Chapter 271
An artist like Sean, who relied more on his charm and good looks than his talent, was bound to face a reckoning sooner or later. When Debra hinted at her plans, Michael understood she had a strategy in place. Sure enough, within three days, Sean was embroiled in a massive scandal.
With the Best Actor Award ceremony fast approaching, he couldn't afford any negative publicity. Nichols Entertainment did its best to contain the situation, but the tabloids were relentless. The internet exploded with salacious rumors of Sean seeking prostitutes, sleeping with fans, and even being kept by a fifty-year-old female CEO. The scandal went viral instantly, with numerous alleged victims coming forward, armed with incriminating photos and evidence that Sean couldn't refute.
Three days of escalating controversy culminated in Sean being blacklisted by the industry. Panic swept through Nichols Entertainment as their prized asset became a liability overnight. Worse still, Sean faced astronomical penalty fees, most of which the company would be contractually obligated to cover.
Michael, sitting in Debra’s office, scrolled through the news on his phone.
“You knew this would happen?”
“That’s why I sent him to Nichols Entertainment in the first place.”
“You’ve been planning this from so far ahead.”
He realized he had underestimated her abilities. Debra’s gaze was fixed on the news reports detailing Nichols Entertainment’s woes. She murmured, “I wonder how Juan will handle this.”
The Nichols Group had recently suffered a series of blows—lost partnerships, damaged projects, and a falling-out with the Frazier family. With the Sean scandal and the resulting compensation costs, Juan was undoubtedly feeling the pressure.
In the boardroom of the Nichols Group, executives huddled in an emergency meeting. It seemed as though everything lately had been targeted at their company, leading some to suspect foul play. The only entity with the motive and means to orchestrate such a campaign was the McKinney Group.
“Mr. Nichols, we can’t keep going like this. The company would collapse.”
“The McKinney Group is going too far, pulling so many dirty tricks behind our backs.”
“The penalty for Sean’s breach of contract is at least five billion dollars. His personal issues have dragged down the entire company. Mr. Nichols, you need to come up with a solution.”
The boardroom buzzed with frantic chatter, the executives looking to Juan for answers. Juan, exhausted and worn, rubbed his temples.
“Enough. You can leave now. I’ll handle this.”
At his command, the board members filed out. Juan opened his eyes and instructed Joe, “Take care of this. Whatever Sean has made recently, get it all back.”
“You mean…”
Juan’s eyes glinted with coldness. “You know what I mean. Handle it cleanly, without leaving any traces.”
“Understood.” Joe nodded and left.
Juan’s phone rang. He answered it, and a staff member’s voice came through the line. “Mr. Nichols? We’ve recovered the clothing Mrs. Nichols was wearing when she fell into the sea. Please come to identify it.”