Chapter 438

“Aubree set Emery up and got him thrown in jail first. Now she’s coming after Trevor, forcing him to marry that woman. Who knows if she’s planning to push Trevor over the edge next, or if Daxton and Bryan are her next targets, or maybe even us."

“If you want to take down a crew, you go for the boss first. Bree Technology will be thrown into chaos if something happens to Aubree. And if we hit them from the outside at the same time, Bree Technology’s going to be in real trouble. Even Bowen, with his 30% stake, won’t be tempted by such a huge profit?”

Whether Bowen was tempted or not, Ronald definitely was.

Every word Alice said struck right at the heart of his worries. He was afraid Aubree was growing too fast, and sooner or later, she’d make him her next target.

“So what’s the plan?” Ronald asked.

“Kidnapping, I can get people for the job. I guarantee we’ll succeed in one strike when the time is right!” Alice said, her eyes narrowing with determination.

Alice’s eyes were resolute, and Ronald was seriously weighing how doable it was. Saying yes to her plan didn’t clash with his original idea of taking down Bree Technology from the inside. If anything, combining both approaches might give them the edge they needed.

It’s just a kidnapping. We’re not actually going to hurt Aubree, so what’s the harm? Ronald reassured himself.

Besides, he’d been watching Aubree like a hawk ever since the GrabCheap deal, waiting for a chance to make his move. After GrabCheap’s success, Aubree hadn’t done anything drastic. But lately, she seemed to be shifting her attention back to Zappy.

Aubree was also actively reaching out to people outside, and Ronald had no clue what Aubree was planning. Still, he knew he had to make things difficult for her. He couldn’t just let Aubree do whatever she wanted.

“Alright. I’ve got an opportunity on my side, too. I’ll give you a heads-up when the time comes,” Ronald said.

“Alright. It’s late. Get some rest,” Alice said.

With her goal achieved, Alice felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her. Kidnapping Aubree? That was never the real plan. What she truly wanted was for Aubree to die.

Since Alice was the one who brought Aubree into the world, taking Aubree’s life back now didn’t make her feel the least bit guilty. She owed Aubree nothing.

Meanwhile, Aubree had been busy reaching out for new deals.

Thanks to Kurtis’s connections, she’d been talking with the three other major video platforms owned by Manchotech aside from Manchotech Video itself. After hearing her pitch for the mini-drama project, they all seemed pretty interested.

Aubree set up a meeting to bring one of her mini-dramas over for their execs to check out. If it was as good as she claimed, they’d be down to work with her.

Of course, everything would depend on how well the mini-drama performed once it was released on Zappy.

Aubree’s arrangement with all three platforms was the same; they’d preview the mini-drama first, then sign a contract. If it hit the agreed-upon view count, they’d buy the rights and stream and promote the mini-drama. If it didn’t, the deal would be off.

Now, all she needed to do was bring the finished mini-drama to the three companies and negotiate initial collaborations.

Two of the companies were right there in Rithol City, while the third was in Urggate City. To help out, Kurtis had made a special trip to Rithol City to run around with Aubree for these meetings.

"I’ve watched all these mini-dramas,” Kurtis said, “and everyone who previewed them told me the same thing. The plot seems brainless at first glance, but it’s magically addictive, making one want to watch the next episode after finishing one, like being addicted."

“Who would’ve thought the longest it would take to shoot one of these mini-dramas is half a month? And even the costumes, props, and effects are just the best you can get for the lowest budget.”

Kurtis was full of confidence. Honestly, he was totally blown away by Aubree. The cost of making a mini-drama wasn’t high at all. Having good-looking actors helped, but it was just a bonus. It didn’t matter if they had that typical influencer look or something unique. Anyone could play the part as long as they fit the vibe of the main character.

The acting requirements weren’t high either. Anyone who’d done some extra work or had a bit of training from a drama school could handle it.

However, even though those mini-dramas look low-budget and slapdash, they were weirdly addictive.

“One must be blind if one can’t appreciate these,” Kurtis said.

Aubree chuckled wryly. “Who knows? Nothing’s ever set in stone.”