He’d been burned by N before, so he knew how this went.
“J’s got sharp instincts, and N’s reputation checks out,” Anthony said, his tone pointed as he shot Kenneth a look that basically screamed, Good luck, you’re on your own.
Kenneth’s face barely changed, but you could tell it hit him hard. It felt like someone had dropped an anvil on his head, and his mind was humming with static. He’d thought he was complaining about two different people, but no... it was all about Lottie. Charlotte was absolutely going to tear him apart today.
Time was almost up. Charlotte didn’t feel like wasting another second on Kenneth. She followed a staff member through the back corridors and into the green room behind the studio.
Most of the crowd today were die-hard fans of Storm, the hit comic. Word had gotten out that J might make an appearance, but nobody was sure. Hope and doubt mixed in the air, buzzing with excitement. The atmosphere crackled.
“How’s it looking?” Sabina leaned in, her nerves showing as she whispered to her assistant. “Is J actually here?”
“I heard he is,” the assistant whispered back, as if afraid the wrong person might overhear. “Don’t worry, Sabina. We’re negotiating with the comic company. We’ve offered to increase the licensing fee and give them twenty percent of future profits.”
“No one in their right mind would turn that down.”
“Exactly.”
Sabina finally relaxed, a relieved smile breaking through. Sure, it was expensive, but once she took Storm international, her value would skyrocket. And the real cherry on top? She’d finally get to put Emily in her place.
She couldn’t figure Emily out. Who was she, to act so cocky? If Emily came from money, she wouldn’t still be grinding in showbiz after all these years. Sabina decided Emily’s background had to be nothing special.
Just then, Emily’s phone buzzed with a message from Kenneth: The copyright issue’s sorted. Whatever happens next, don’t be shocked.

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