Chapter 185 Money Can Solve Everything

Natasha's smile faded instantly. She sighed and furrowed her brow, looking troubled. "I know you're friends with Lila. Honestly, she's the contestant I've had the highest hopes for. "She's talented. She has the popularity, the looks, and the buzz around her. She's the total package. The entertainment industry hasn't seen a rising star like her in a while. "If she wins the competition, I'm certain she'll become a huge hit. But unfortunately, she messed up. "The situation is tricky. First off, she broke the company rules. Contestants aren't allowed to leave the premises during the competition, but she insisted on leaving. "Now, because of the accident, the company has taken quite a beating in terms of public opinion and operational issues. Some contestants have even been pulled out by their families to withdraw from the competition. "On top of that, her injuries are severe. Whether or not she can get back on her feet is uncertain. Don't take this the wrong way, but the company is a business. "We're looking for people who can generate revenue, not liabilities. Currently, Lila's value isn't high enough for the company to delay production for her sake." I understood what Natasha said and handed her a bank card. "If I give the company ten million dollars, is it enough to delay production?" Natasha froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. She was speechless. Keeping my voice calm, I said, "Ever since Lila's accident, I've been keeping up with the studio's statements and the public's reactions online. Sure, there has been criticism, but it's scattered and not enough to cause real damage. "Using tactics, such as emphasizing the company's commitment to its contestants and the immediate medical care provided, could easily flip the narrative. You could turn the negative buzz into a positive story. "In this way, the issues you're worried about won't be problems anymore. Besides, public support for Lila staying in the competition far outweighs the negatives. As long as the audience is on board, your program will have the traffic it needs. "And as you said, she's an exceptional contestant. Whether or not she wins the competition, and whether or not she becomes famous in the future, her presence alone in the program will make money for the company. "She might be a liability now, and yes, she made a mistake. But I'll take responsibility for that. If ten million dollars isn't enough, how about 20 million dollars? "Use it to manage operations, compensate the other contestants, or whatever it takes. All I'm asking is for her to have the chance to return to the program. What do you think?" Natasha stared at me for a long time before breaking into a laugh. "You're an interesting one. You look young, but you're surprisingly wise. Before I agree, let me ask a question. What's your relationship with Lila?" I answered honestly, "A life-or-death bond." Natasha's gaze flickered slightly. "Got it. I've noted down your terms and requests. But I'm not the final decision-maker for the program. I'll need to discuss this with the program director. Please wait a moment." With that, she turned to leave. I glanced at the bank card on the desk and sighed, relieved. I waited for her to return patiently. It seemed that money really could solve most problems. Cash was indeed powerful. Thankfully, I had come into a windfall earlier this morning. Otherwise, coming up with such an astronomical figure would have been a real headache. As I waited, I overheard murmurs from a few people outside the meeting room. "Lila dragged all of us down, and now, someone's backing her up? Her life and time matter, but ours don't? Why should our competition schedule be delayed for her?" "Come on, we're just regular people. She has obviously got someone rich supporting her. The production team hasn't kicked her out even after such a major incident. That's enough proof. We can't afford to mess with someone like her." "You're wrong. The man in the meeting room isn't her family member. He's her sugar daddy! He spent a fortune on her promotions before. How else would a newbie gain so much popularity? Now, he's throwing more money to keep her in the competition. It's obvious he's paving the way for her success." "No way! Really? What's the point of this competition then? The first place is basically hers already. She must be something else to cozy up to those executives in their 50s with their beer guts. How did she manage to handle them?" That comment sparked a wave of laughter. I kept a straight face. After I sneezed a few times continuously, I felt that something wasn't right, but I brushed it off. Being randomly pegged as a middle-aged, beer-bellied executive was too absurd to take seriously. Office gossip was universal. Wherever there were profits to be made, there were whispers and malice. And in a cutthroat industry like entertainment, where fame could explode overnight, the hostility was even more intense. Suddenly, the noise outside came to an abrupt halt. It was replaced by a deep and steady voice. "Ms. White, is this how you supervise your team?" "Mr. Jackman, I'm sorry." Natasha then reprimanded, "Instead of focusing on training, you're all huddled here gossiping. Do you want to withdraw from the competition?" The gossipers scrambled to apologize before scattering in a hurry. Shortly after, the meeting room door opened, and a handsome man walked in. His sharp features were accentuated by a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. His eyes carried a distant warmth, but if looked closely, they were ice-cold. He held an elegant gift box in his left hand. I looked at the man, feeling a vague sense of familiarity. Natasha introduced the man formally, "Mr. Yates, this is Mr. Jackman, the program director. If you have any issues, you can discuss them with him." Then, she placed some documents on the desk before turning to leave and closing the door behind her. With a smile, I got up and extended a hand. "Mr. Jackman, a pleasure to meet you." Cole's face remained expressionless. His actions were rigid. He shook my hand briefly and corrected me calmly, "My family name is Jackman. I share the same family name as Clover. I'm her brother, Cole. We met at my grandfather's house. Don't you remember?"