With the "Assassination Attempt" wrapped and the footage looking like an instant classic, Anastasia decided it was time to move from director to mogul. Aura Studios wasn't just a place to film; it was a machine designed to swallow the industry's best talent.
In the quiet, glass-walled observation deck overlooking the busy studio floor, Anastasia held two private meetings. The goal: to bring the "Family" permanently under the Jones Firm's banner.
The Patriarch's GraceVittorio Rossi sat across from Anastasia, sipping a bitter espresso. He had just watched the raw dailies of his performance—the best work of his forty-year career.
"Vittorio," Anastasia began, her voice steady. "The Jones Firm wants to move beyond this film. We want to manage your entire legacy. We're offering you a lifetime partnership: a $5 million annual guarantee, total script approval, and a 15% management fee that we'll reinvest into your own production shingle under Aura."
Vittorio looked out at the lights of the studio he had helped inaugurate. He smiled, a weary but deeply respectful expression.
"Anastasia, you have given me the greatest gift an actor can receive—a reason to be proud of the craft again," Vittorio said softly. "But I am a man of the theater, a ghost of the old world. I don't want a 'shingle' or a 'brand.' I want to finish this masterpiece with you, and then I want to return to my quiet life in New York, knowing I left something eternal behind. I decline, not out of a lack of faith, but out of a desire for peace."
Anastasia nodded, a rare flash of genuine warmth in her eyes. "I respect that, Vittorio. The door to this fortress is always open to you."
The Heiress's AscentTen minutes later, Tia Sabre walked in. She was still wearing the blood-stained silk dress from the morning's shoot, her eyes still carrying the cold edge of her character, Elena.
Anastasia didn't waste time with sentiment. She slid a black-and-gold folder across the glass table. "The world is about to realize you are the most bankable face of the decade, Tia. The moment The Donato Legacy trailers hit, the old studios will try to tear you apart with predatory contracts. I'm offering you the protection of the Circle."
The "Tia Sabre" Sovereign Contract:
Sign-On Bonus: $5 Million immediate liquidity.
Management: The Jones Firm takes 20% of all gross earnings (Film, Fashion, Endorsements).
The Global Brand: The Firm takes total control of her image, transitioning her from "Model" to "Mogul."
Revenue Share: A 5% equity stake in any future Aura Studios projects she headlines.
Tia didn't even look at the numbers. She looked at Anastasia—the woman who had plucked her from a Rio sidewalk and turned her into a queen.
"I don't care about the money," Tia said, her voice sounding more like the Donato heiress every day. "I want the power you have. I want people to be afraid to say 'no' to me. If joining the Firm gives me that, I'm yours."
She signed the contract with a sharp, decisive stroke.
The Sovereign Ledger: The New AssetsSarah walked in as Tia exited, her eyes on the updated financial dashboard. The Firm's liquid reserves had dipped due to the sign-on bonus, but their long-term valuation had just skyrocketed.
"Vittorio is a loss for the books, but a win for the prestige," Sarah noted. "But Tia? Ana, her projected earnings over the next five years, between the Donato sequels and the luxury brand deals we're already fielding, are upwards of $80 million. Our 20% cut alone pays for the entire studio's annual overhead."