Chapter 89
After contacting and scheduling with the three stars, Brian first called Phoebe before heading to the coffee shop. Phoebe and Brenda had just secured their office space. To show their seriousness toward the three stars, the two rushed over right after signing the contracts.
In a private room at the coffee shop, Brian laid out all the pros and cons clearly. He even mentioned his own decision to bring his team along when he switched jobs, indicating his confidence in the new boss by putting his words into action.
At first, when Brian mentioned they could jump ship, the three stars found it hard to believe. They were all aware of their current situation and believed no reputable entertainment company would want them. It seemed more likely that he wanted to take them on board to exploit their remaining value. However, when they heard Brian had moved his entire team, they began to reconsider.
A strikingly handsome man with a cool demeanor spoke up. “Brian, you’ve said a lot, but you still haven’t told us which company we’re switching to.”
Just as Brian was about to respond, his phone rang. He answered and provided the room number, then turned to the three stars and said, “It’s not an entertainment company. It’s a newly established studio. The boss is already here. Once you meet her, you’ll understand.”
His words piqued the curiosity of the three stars even more. They didn’t expect the boss to be actually coming to meet them in person.
A moment later, a knock came at the door. Brian stood up to open it, smiling widely. “Ms. Jenkins, Ms. Hill, please come in!”
Phoebe and Brenda greeted him with smiles. “Hi, Brian!”
As they entered the room, the three stars were momentarily stunned. They were clearly surprised to see Phoebe. They didn’t know her well, but recently, she had gained a lot of attention, turning her fortunes around with a series of impressive comebacks that caught their eyes. Besides her excellent performance on variety shows, everyone was intrigued by the gossip surrounding her and the Jenkins brothers, Reece, and Sienna. They all felt a sense of admiration for Phoebe. They knew what kind of person Leon was; any star targeted by him would be suppressed. Yet Phoebe not only held her ground but continually fought back, which they secretly found satisfying. However, they never expected that the person looking to open a studio and recruit them would be Phoebe.
“Hasn’t Star Entertainment offered her such a good contract? How could she just walk away from that?” they wondered.
Once Phoebe and Brenda took their seats, Brian introduced them. He raised his hand toward the handsome, cool-looking man. “This is Milton Greer.” Then he introduced the trendy young man next to him. “This is Quintus Horne.” Finally, he introduced the woman who appeared slightly weary but was still beautiful. “This is Gwen Huber.” Then he turned to the three stars. “This is Phoebe Jenkins, the owner of the studio. And this is her partner, Brenda Hill.” He added, “Brenda is also the daughter of the Hill Group.”
The three stars suppressed their surprise and greeted Phoebe and Brenda. “Hello, Ms. Jenkins! Hello, Ms. Hill!”
Phoebe and Brenda smiled back warmly. “Hello!”
Phoebe continued, “Brian has already discussed some details with you, so I won’t waste your time.” She took out three contracts she had prepared in advance and handed them to the stars according to their names. “This is the offer from our studio,” she offered. “Also included is a plan and direction for the development of each of you, which you can review closely.”
While they boasted about how impressive their studio would be and how it would grow stronger, those claims felt rather empty when it came to switching jobs. Naturally, the most important factors were the treatment and future prospects. The three stars were surprised by Phoebe’s straightforwardness. They couldn’t help but appreciate her style.
Everyone could talk a big game, and when they first joined Jenkins Entertainment, they were sold on the promises made by their agent. However, the contracts they had signed didn’t offer high levels of compensation. Gwen’s contract was from the second-to-last tier, and she had only managed to climb up bit by bit through hard work.
Curious, they all opened the contracts to take a look. After reviewing the documents, they were all pleasantly surprised. The terms Phoebe offered exceeded their expectations entirely. The profit-sharing ratio was comparable to that of first-line stars at Jenkins Entertainment, while the level of freedom was even greater than at the Jenkins Group. This made them all feel a sense of attraction. However, they understood that a high profit-sharing ratio was meaningless without work. So, they each grabbed the development plan that was tucked at the end of the contract. One by one, their expressions shifted to surprise. They had to admit that the initial contract didn’t move them nearly as much as this plan did. A sudden feeling of recognition and respect filled their hearts, especially for Gwen, who felt a wave of emotion. Phoebe had tailored a detailed work plan based on each of their strengths and preferences.
Gwen was the first to set the contract and plan aside and looked at Phoebe. “I really like the plan you created for me. It’s exactly what I’ve wanted since entering the industry.” Gwen had enrolled in a film academy and entered the industry solely because she loved acting. Phoebe’s plan focused on her acting talents rather than using her prior fame for publicity or taking a negative route. Previously, companies had tried to recruit her, intending to squeeze the last bit of her popularity and value. Gwen had felt angry but powerless and had refused to agree.
Phoebe nodded. “I’ve seen your performances, and I know you truly love acting. Your skills are exceptional, and it’s most fitting for you to pursue a path as a powerful leading actress.”
Gwen smiled. “Thank you for your acknowledgment.” Ever since she had been criticized and dragged down from her previous high status, Gwen hadn’t received such kindness in the industry for a long time.
Gwen then shifted her tone. “But you must know about my current situation, right? That couple has sullied my reputation, and I’ve become the mistress everyone scorns, completely blacklisted.” She continued. “No director dares to cast me in a positive leading or supporting role. The only roles I get are villainous ones—the ones that the audience finds particularly irritating.” Her agent had deliberately lined up those roles for her to play. Aside from the contractual limitations, Gwen accepted them because she loved acting and wanted to experience and interpret different characters, even if they were vile antagonists. However, taking on several of these villainous roles only deepened the audience’s dislike for her and further tarnished her reputation. “If you sign me, you might end up getting dragged into the backlash as well,” Gwen said.
Phoebe wasn’t just the studio’s boss; she was also a star. The Jenkins brothers had been keeping a close watch on her, preventing her from getting a chance to rise again. “The Jenkins brothers might use me to smear your reputation too.”
Though Gwen wished to continue acting, she didn’t want to harm anyone in the process. Hearing these words, Phoebe felt even more reassured about Gwen. When looking to recruit talent, Phoebe valued character alongside potential. She smiled, unbothered. “I’ve already considered everything you’ve mentioned. I’m not worried, so why should you be?”
With a confident expression, Phoebe stated, “We’ll elevate you again. Our studio will clear up every negative aspect associated with you. We’ll also make sure to take down those two treacherous individuals in the process. We’ll return the favor for how they treated you.” Phoebe had already thought of ways to help Gwen redeem herself while also striking back at Leon.
Phoebe’s words astonished not only Gwen but also the other two stars. They were all curious about what methods she would employ to help Gwen clear her name. Even if they replaced her with the top agents from Jenkins Entertainment, they doubted they could accomplish it. After all, more than a year had passed, and they had missed the best opportunity to redeem Gwen’s reputation.