Chapter 227 Is the Person Next to Her from the Lopez Family?
"Mrs. Lowe, there's been news lately that Rainey keeps running to the film studio. Industry insiders say he's been providing advertising deals and variety show opportunities for a certain production."
"Got his eye on some celebrity?" Zephyrine sat in the car, listening to her secretary Nico speak.
Nico paused for a moment, then continued: "I'm afraid it's not that simple. The person is Hayden's daughter. You've probably heard of her."
"Thalia, the princess of Emerald City?"
"Yes."
Zephyrine was puzzled: "Why? Rainey's in the entertainment industry. His business has nothing to do with the Smith Group. There's no reason their paths would cross. Why would he give resources to Hayden's daughter?"
"There's a rumor that someone under Rainey offended Thalia, which is why this is happening. But I think, Rainey has no relationship with the Smith family. If a subordinate offended the Smith family, he could just fire them. Why would he personally get involved to please Thalia? Early this month, someone saw Mr. Brown bringing Thalia to dinner with Evelyn and some big shots. Rainey's family has been developing in a district under Emerald City's jurisdiction. Apparently they recently need a large sum of money for some move, and William is the investor Rainey found."
"You're saying Rainey would personally apologize and please her because of William?"
Nico nodded: "That's my guess."
Zephyrine fell silent.
Nico continued: "But Mr. Brown took on the Smith family's case, so they might just have that kind of professional relationship."
"If it was just that kind of relationship, why would someone as shrewd as Rainey personally get involved?" Zephyrine didn't think so. In business, there are no small matters - a butterfly flapping its wings on one shore can cause a storm on the other.
With William's current status and position, plenty of people want to curry favor with him and please him.
Even many big shots can't handle him, and William has a reputation for being difficult.
William appears refined and cultured on the surface, but strip away that layer, and it's all an illusion.
William's methods can silently force people to their knees.
When the Celestia Group was first established, William expanded into overseas markets, leaving a shareholder in charge domestically. Six months later, when he returned from abroad with Angelina and others, he found the company had been ruined. As a lawyer, taking any case was one thing, but openly having an affair with a female intern in the office - and he caught them red-handed.
A few days after this incident, the Celestia Group issued an obituary, saying they had painfully lost an important board member.
Outsiders see the result, insiders see the method.
Supposedly William obtained evidence of that shareholder's business crimes, reported it to the police and was going to court. Then from the 38th floor of the Celestia Group building, that shareholder jumped down like a butterfly spreading its wings.
The aftermath was handled extremely quickly. The board member's family left the country overnight from Emerald City airport, looking like they were fleeing to escape punishment.
And today, they came begging to William, and he got caught up in a scandal.
This man shows no emotion on the surface, but inside he's probably already planned his strategy.
Zephyrine had a headache.
He leaned back in his seat, rubbing his temples, feeling exhausted all over.
"Are they out yet?"
"Not yet."
They had driven two hours today just to find Nora and ask about the situation.
Coming to find her was really Zephyrine's last resort. The Carter family couldn't move an inch in the capital - pressured by business circles and political circles alike. If there was any other way, why would she pin her hopes on an actress?
"Mrs. Lowe, Ms. Smith."
Zephyrine opened her eyes and looked in the direction of the secretary's gaze, indeed seeing Thalia coming out of the film studio, accompanied by two men and one woman.
"Isn't that person next to her from the Lopez family?"
"Yes, supposedly the Lopez family's youngest son is also in the entertainment industry, currently in the same production as Thalia. They're playing the male and female leads."
Zephyrine thought for a moment, then pushed open the car door and got out.
........
Thalia had just ordered at the barbecue restaurant and hadn't sat down yet when she saw a tall figure cast a shadow before her.
"Ms. Smith, what a coincidence."
Thalia looked up and had a vague impression when she saw who it was: "Ms. Carter?"
"I'm flattered Ms. Smith still remembers me. It's been a long time since we parted at Mr. Smith's funeral."
Thalia smiled lightly, polite but distant: "What brings Ms. Carter here?"
The film studio wasn't a place ordinary people would come to, much less Zephyrine.
Even if capitalists invested in movies, they only sat in theaters to appreciate their investments when they were released. Why would they come to a place like this?
Especially in this scorching summer heat.
"I came to meet a client, passed by and saw Ms. Smith, so I came to say hello. And this is?" Zephyrine's gaze fell on the person next to Thalia.
Zephyrine had originally wanted to use Thalia to get to know someone from the Lopez family, but Thalia just brushed it off with "my colleague," with no intention of introducing Gregory further.
Gregory just sat in his chair looking at Zephyrine and nodded, not even bothering to stand up.
They exchanged a few simple words.
Zephyrine excused herself saying she had something to do and left first. Thalia pulled out her phone while sitting down. Isla eagerly leaned over: "Thalia, who was that? She seemed kind of hostile?"
"The wife of Nora's sugar daddy," Thalia said, opening a game while tilting her chin. They saw Nora getting into Zephyrine's car.
"That's so dramatic. Will Nora survive the night?"
"The scandal broke out and nothing happened, which proves Zephyrine knows about Nora's existence," Thalia had seen this kind of thing since she was little.
Few wealthy wives would risk a life over their husband's mistress. Anyone in business knows what changing wives means. Moreover, according to William, Kurt's company is having problems now. If it really came to divorce, it wouldn't just be problems - it would be devastating.
"She knows and still doesn't deal with her?"
"Without Nora there'd be someone else. You can eliminate this one, but can you eliminate that one? Why bother? Might as well spend the time making more money," Thalia opened the game interface and kicked Luca's foot, signaling him to log on.
Gregory watched them holding their phones, playing games while waiting for food, his gaze settling on Thalia's focused face, studying her.
"If Gregory has something to ask, just ask directly. No need to look at me like you want to say something. We've played games and eaten barbecue together after all."
"If you get married in the future, will you be like this too? So casual about marriage."
Thalia's fingers frantically moved across the game interface as she replied: "My dream is to have a husband who doesn't come home and money to spend."
Isla: ........ "Thalia, don't scare Gregory."