Jason had no intention of getting out of the car. His thin lips parted. "Ran into her. Gave her a lift."
He flicked the ash from his cigarette out the window. The gray dust fluttered down and landed all over Finn's trousers in the wind.
It was true that his route back to Qixiyun passed this way. Finn finally relaxed. Hands in his pockets, he tried to sound casual. "Thanks for bringing Kris back, Jason. We had a little misunderstanding. I'll sort it out and then invite you to our wedding banquet—main table, of course."
The lighting inside the car was dim, the man's handsome features sunk in shadow, unreadable. Only a flat "Mm" came, followed by a voice so cold and calm it had no ripples at all. "She's home."
The window rose. The ember dropped to the ground. He lowered his gaze, banking the cold gleam in his eyes.
Finn watched the Maybach pull away, then turned to enter the complex—only to be stopped by security. Without a resident's authorization, no outsiders were allowed in.
He dialed Kristen's number. The line was busy.
A gust of cold wind cleared his head.
She'd blocked him.
Phoenix Entertainment, CEO's office.
"The Gu family already pulled the trending topic. We'll issue a joint statement later about an amicable breakup and call it done. So why terminate the contract?"
Martin slammed a fist on the desk, furious. "And you still want thirty million in compensation—are you trying to ruin her completely?"
Kristen was the first artist he'd brought into the company and personally managed. There was no way he could stomach the company doing this to her.
Victor Yang leaned back in his leather chair, calm with a touch of helplessness. "It's a decision from the top. Yelling at me won't change it. If the thirty million isn't paid, we'll proceed legally."
"Victor…"
Martin started to argue again, but Kristen pulled him back. "Martin, don't."
He looked down at her composed face and turned away, frustrated beyond words.
Early that morning, Kristen had gotten Martin's call: the trending topic was scrubbed, and Victor had summoned them back to the company. She had just sat down when a termination contract was tossed in front of her.
Terminate, and pay the company thirty million in damages.
In two years since debut, she'd only played marginal vicious supporting roles. The pay was low, and she had to keep up appearances at events with the occasional luxury buy. Forget thirty million—she couldn't scrape together three million.
"I don't have thirty million, and I don't want this to go to court," Kristen said evenly, a faint curl at her lips. "Victor, is there another way?"
"Sign this, and the thirty million goes away."
He slid over another document.
Kristen reached for it, but Martin snatched it first. His eyes nearly popped out. "Leave the country and never come back! What kind of tyrannical, insane clause is this?"
Kristen's expression stilled for a heartbeat. Her curled lashes trembled. She pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Victor Yang smiled faintly. "Kristen, you're a smart woman. I don't need to spell it out."
Martin gaped between them, bewildered. "What's that supposed to mean? What am I not being told?"
Kristen slowly unclenched her fist and kept her voice steady. "Thank you, Victor. I won't be signing this."
A clause like that wouldn't hold up much in court; it existed to force her to face reality.
Victor's gaze darkened, but before he could speak, she stood. "Victor, I won't make this hard on you. Thank you for looking after me these two years."
Outside the office, Kristen drew in a long breath and let it out slowly.
Martin followed, baffled. "What's really going on? Logically, this barely hurts the company -no need to terminate you, let alone demand a sky-high penalty! Is this the Gu family at work?"
( End of Chapter )