Chapter 50
“It’s a huge loss for Starstruck Entertainment to lose you, Ms. Yeager. Hugo, that fool, didn't need to appease the Farrell Group by giving you up. His lack of vision is astonishing,” Billy said, his eyes reflecting a mix of regret and frustration.
“I agree to this collaboration, Ms. Yeager. You can count on me for any future assistance you need if you can help me secure the top position at Starstruck Entertainment.”
After the negotiation concluded, Daphne returned home and turned on the TV just as the evening news began. Maintaining her figure was paramount for a female celebrity, so she usually skipped dinner. Now that the collaboration with Billy was finalized, she could soon terminate her contract. Feeling slightly more relaxed, she sprawled on the couch and opened her account to check public sentiment.
The previous negative trending topics had been pushed down, as expected. Now, positive ones topped the list: “Daphne Framed by Her Former Company,” “Daphne’s Horse Fall Incident,” “Daphne’s Kindness to Staff,” and “Daphne’s Adorable Contrasts.”
She also checked the clarification statement Ava had arranged. The comments below were overwhelmingly supportive, with many strangers empathizing and relating to her situation as fellow employees.
Public opinion changed daily, something Daphne was used to. She had long mastered the art of leveraging sympathy. How much harder was it for average people if a popular female celebrity like her faced such workplace difficulties?
Netizens flooded the comment section with messages of support, praising her courage in standing up to corporate power and promising to back her future projects and endorsements.
Daphne knew the shift in public opinion wasn't solely due to her heartfelt and evidence-backed statement. The real credit went to her fan club and supporters, who had tirelessly shared and amplified her message. Most importantly, it was thanks to Sebastian, who had paid for the high-ranking trending spots. Without that, her statement could have easily gone unnoticed.
With this in mind, she decided to thank him in person. She arrived at his apartment, the door opening just as she was about to knock.
A hint of surprise flickered across Sebastian’s eyes. “What a coincidence. I was just about to look for you. Come in.”
She stepped inside.
“What would you like to drink?” he asked.
“A cup of warm water is fine. I actually came to talk about something important. I’ve noticed the shift in public opinion—it’s all positive now—and I know it’s thanks to you. I truly appreciate your help, Mr. Turner.”
He handed her water and sat across from her, leaning back slightly with a teasing glint in his eyes. “That’s it? I told you to call me by my name, and you’ve only done it once or twice. Now you’re back to calling me Mr. Turner. Ah, women! You people always dump us after using us. How cruel!”
Daphne blushed slightly. “S-Sebastian, I just need some time to get used to it.”
He let it go, noticing her rare shyness. “You mentioned something important. What is it?”
Regaining her composure, she recounted her meeting with Billy. “I want to terminate my contract with Starstruck Entertainment as quickly as possible. All my current work is on hold, seriously affecting my career.”
He pondered for a moment before nodding. “It’s a solid plan. I’ve heard about Billy. He’s a profit-driven businessman. Selling him that many shares will make him feel grateful. I don’t think he’d be foolish enough to backstab you.”
“I’ll sign the share transfer agreement with Mr. Anderson tomorrow and exchange it for the termination agreement as discussed. As for taking over as Starstruck Entertainment’s chairman, that’s up to him.”