LOGIN“What are you implying by ‘sell me’?” Tania scoffed. “The rating is just a little higher, what's the problem? What, the little princess isn't willing to sweat a little?” Wake up, Helena! For trash with a ruined reputation like you, if it weren't for my strong recommendation, Director James might not even spit in your direction! Think about the astronomical damage you've caused the company this time. Do you think we'll continue to support you if you're not useful?— Sorry to disappoint you, but the answer is no. Helena had no patience to continue listening to Tania reach new levels of meanness. Her refusal was immediate, cold, and cutting.Tania lost her thin veneer of false civility in an instant. She slammed both hands flat on the table, her face contorted with rage.— Helena, you ungrateful wretch! You never obey my orders! Do you see me as your manager or not?! I'm warning you: even if you don't want to, you're
Ignoring the venomous glances and malicious gossip, Helena walked straight to the executive reception room.As soon as the door opened, Tania appeared. Seeing that Helena had actually shown up, the agent's expression twisted into a predictably smug and victorious smile.“Well, well! Our big star, Helena, has finally agreed to come out of hiding!” Tania sneered, crossing her arms. “You kept me waiting!”As she spoke, Tania's shrewd eyes scanned Helena's figure, stopping at the cold-faced man beside her. A pang of intimidation struck her, but she quickly disguised it.“Who is this man?” Tania demanded, lifting her chin arrogantly.“Have you forgotten the rules? Don't you know you can't just bring strangers to the company's executive floor?”Helena stopped a few steps away from her. She looked at her sideways, her calm, dark eyes showing none of the fear Tania expected to see.“My lawyer,&rdq
“If we pool all our private savings, liquidate some quick investments, and ask for favors... we can somehow come up with that amount!” Tania murmured, cold sweat dripping down her forehead.In particular, the agent was terrified. That hacker hadn't chosen a random number. Eight million was exactly the maximum amount they could raise in 24 hours without having to declare bankruptcy or expose the situation. Whoever was on the other side knew them intimately, playing with them like a cat plays with a mouse.At that moment, Camila, feeling despair scratch her throat, had a sudden idea:“Since the other party managed to track our information...” She clenched her teeth, her eyes bloodshot. “Why can't we do the same? Hire someone! Track down that bastard's IP address now!”Tania shook her head, laughing almost hysterically at the actress's ignorance.“Camila, do you think an anonymous encrypted account in
— That's true. In the entertainment industry, for an artist with such a dirty record, the consequences will be no less severe than they were for Sabrina. She's dead to the market. It will be useless to try to clean up that reputation now! — Tania relaxed her shoulders, feeling the sweet taste of victory, as if a weight had been lifted from her back. “By the way, I just sent an email giving Helena a formal ultimatum. If she doesn't show up at the company by six o'clock tomorrow afternoon to kneel and beg for a public apology, we'll blacklist her in the industry. I doubt that coward will dare not to show up!”Camila smiled broadly, her eyes shining with sadistic cruelty.“Remember to bribe and assign more reporters to wait for her at the door! I want flashes on that crying bitch's face!”She was at the height of her glory, about to respond to messages of support from her deluded fans about the “serious condition” of
“Really? What did you say?” Helena asked immediately, curiosity shining in her eyes.Henrique Ballmer, with the calmness of someone who had just decided the fate of an empire, picked up his cell phone and opened his email inbox to show her.Helena quickly approached, his woodsy scent invading her senses, and craned her neck to take a look.She was speechless when she saw the screen.— ...Apart from the heavy files containing irrefutable evidence and the number of an encrypted Swiss bank account, the body of the email contained only a few words. No greetings. No long-winded threats. No unnecessary punctuation.Just the absolute coldness of the numbers:[8 million. 24 hours.]That was... totally Henrique Ballmer's style. Surgical. Lethal. Arrogant.Helena blinked, processing the elegant brutality of it.“Not bad... not bad at all,” she murmured, a smile of approval appearing on her lips. “The less you say, the more her imagination will fill in the gaps with terror. She'll panic complet
As she spoke, she took a closer look at herself. Without the “armor” of heavy makeup and high heels, wearing only a huge cardigan over her hospital gown, her hair tied back in a loose braid with the pink rhinestone clip Mateo had given her... she looked like a different person.Her expression in the mirror was, in fact, soft, clear, and refined. There was a light in her eyes that she hadn't seen in years.Damn! Helena was surprised at herself. Have I really become a “kind” girl? Living with this family is softening my heart of stone.At that moment, after hearing Helena's self-criticism, Mateo frowned. He let go of her hand, quickly took a small pocket notebook and a gold pen out of his coat. He lowered his head, scribbled furiously for a few seconds, and then urgently held the notebook right in front of her face.“Honey, what are you trying to say?”Helena took the notebook. As she read what wa







