Chapter 423
Chapter 423:
“Do you think I’m someone who lacks money?” Stephen massaged his temples, exasperated by his manager’s shortsightedness.
As a leading star, his position in the industry was unshakeable. Future endorsements and investments would only multiply. While 100 million was tempting, wouldn’t it tarnish his reputation as a serious actor to chase romance on reality TV?
“I know you’re not short on money.” Settling into his chair, the manager leaned forward with an air of urgency. “But this goes beyond the 100 million appearance fee. We’re talking about exclusive, top-tier endorsements—deals our company couldn’t dream of securing on our own. That’s what made me listen.”
Stephen’s breath caught in his throat. The implications hit him like a thunderbolt. Top endorsements meant access to resources controlled by the industry’s elite—a realm even Wendy couldn’t touch. Yet here was someone offering it on a silver platter.
“Who is the other party?”
“It seems to be Freak Design.”
Freak Design?
Stephen knew the company well—an undisputed titan in the design world, wielding influence that few could match. “Freak Design alone doesn’t have that kind of pull,” he mused.
The manager glanced furtively around before lowering his voice to barely above a whisper. “Word is, the JE Consortium stands behind Freak Design. If that’s true, those endorsements are just the tip of the iceberg.”
Stephen’s composed facade cracked. The involvement of the JE Consortium changed everything. Even their smallest resource allocation could set up an entertainment industry player for life.
“Though I have to wonder—why me?” Stephen’s brow furrowed in contemplation. Something about this whirlwind offer nagged at his instincts. The suddenness of it all felt orchestrated, calculated. “Surely there are more prominent figures in the industry they could approach.”
“Stephen, why are you being so difficult? They chose you. Isn’t that reason enough? Sometimes luck just falls into your lap.”
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Frustration colored the manager’s voice. After laying out such a golden opportunity, Stephen’s hesitation was maddening.
“Stephen, it doesn’t matter if you don’t care about one hundred million and those endorsements, think about the team. This is our shot at reaching new heights. After all these years together, can’t you consider it?”
The raw desperation in his manager’s eyes gave Stephen pause. “Let me make a call first.”
“To whom?”
“Wendy.”
The manager fell silent, knowing well the weight Wendy’s influence carried.
One phone call later, after Stephen explained the JE Consortium connection, Wendy’s response was immediate and emphatic—take the offer.
“Stephen, this is your golden ticket! A connection to JE could change everything—not just for you, but for all of us.” Wendy understood JE’s towering presence in the financial world. Besides the Green family, all other players were mere pawns compared to the JE Consortium’s far-reaching empire. Their influence stretched beyond borders, beyond imagination.
“Give the director my approval,” Stephen said simply.
“Alright!” The manager’s face lit up like a child on Christmas morning as he scrambled for his phone to deliver the good news.
The show in question, “Love Lab,” marketed itself as a revolutionary dating experience. Its premise was simple yet alluring—bringing together the most talked-about personalities in entertainment, orchestrating romantic scenarios designed to spark genuine connections between potential couples.
While such matchmaking spectacles typically held audiences spellbound, Love Lab had struggled to escape the shadow of mediocrity. Its formulaic approach had led to plummeting ratings, pushing it to the brink of cancellation. Just as despair threatened to overtake the production, a mysterious benefactor emerged from the shadows. This powerful investor not only breathed new life into the failing show but also delivered an unprecedented coup—securing Stephen, fresh from his Best Actor triumph, as their star attraction.
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