radicalducati Chapter 615: Who Would Take The Top Spot?
Chapter 615: Who Would Take The Top Spot?
The lounge of Lawson Mansion.
Blake sat across from Wilton, sipping his coffee.
Outside, the rain poured down in sheets, flashes of lightning briefly lighting up the dark sky.
His eyes drifted for a moment toward the room where Ashley stood, then he reached for his mug and took a slow sip. A satisfied grin formed on his lips.
“So, how’s everything going?” he asked.
“Everything’s set, boss,” Wilton said evenly, taking a sip of his coffee. “More than a dozen companies we control have already signed with Emerald Artists Agency and Phoenix Entertainment. The breach penalties alone will make us a fortune.”
“Good,” Blake said, his eyes flicking again toward where Ashley was. “And the pests in the company? Are they gone?”
Wilton hesitated, then pulled a folded list from his pocket and handed it to him.
“I’ve checked everything,” Wilton said. “These people have been working with Rupert, but I can’t say for sure if they’ll turn against the Lawson Group.”
Blake glanced over the list, then tore it up and tossed it into the trash. “Looks like they’ve forgotten their place. If that’s the case, so be it.”
Wilton’s pulse quickened. Brady had been ruthless, but Blake was colder, maybe even worse.
“For now, keep them in place. Get one of my trusted shareholders to step in and shift their positions.”
“Understood,” Wilton said with a nod.
“Raise the funds quickly,” Blake said, his voice cold and firm. “I’ll make Dave lose twice the money he took from the Lawson Group.”
When Wilton left, Blake poured himself another cup of coffee and drank it in one gulp.
“No pain, no gain. No one’s lucky forever, and Dave is no exception. This time, victory will be mine. I’ll take back everything I lost… including Bianca.”
He stood and once again his eyes drifted toward where Ashley was. “Ashley, do you really think you’re that clever?”
Blake wasn’t easy to fool. When she came to him with an offer to work together, he’d been suspicious from the start. She could have made her moves alone, but instead, she chose to use the Lawson Group’s resources. If it was because of his connection to Bianca, that reason didn’t seem strong enough. Unless… she had a bigger plan in mind.
From the start, their partnership was built on mutual benefit. Both had their own goals. Blake wanted the perfect “Brenda,” while Ashley needed him for outside support.
But once their plan succeeded and the Phoenix Alliance Group fell, the question of how to split the huge profits would still be there.
When Blake was looking into the Lawson Group, someone under torture confessed that Rupert was behind everything. Blake sent that person on an indefinite leave, one they would never return from.
After that, Blake had Wilton dig deeper into Rupert’s infiltration of the Lawson Group.
Reading today’s findings, Blake felt a heavy weight in his chest. Even with everything he’d done, his role as CEO wasn’t secure. He could still end up as the scapegoat.
After all, he was in charge of the Universal Actor Selection Competition, and no matter what happened, the blame would land on him.
The competition was certain to face trouble ahead. The plan Blake had been given was designed that way. It was the only way to damage Dave’s reputation.
At the banquet today, no one outside would know what was discussed behind closed doors. That secrecy left plenty of room to maneuver and act strategically.
Blake had arranged for reporters to be ready, hoping they could capture proof of the meeting. A recording would be perfect, but even without one, they still had enough to ruin Dave’s name.
It was a bold, risky move, but Blake didn’t care. All that mattered to him was taking Dave down and winning Bianca back.
“Dave,” he thought, “your downfall will be sealed on the day of the final.”
With three days left before the final, the internet was alive with speculation about who would win.
What had once seemed certain was now wide open, with two unexpected contenders shaking things up. Rayan and Mylo had caught up to Sophia and Reese in total points, even passing the famous Nicolas.
The judges’ scores carried the most weight, but online voting still mattered, making up 15% of the final result. It was also a good measure of a contestant’s popularity in Edenfield.
Lately, Nicolas had been in a sour mood; his online support rate was the lowest of all the contestants.
What Nicolas didn’t know was that Michael had planned the whole thing from the start.
A predictable competition would have bored the audience. But this unexpected rivalry had brought new energy, making the show far more exciting.
Who would take the top spot? Who would make it into the final three? Those questions were now fueling heated debates online.
Meanwhile, fans of each artist fiercely defended their idols. It had turned into a war of words, with no one pulling punches.
“Reese is the best! The others are just trash!”
“Really? You’re the trash here.”
“Has anyone even watched Reese’s performance carefully? Her emotions were a mess. She was supposed to look heartbroken, but it just looked like she was losing it.”
“And who are you to judge? Do you even understand her acting?”
“Sophia blew me away last round, but this time she seemed distracted. Honestly, her performance wasn’t that great.”
“How is Nicolas falling behind? Rayan’s been around for a while, but what’s the story with Mylo?”
“I think Mylo’s got real talent. His acting was strong.”
“Rayan’s a genius! He writes lyrics, makes music, and his acting feels so natural.”
“That’s ridiculous! Mylo’s the best! His performance was raw, emotional, and unforgettable.”
Bianca had been pushing herself to the limit, spending almost all her time at the office. The endless negotiations were giving her a headache that wouldn’t go away.
“Diana, lock the door today. We’re closing early,” Bianca said, hoping for a little peace.
“No way, Bianca! They’re bringing money. You can’t just turn them away!” Diana, as always, seemed to have energy to spare.
Brandon was anxious, too. He and Diana were close, but there was always this invisible wall between them. These days, he barely talked to her, and when he did, it felt more distant than before.
“Do you want the money but not your health? Have you seen the dark circles under your eyes?” Bianca said, trying to lighten the mood. Diana had a habit of overworking, often staying up until the early hours without thinking twice.