Chapter 397

“You can take some time to think it over,” Calliope said with a grin. “I have to head out now. Once you’ve made up your minds, just give me a call. Oh, but remember, your phone might not work; better use the butler’s line!”

With a casual wave, she turned on her heel, hands shoved deep into her pockets, and strolled away.

Monty was still wavering. The thought of handing over all his power was a tough pill to swallow. Yet, if he didn’t, the company might go under completely, and his eldest son might never recover.

“Dad, don’t hesitate,” Horatio urged. “Think of it as an early retirement. Once the company’s back on its feet, we can figure something out.”

“Besides, hanging onto your position won’t do any good now,” he added. “The board members have been grumbling about you anyway.”

“Right now, the company’s like a hot potato,” Valerian chimed in. “If Calliope can turn it around, we’ll reap the benefits. If not, any fallout lands squarely on her shoulders.”

Their words hit Monty like a splash of cold water, clearing the fog of indecision.

They were right. At this point, whether the company collapsed or not didn’t make much difference to the Jewell family.

If Calliope wanted to take on this mess, why not let her? They’d negotiate to give her the position but keep a larger slice of the pie.

Horatio and Lisette would still be in the company, keeping an eye on things. The old guard at the company didn’t much care for Calliope anyway. Who knows, she might lose interest and give up.

“Yes, you’re absolutely right!” Monty sighed with relief. This way, he could avoid any public backlash.

The three of them quickly reached a consensus. Just then, the doors to the lounge burst open, and a crowd of people streamed out.

Reporters, satisfied with their scoop, were already planning their headlines.

Valerian caught one by the arm, frowning. “Max, what’s going on? Weren’t you supposed to be helping us out?” He was irritated, though it hardly mattered now. Still, he’d hired them for support, and this was the result.

“Ah, Mr. Valerian, you didn’t mention Zachary and his crew would be here!” Max replied, slightly breathless with excitement. “Your family drama’s small potatoes compared to Zachary’s new project! Today really was a surprise.”

“But how did you know Zachary was around?” Max inquired, still buzzing with energy.

“And what about Calliope? We didn’t see her around,” he added, almost as an afterthought.

“She’s gone,” Horatio replied, not bothering to hide his annoyance. “But who’s this Zachary? Is he really that big of a deal?”

“Oh, absolutely! He’s the top director in the country!” Max exclaimed, eyes wide with enthusiasm. “He’s got this incredible talent for turning everything he touches into gold. And now he’s teamed up with the mysterious scriptwriter C! I mean, we’re all dying to know who C is—nobody even knows if C is a man or a woman!”

Max could hardly contain his excitement.