chapter 107

Alana’s point of view.

The moment had arrived. Daniel had been summoned to the courthouse, causing him to miss today's shoot. Suzanne, of course, had no idea what was unfolding but had quickly hired a top-notch lawyer for him based on what I'd heard. I wasn't privy to all the details, but I had my suspicions. I'd also heard that Max was once again entangled in trouble. It was only a matter of time before I'd receive official confirmation regarding Daniel's investigation. In the meantime, I focused on my project with Markos.

As the day drew to a close, I checked my phone and found the headlines already plastered with Daniel's scandal. He'd certainly need a much better PR team. His car crash, bribery, leaving a woman pregnant, and making threats had all become the fodder for numerous articles. The media was having a field day with his misfortunes. A video of him being intoxicated and bribing a police officer years ago had gone viral.

I called for a meeting with Daniel and had my team with me. They had done the necessary research and groundwork, and everything was ready. I could and would terminate Daniel's contract. I watched as the office door swung open, and Daniel walked in, looking stressed, his lawyer by his side.

"You called for a meeting?" Daniel asked, his tone dripping with hostility as he narrowed his eyes at me. He had done things I never imagined he was capable of, clearly intoxicated by fame. Those days were now over, and I found myself oddly unthreatened by him, especially with Alec by my side.

"Yes, sit down, Daniel," I gestured to the empty chairs across from me and my team. I glanced at the clock momentarily; he was ten minutes late, and I knew it was entirely his fault, having spotted his lawyer in the parking lot five minutes before our scheduled meeting.

"What is this about?" he inquired, and I couldn't help but wonder if he had an inkling. After all, he'd signed the contract, and this eventuality was clearly spelled out. Perhaps he was trying to downplay it.

"Take a seat, and you'll find out," I replied, offering a feigned kind smile. His lawyer tapped his client on the shoulder, prompting him to sit down. He placed his briefcase on the table, adjusted his tie, and finally turned his gaze toward me.

"So, what's this about? What's there to discuss with my client?" his lawyer inquired, scrutinizing me, then my team. This wasn't his typical shoddy lawyer; this was the same attorney Suzanne had hired for him. Known for playing dirty, he also recognized when it was time to cut his losses. Given the ironclad contract, I was fully confident this would be one of those losses.

As Daniel settled into the chair, his agitation was palpable. His once-confident demeanor had given way to nervousness, and the ticking of the clock on the wall only added to the tension in the room.

"Have you had the chance to review the contract he signed for this role?" one of my lawyers inquired professionally as the other attorneys opened their cream-colored folders on the table.

"I'm familiar with his recent contract. I was there throughout the entire process," Jameson responded with a timid nod.

"That's precisely what we need to discuss," my other attorney stated as he pulled out a copy of the contract and handed it over to Jameson. "We'd like you to have a copy to review before we make any official announcement."

"Of course," Jameson answered and accepted the contract document.

"As you can see, the contract clearly stipulates that my client can terminate your client's role in the movie without any financial compensation if he's tried in court. This is only applicable if it occurs while the movie is still in production, which it is," my lawyer explained. I could see the panic written all over Daniel's face. His lawyer appeared flustered, repeatedly combing through the contract pages as if searching for an error, which didn't exist. I had invested substantially in securing the best legal team for this task.

"Alana, you can't fire me! Are you out of your mind, you bitch?" Daniel erupted, leaping to his feet and sending his chair crashing against the wall behind him. He slammed his hands on the table and loomed over me. Perfect. I had cameras installed in this room, like most of the spaces in my office.

"Mr Ray, please sit down and refrain from using such language," Jameson reprimanded, his tone tinged with frustration as he glared at his client.

"She can't fire me, can she? She's just being petty right now," Daniel continued to vent and, after calming down, reclaimed his seat. He locked eyes with me, his glare intense as he added, "I have to do this movie."

"May we have ten minutes in private to discuss this matter?" Jameson requested, casting a stern glance at his client.

"Of course," I consented, leaning back in my chair as I observed the two men exit my office.

After a productive ten minutes, they returned, and Daniel's visage exuded anger. All I could think about was the casting process for his replacement. I needed an actor who was adored even more by the fans to ensure this transition wouldn't backfire. Finding a talented actor of that caliber wouldn't be easy. Daniel might not have been the best actor, but he commanded a large and devoted fan base. That was the challenge.

Jameson and Daniel resumed their seats. Jameson turned to his client and received a subtle nod.

"While legally you have every right to take this action, my client fervently implores you to reconsider," Jameson began kindly, his tone exuding sincerity—albeit, it was a feigned sincerity, as this was, after all, his profession. "You've already completed many scenes, and the movie is on the cusp of completion. He wishes to see it through to the end."

"I will not risk the movie's reputation for him, as I do not stand for his actions," I declared, locking eyes with Daniel. I refrained from smirking; I had seen how volatile he could become when angered, and I wanted to avoid a confrontation tonight. I just wanted a clean break and to move forward with my life.

"Alleged," Jameson interjected, attempting to downplay the gravity of the accusations, but I knew that they were not mere allegations. They were real, and Daniel's life was about to become significantly more chaotic—nothing less than he deserved.

"Either way, we are not willing to take any chances," my lawyer spoke on my behalf. "Moving forward, this means that Daniel will be removed from the movie and officially terminated. We will release a statement to the public," she continued, her confidence shining through.

"Does my client get a say in the content of that statement? His image should not be unnecessarily tarnished," Jameson requested, trying to protect what remained of Daniel's reputation. It took all my restraint not to burst into laughter; there was little left to tarnish.

"Of course, we will strive to be mindful of that," my lawyer replied firmly, sealing the fate of Daniel's involvement in the film.

And that was it. I was now officially free from Daniel, without a single problem. I could have the movie without a problematic lead.