Chapter 5: Power Plays and Family Stakes

Except…

Just when the boss thought Derek had turned over a new leaf, bad news hit.

“His videos aren’t getting views anymore. His followers are dropping fast. Even brands that wanted to work with him are backing out.”

All signs pointed to the fact that his fifteen minutes were up.

“You can still smile?”

The boss waved off his staff, looking miserable. “We invested so much in him!”

“Why worry? He’s already paid back what he owed.”

He really had. In three months, he paid the company back in full.

“We spent so much time and effort on him, but at least we didn’t lose money. That’s something.”

“But he finally got famous. Are we just going to give up on him? If he doesn’t bring in profit, all our effort was wasted.”

The boss was still brainstorming ways to revive Derek’s popularity.

“His success isn’t unique. If we made one star, we can do it again.”

Derek’s rise was thanks to the whole team.

And the mastermind behind it all—me.

“You make it sound easy. I put everything into him and haven’t even seen a return. Where am I supposed to find the money to train someone else?”

He was anxious, and I understood why. I’d fronted all the money for Derek’s rise, but had kept my investor status secret and split all future profits with the company. I just wanted to protect his fragile ego.

Honestly, that one’s on me.

But once the company got paid back, they returned my investment immediately.

Now the company was broke, and the boss really had nothing left.

I had to admit, the boss might be mediocre at business, but he was honest. That’s the kind of person you want to work with.

“I’ll treat the money you returned as my investment.”

I told him, “All you have to do is follow my lead. Just like before, and keep my stake a secret.”

“Of course.”

He agreed immediately.

Once I wrapped up work, I headed home.

“I’m not doing it! Let someone else handle it!”

Carter, usually so calm, was red-faced and pacing the living room.

“What’s going on? Mom, Dad—what do you want him to do?”

I looked at my parents, who’d just returned from a business trip, trying to lighten the mood.

“Is it an arranged marriage?” I joked.

But Dad just sighed. “Look at your sister—if we handed the company to her, it’d go bankrupt in no time.”

He turned to Carter. “So you have to take over, to make sure your sister never has to worry.”

Ah, so they were picking an heir.

“If Sis tanks the company, I’ll just use my own to bail you all out. She’ll never go hungry with me around.”

???

“I’m not doing it either—I have my own things to take care of.”

I quickly stated my position. I didn’t want the family business. My brother was the obvious choice.

“What things? Didn’t you just break up with that loser?”

Carter frowned at me, already mapping out my career. “Now’s the perfect time for you to return to the family company. It’s a well-oiled machine—you could bankrupt it and it’d still survive.”

Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence!

“Why do you always see me that way? Can’t I have my own career?”

I stood tall, proudly announcing:

“I’ve invested in the talent agency where I used to work. I’m going to grow it into a real industry leader. I’m officially independent!”

“Oh.”

My parents and Carter exchanged a look, totally unfazed.

Not that I blamed them. I’d blown plenty of pocket money on random investments in the past—never saw a dime back.

“I know you don’t believe in me, but this time I’m serious.”

I was determined. “I’ll show you the results!”

Relying on family and Carter was nothing. I was going to slap Derek Ford in the face with my own success.

I wasn’t the same hopeless romantic I used to be.

With solid funding, the company quickly signed new talent and built a professional team.

The boss, watching things finally fall into place, was moved to tears.

“These rookies all have more potential than Derek Ford ever did.”

He sighed. “I used to think I’d invested too much, so I couldn’t let go of Derek. Looking back, I should’ve cut my losses sooner, like you.”

“Boss, are you hinting at something?”

Through the training room glass, I saw all those fresh faces—better looking, more marketable, and way more passionate than Derek ever was.

Back then, I invested so much in Derek just because I liked him. Now, I realized his fame was all thanks to my money.

“Boss, do you know who can change their fate?” I asked, smiling.

“The company? Me? You?”

“No—them.”