs from one artist and giving them to others they favor."
My eyes widened in shock as Noah addressed the issue head-on. I had told him not to interfere on my behalf, yet here he was, publicly confronting this matter. It was unexpected but undeniably bold.
"It is truly indecent for anyone to behave in such a manner," Noah continued, his voice growing colder with every word, "and I will not tolerate such individuals in my company."
The weight of his words settled over the room. "And this isn't an isolated case. My loyal employees have reported this issue more than once. So today, I am announcing that if anyone holding power over you attempts to steal your work or forces changes in your song concepts that make you uncomfortable, you are free to come directly to the headquarters of Anderson Group. I, personally, will handle the matter."
Gasps filled the room. It was no small thing for the chairman of a vast business empire to openly champion the grievances of artists from Starlet Company, a small subsidiary of Anderson Group.
Perhaps this is why Noah is such a successful businessman—he always knows what is right and ensures it is done.
The room erupted into applause, and I clapped as loudly as I could, pride swelling in my chest at his boldness and integrity.
He might not have directly intervened in my personal injustice, but he did everything within his power to address the issue broadly, ensuring no one else would suffer the same way. While his approach might have seemed distant, it was thoughtful and respectful of my boundaries. He didn't single me out, but instead created a solution for all the artists in the company, which was truly admirable.
He respected my space, yet he helped me—not just me, but anyone who might face similar problems. That realization filled my heart with deep admiration for him. As I looked at Noah, I couldn't help but notice the strength and fairness in his actions.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Noah's eyes shifted, meeting mine directly. A soft smile played on his lips, leaving me completely stunned.
"Lyla, is it me, or did Noah Anderson just smile at us?" Rose suddenly grabbed my hand, her excitement bubbling over.
"What? No, you're just seeing things. He's looking in this direction, but that doesn't mean he's specifically looking at us," I quickly denied her claim, trying to brush it off.
But deep down, I knew the truth—he was definitely looking at me.