Chapter 241 Mr. Brown, Save Me
"Nora, what are you doing here?" If Angelina remembered correctly, tonight's banquet was supposed to be for lawyers. Why would Nora, someone from the entertainment industry, show up at a legal profession event?
Had Kurt really become that desperate?
Was he so eager to create opportunities for Nora to get close to William that he'd completely stopped caring about proper channels?
Angelina's blunt stare and undisguised disdain in her tone made Nora's face turn pale. The sudden pressure from this powerful woman forced her to speak: "I'm here to see Mr. Brown."
Angelina glanced at William.
There was a hint of warning in Angelina's eyes. She took two steps closer to William and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: "You're a married man. Remember who you are!"
William shot Angelina a look.
Angelina said meaningfully: "Mr. Brown, you know what Thalia's like."
"You two talk!"
As Angelina passed by Nora, she gave her a loaded glance.
"Mr. Brown, I didn't want to bother you, but... I really have no choice. Kurt gave me orders."
"So?" William asked coldly.
William's brief response felt like throwing Nora into an ice pit: "I want to ask Mr. Brown to help me. I don't want my acting career to end before it even starts. If Mr. Brown can help me, I'm willing to do anything."
"Anything?" William's tone was flat.
Nora nodded repeatedly: "Anything."
William's fingers at his side rubbed together for a moment. Finn, standing beside him, understood this meant William's nicotine craving had kicked in. He pulled out a cigarette and offered a lighter. William held the cigarette and lowered his head to the flame, lightly exhaling thin smoke as his fingers carried the faint tobacco scent to Nora's nose.
Through the haze, she couldn't make out William's expression.
"Even if I told you to die?"
William's words shocked Nora.
She knew that when William spoke in absolutes, it meant there was no room for negotiation.
Her life was worthless to William—it wasn't even as valuable as him rescuing a stray cat or dog on the street. If he rescued some cat or dog and the media caught it, everyone would praise his kindness.
But getting involved with an actress like her who had no elite family background would only become gossip and a joke for others.
Seeing Nora's silence, William let out a mocking laugh, light and dripping with sarcasm.
William tapped off some ash and prepared to turn and leave.
Nora, wearing a bright red strapless gown, knelt before William.
She was as humble as an ant.
"Mr. Brown, I know everyone thinks people in the entertainment industry are heartless and disloyal. Someone like me doesn't deserve to stand before you and negotiate. I'm not even qualified to carry your shoes, but please, I'm begging you, help me! I don't want my life to end like this. I really have no other options. If Mr. Brown finds me annoying, I promise after this I'll never appear before you again..."
"People in the entertainment industry are heartless and disloyal?" William pondered her words.
Nora didn't understand.
Finn did—he was thinking of Thalia.
Nora had just insulted Thalia along with everyone else.
People in the entertainment industry are heartless and disloyal? Thalia was plenty loyal. When Thalia was in school and had her eye on a quiet guy, she made a huge scene standing up for him—was that disloyal?
After Thalia set her sights on William, she went back and got her dad to donate to Westbridge University—was that disloyal?
Thalia was loyal and devoted, just a bit quick to change her tune, that's all.
"Mr. Brown."
"Is Nora a menace to the entertainment industry?"
"What?"
William tapped off more ash: "You enjoy all the benefits the entertainment industry gives you while saying people in the industry are heartless and disloyal. If you really had any self-awareness, you wouldn't be kneeling here today!"
"Taking advantage while playing the victim—you're quite good at that."
Nora stared at William in a daze. The hotel had adjusted the lighting to match tonight's banquet, casting a dim yellow glow. The khaki carpet combined with the warm yellow spotlights overhead made William's face look sharply defined.
William was the new elite of the business world, the man countless wealthy young ladies wanted to hook up with.
"Finn."
William spoke coldly as he turned to leave.
Finn walked over, looking down at Nora kneeling on the ground in a daze: "Ms. Adams, please."
Finn's words were crisp and carried an air of pressure.
Nora knew this was her last chance. If she didn't succeed, just the fact that she'd ambiguously tried to use William without him actually telling her to leave would be enough for Kurt to kill her a hundred times over when she went to claim credit.
If Kurt didn't kill her, Zephyrine wouldn't let her off either.
"Mr. Brown..." Nora grabbed William's pant leg. William's forward steps suddenly froze as he looked down at her.
"Mr. Brown, please save me."
William's brow furrowed tightly as he spoke with anger: "Finn..."
...
"Fifteen minutes have passed, Mr. Brown. You have five minutes left."
William walked in with a dark expression. Angelina sidled up to him, and William's eyes darkened.
What flashed through William's mind was the scene of Thalia cursing him out.
"I'll just say hello and leave."
"To who?"
"The president?"
"The president's intentions are pretty clear this year—he wants to promote you as deputy of the Emerald City Bar Association so he can step down. The bar association banquet doesn't happen every day, just once a year. I suggest you call Thalia and explain the situation."
"The bar association president position—you could say it's important or not important. Say it's not important, but it is. If it falls into someone else's hands, it won't affect you much. No matter who sits in that position, they wouldn't dare do anything to you. But Mr. Brown, you have employees under you! You need to protect them!"
Angelina took a glass from a server's tray, speaking earnestly while offering it to William.
But William didn't take the drink Angelina offered.
William looked at her coldly: "When have I ever cared about these things?"
Angelina: ... He could no longer tell if that was praise or criticism.
"You're in charge of the legal sector now, Angelina. This is all stuff you should be handling."
Angelina: ...
William had connections everywhere. Not yet thirty and already famous nationwide, plenty of powerful people came begging for his protection.
Navigating high society required both tactics and ability.
If the Celestia Group dominated alone, that would be one thing, but it didn't. Though William had brought in many major deals for the Celestia Group over the years, keeping its performance consistently at the top of the industry, he was also willing to share benefits outside his own business scope. Every lawyer in Emerald City's legal community with decent character and ability had received his help at some point.