chapter 111

Alec’s point of view.

In the midst of the chaos, a whirlwind of frustration brewed within me as I observed the unfolding disaster surrounding Alana. Her week had been nothing short of a rollercoaster, and this unexpected investor had thrown her for a loop. While I recognized that the contract appeared as routine as any other, a bit of research could have spared her from the current mess. It would’ve saved us a lot right now.

What irked me the most was the lack of due diligence on the companies involved. Jinko Co and StarView Investment, despite their adeptness at concealing their true nature, were well-known in the business world as entities best avoided unless one was comfortable being labeled an enemy of the world. Everyone knew to avoid them if they wanted to seem legit. They’ve approached me many, many times but I always turned them down.

Alana caught off guard, was clearly in panic mode, desperately seeking an escape route from the predicament she found herself in. Taking the reins, I promptly reached out to her PR team and called Killian, who enthusiastically agreed to join forces at the office, ready to navigate our way out of this crisis. We needed more heads to figure all of this out smoothly.

As we convened in the meeting room, the atmosphere was tense, with Alana, Killian, our lawyers, and Alana's legal representative, Veronica, all present. In the midst of dissecting the situation, Veronica openly acknowledged her oversight, although it was Alana who had ultimately signed the contract, shouldering the responsibility for the unfolding chaos.

Veronica, apologetic, ran her fingers through her hair, expressing her remorse. "Alana, I truly didn't know," she confessed.

"It's okay, Veronica. I understand you had a lot on your plate," Alana replied with kindness, though a sigh betrayed the weight of the situation. "I should've looped the others in on this."

As we grappled with the repercussions, Veronica dropped another bombshell. "Alana, did you know that Suzanne fired herself from the movie?"

My frown deepened, and a sense of perplexity settled in. Suzanne had been flaunting her role in the film, basking in the glory of being the star. Now, she was suddenly absent from the set? Something wasn't adding up.

"Yeah, she called last night to terminate the contract and promised to bring the compensation money as the clause states," Alana clarified, shedding light on the mysterious call from the previous night.

"Wait, Suzanne called you just last night? Before all of this went viral?" I interjected, seeking confirmation. The timeline seemed off, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Suzanne's abrupt exit held more secrets that warranted investigation.

A moment of realization dawned on Alana, her eyes widening in shock. "Yeah—Oh god, is she connected?" she gasped.

Killian, ever the quick thinker, beat me to the punch with the crucial question. "Where did you get this investor from?"

"They came to us; we didn't seek them out," Veronica replied with simplicity.

Veronica, her efficient lawyer, offered to dig into the meeting log. With nimble fingers on the keyboard, she soon found the document and shared the details. "It states here that he asked whether Miss Cook was in the movie. We answered, and he didn't inquire further about her."

Turning to Killian, I didn't need to say a word. He was already on the case, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"Mr. Fisher, I've read through the contract several times, but I don't see a way out of this for Mrs. Fisher," one of my lawyers stated, bringing a dose of reality to the situation.

"Well, there is a way, we're just not sure if anyone would agree to it," the other lawyer chimed in, setting the stage for an idea that didn't seem to promise much fun.

Alana, eager for a lifeline, beat me to the question. "What is it?"

"For you, Mr. Fisher, to buy exactly 50% of her share in the company," he began to explain, pointing to me. "It states here that if the studio gets a new shareholder with more than 49% share of the studio, all current investors have to be re-evaluated. Both shareholders must come to an agreement to accept said investor unless the new shareholder is okay with everything else, in which case nothing would change," he continued, studying both Alana and me with a careful gaze.

"More than 49%?" Alana questioned, clearly taken aback.

"It is the way you had us write up these papers, Alana," Veronica gently reminded her.

"Yeah, because I never suspected this would happen! It was just to have in the contract; I never planned on ever having to use this!" Alana exclaimed, stress etched across her face.

Without hesitation, I stepped up. "I think we should do it. I can buy out 50% of your share."

"Alec, can we have a word in private?" Alana requested, already rising from her seat, leaving the room in suspense.

"Sure, let's talk," I opened the door, motioning for Alana to follow as she headed toward my office. A brief glance at the others, and I reassured them, "We'll be right back."

Alana, now in the privacy of my office, didn't waste a moment before expressing her discontent. "You seem awfully happy to acquire 50% of my studio that I worked damn hard for," she scoffed, arms crossed, eyes fixed in a glaring stare.

"Alana, I'm only trying to help you out of this situation," I pointed out, hoping to diffuse the tension.

"Right, because that's exactly what the great Alec Fisher does. He waits until your business fails, then swipes in and saves the day," Alana began to rant, catching me off guard. "Are you behind all of this? Was this your plan all along? To take more of what's mine?" Her tone carried a seething anger.

"I seriously cannot believe that you think of me that way," I spoke gently, placing my hands on her shoulders. I understood her frustration, but I wouldn't let her perceive me in that light. "How could you even accuse me of this, Alana? All I want to do is make sure your studio is protected, your reputation. And this is how you respond?" I shook my head in disbelief.

"So, you have no hidden agenda?" Alana questioned, still skeptical.

"Fine, maybe one: I don't want to be associated with someone who supports StarView Investments," I admitted truthfully. Yet, I reiterated, "But I'm also doing this to help you."

"I've seen the things they've done. I don't support them at all!" Alana defended herself passionately, and I believed her.

"Then make sure to stop their investment. Have you used any of the money they planned on investing?" I pressed for details.

"The money hasn't even been transferred yet; however, the contract is signed," Alana replied with a shrug, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry for how I reacted. I shouldn't have said all of that. I just so badly wanted the studio to be all mine."

Understanding her perspective, I acknowledged, "I know how hard you've worked, how far you've come without using your parents' name. I wouldn't want to ruin that by becoming your money ticket."

"I'll be a silent partner. I won't say a thing, and once everything has passed, perhaps in a year or so, you can buy me out," I offered as a compromise.

"You'd agree to that?" Alana frowned, seemingly surprised.

"Alana, I only wish to support you, nothing more," I assured her, taking her hands in mine.

"Okay," she replied, a soft smile breaking through.

"Okay, as in you'll let me help you or?" I sought clarification, slightly confused.

"Okay, as in I'll let you help me," Alana affirmed, her smile growing.