Chapter 477:
The first slide appeared, showing a woman both Brad and Alistair knew. “This is Fiona Johnson, a famous actress. Surely, you’ve seen her movies, right? And I believe you’re already familiar with her. Still, allow me to give a brief introduction…”
“Next…” The screen shifted, revealing a striking photo of a female celebrity, elegant and cool, her beauty almost surreal. “Jade Williams isn’t your usual influencer. She’s built a solid career and carries the kind of background that adds real weight to her name. People respect the roles she takes on. They’re smart, layered, and strong. She doesn’t chase trends. Instead, her steady vibe draws in a crowd that skews older but sticks around.”
Rupert paused briefly before continuing. “The third option’s from Warner’s side. Her name’s Ainsley Gill, a young actress who blew up after starring in a wildly popular period drama. That show hit big with younger viewers, and they’ve stuck with her ever since. She’s always trending. A lot of folks even say she reminds them of Fiona Johnson.”
After laying out their profiles, Rupert turned to the man across the screen and asked, “Mr. Morgan, between the two, who do you think fits best as the face of the business district?”
Brad drummed his fingers against the desk and replied, “I’m not really the right guy to judge. But you’ve done your homework. Between the two, who feels like the right call to you? Honestly, I’d rather hear what you think.”
Rupert’s chest clenched. His hand tightened around the presentation remote before he even noticed. He spoke without pausing. “If I’m being honest, I think the district’s future looks young. Most of the layout caters to people in their twenties—entertainment, cafes, social zones. Only about thirty percent of the space is for high-end retail. With that in mind, Jade doesn’t really match the energy. Her appeal feels more niche. When I weigh Fiona against Ainsley…” He stopped. Fiona wasn’t getting any younger, and everyone knew the entertainment world didn’t wait around. Ainsley had already shown interest in signing with Evergreen. If that happened, she might be the one to take over Fiona’s endorsements and keep the brand alive.
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He made up his mind quickly. “New faces keep the industry moving. Ainsley’s got that spark. I think a younger, upbeat woman like her could give the business district the fresh image it needs.”
As the words left his mouth, his fingers jerked slightly from nerves and hit the remote by mistake. His laptop screen jumped to another tab—a private social media feed.
The screen instantly filled with posts from Rupert’s work contacts. Right at the top, a concert photo from someone called Fox popped up. The caption read: “Guess who I spotted? Looks like that person’s found a new companion.” The moment the photo loaded,
The mood in the room collapsed. Cold swept in like someone had cracked open a window in the middle of winter. Rupert caught the shift in Brad’s face. The man who had looked calm seconds ago now stared at the screen as if he’d just seen a threat.
Brad leaned forward in his chair. His eyes had gone sharp, the warmth gone completely.
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