Chapter 596
Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)
Antonio didnât have the dazzling looks like the other members of the Dorsey clan; he was more of the delicate and slender type. However, he was in good health, his only flaw being an unnaturally sickly complexion that made him appear frail at first glance.
âAntonio, when you head to work, try to avoid butting heads with Max, okay? Michaelâs taking this very seriously this time, and heâs got an ace up his sleeve. If you really tick him off, Iâm afraid weâll end up in the same boat as Ryan and his family. For now, letâs hold our horses, stick to our roles, and just watch how this showdown between the two powers unfoldsâwho will come out on top.â
Antonio set down his beer bottle, a sharp glint crossing his eyes. He was curious to meet Brielle. Did she really possess such allure?
Uncle Max was even willing to pass over Miss Alivia in favor of her. What was it about her? Was her charm in bed that remarkable, or was there some other hidden wealth or background?
These folks were all about selfâinterest. Nobody believed in soâcalled love. They were sure that unless there was something more valuable about Brielle, Max wouldnât have been interested.
It seemed that a thorough investigation was in order.
While William and Antonio were strategizing, Brielle had already returned to Stellar Stage Entertainment.
Donny had been pacing the floor with restless anxiety since her departure, and now that she was back, his eyes lit up. âMs. Haywood, youâre back! Did Mr. Dorsey give you any trouble?â he asked eagerly.
The thought of Max brought a rush of memories, including the husky sounds he made at the height of passion, causing Brielleâs cheeks to blush involuntarily. Her eyes shimmered, hinting at vulnerability and stirring protective instincts.
Donnyâs face went pale. âMs. Haywood, you werenât⦠fired, were you?â
Snapping back to reality, Brielleâs lips curved into a smile. âDonât worry, Iâm fine. Mr. Dorsey is quite reasonable.â
As she spoke, the few who had gone to Dorsey International to tattle came sidling over, unable to meet Brielleâs gaze.
Brielle raised an eyebrow, curious to see what they were up to now. If they had indeed conjured up more outrageous schemes, she wouldnât mind showing them the door alongside the others.
One of them hung their head, their voice tinged with concern. âMs. Haywood, Iâm willing to donate my entire yearâs salary to the company for script development.â
âMe too, Ms. Haywood.â
âWe were blind to your abilities before, and we hope you can forgive our shortsightedness.â
10-21 Donny was taken aback to see such a display of contrition from these usually difficult executives. They were known to be the sort who would swing whichever way the wind blew, always siding with the most influential party at the moment. These three, in particular, had a reputation for sticking together, which often made them a headache to deal with; even Keagan sometimes found them challenging.
Now, here they were, making overtures to Brielle?
Brielle arched an eyebrow. They were certainly quick to catch on.
These were highâlevel execs under Dorsey International, raking in millions a month. Offering up a yearâs salary was a significant gesture of goodwill, especially considering their previous endeavors at Stellar Stage Entertainment had been less than scrupulous.
âYouâre volunteering this, so donât come crying to labor arbitration later, claiming Iâve withheld wages,â
she warned them.
âOf course not, Ms. Haywood! Weâre blessed that youâd even consider our offer.â
âYes. Ms. Haywood. Your youthful leadership at Stellar Stage Entertainment is a stroke of luck for us all.â
Brielleâs lips twitched, sensing their true nature as weathercocks. She waved them off impatiently.
âAlright, I wonât fire you. If youâre willing to donate, I wonât refuse. After all, a yearâs salary is a drop in the ocean compared to what youâve extorted from Stellar Stage Entertainment in the past.â
The men laughed awkwardly, unable to muster a response.
Donny watched in amazement, feeling like he was gaining insight into new realms of possibility. After the executives left, he turned to Brielle. âMs. Haywood, this is-â
âPerhaps theyâve had a change of heart. Now go on, attend to your work.â With that, Brielle entered her office.
Donny remained in the hallway, a surge of excitement welling up within him. Brielle hadnât been troubled by Mr. Dorsey, and it seemed that those executives had come off worse after lodging their complaints. Clearly, Brielle had some clout at Dorsey International, which explained her bold reforms at Stellar Stage Entertainment.
Feeling more confident than ever, Donny was determined to work hard. Perhaps Stellar Stage Entertainment was on the verge of a new era!
Once in her office, Brielle leaned back in her chair, massaging her waist with a grimace. Those two hours might not have been Maxâs limit, but they had certainly pushed her to her own.