Chapter


    91


    Ophelia said, "First, send out the casting call before Sungate Entertainment can act" Janies was frustrated, but he still instructed his assistant to handle it.


    After hanging up. Ophelia speared a piece of bacon with her fork and held it up to Keh''s lips. "Darling, have some


    bacon."


    She had to soothe Keh somehow. With the look Keh had given her just now, she worried something might happen to James.


    "What have you been up totely?" Keh asked, epting the bacon but not eating it immediately.


    Ophelia replied, "Trying to figure out how to bankrupt the Hastings family. How about you help mee up with a n?"


    "What do you want me to do?" Keh finally ate the bacon she offered.


    Ophelia smiled slyly, her eyes shining with cunning as a n began to form


    Meanwhile, at Hastings Group, the secretary, Nor


    Davis, burst into the meeting room, flustered.


    "Mr. Hastings, something terrible has happened. Nora was breathless, and her face flushed


    Monday''s regr meeting was abruptly interrupted, and all eyes turned to Nora.


    Owen leaned back in his chair, his face darkening with irritation What''s got you so worked up


    Nora took a deep breath. "Mr. Hastings, the government is going to expropriate thend at the West End Ser Field to build an airport."Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "What?" Owen mmed the table and shot up, his head spinning "Quick, call in some favors and make contacts. There''s still room to maneuver before the formal documents are issued.


    Nora swallowed hard, nervously handing Owen a document. The formal notice. It''s already been issued."


    "Why so sudden Harry shot up from his chair, snatching the document and scanning it.


    "They''re offering only 30 million dors? Just an eight-million-dorpensation?" Harry''s eyes widened in disbelief. The initial auction price for thend was 22 million dors, and the government was offering only eight million dors more forpensation. It made no sense.


    Harry thought, ''Back when we acquired thend, Hastings Group has spent 80 million dors. Now we are looking at over 30 million dors in losses just on thend alone. Worse, the entire project has been financed through bank loans, meaning the Hastings family... The room erupted in chaos, with everyone talking over each other like a swarm of flies.


    By noon, the business world was buzzing about the news. The 80 million dors Hastings Group spent on thend was back in the spotlight, with many mocking the decision. Competitors who had missed out on the deal were now relieved they hadn''t won the bid The Hastings family had made a disastrous move, and there were doubts about whether they would even survive this blow.


    After the Hastings family''s disgrace at Theo''s birthday party the previous night, Owen had spent the entire morning making phone calls, but no one was willing to help.


    Hastings Group''s recent ventures had all been struggling. The only sessful entity was Sungate Entertainment, but now, with Hastings Group in trouble, Sungate was suffering as well. Their artists were terminating contracts,


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    At the same time, Ophelia-handed James a video,


    The video showed Elliot lounging in his office chair, smugly flipping through a script. "Who would have thought that after writing so many scripts for me, Kevin still had such a gem in him? Too bad for him. He''ll never be more than a ghostwriter. Leaving me? Thepanies he works with now must regret it ble time." His assistant echoed. That''s for sure. Kevin''s house doesn''t even have a security camera. It was too easy to sneak in and grab this. He doesn''t even use aputer. He writes everything by hand. What an idiot."


    Elliot chuckled, "Make sure you publish the script online, register the IP, and don''t forget to post on Twitter tomorrow,"


    His assistant nodded. "Got it."


    James previously tense expression rxed after watching the video. "How did you manage to get this video?"


    "You ask too many questions.


    Ophelia had tasked Eric with this, and Kevin''s manuscript was safely returned as well. This matter could''ve been resolved differently, but Ophelia had registered Kevin''s work online the day she found him, just in case. The video was an unexpected bonus Elliot''s shameless admission that Kevin had been ghostwriting for him all these years was the perfect ammunition. Not only could this clear Kevin''s name, but it would also expose Elliot for his years of giarism.


    "Don''t release the video yet, Ophelia said. "I''m showing you this just to put your mind at ease. This afternoon, you take Kevin to the casting call as nned. Don''t worry about anything else."


    James still had questions, but he felt much more at ease now. "Alright. I''ll do as you say?"


    He thought, ''Ophelia has a way of making everything feel like it is under her control. I am d I haven''t invested in Elliot''s project. Otherwise. I''d be facing her as an adversary!


    At Hastings Vi, everyone had been called back for an emergency meeting at noon.


    "Dad, what are we going to do?" Nathan was the most anxious. If Hastings Group went under, the project he was working on would have to be shelved Without quick returns, he might not be able to pay back his loans. Everyone was waiting for Owen to make a decision. Owen turned to his housekeeper. "Paul, reach out to Rosewood Manor. Isn''t there still 27 million dors left from the wedding gifts? It''s been six months, so they should be ready to give us the rest of it."


    He thought, That money could help us stay afloat for now."


    Heather''s face paled at the mention of Rosewood Manor. She had secretly gone to confront Keh to defend Emily and had ended up making things worse. Keh had no intention of paying the rest of the money.


    Heather wanted to speak up but didn''t dare, so she remained silent.


    Owen continued, "Stop production on Sungate Entertainment''s film. Transfer some of thepany''s funds to cover the deficit


    Rumor had it that the government project had the support of Sinir Group, meaning the airport construction wouldn''t be halted. The priority now was keeping thepany operational until their other ventures could turn a profit.


    As soon as Emily heard about halting the investment for her film, she immediately turned to Nathan for help. She thought, Stopping production on my film would mean losing to Silverline Media. I have worked hard to manipte public opinion against Ophelia and Silverline. I couldn''t let them catch a break now!''


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    "Dad, we can''t do that. The film is already in production. If we stop now..." Nathan''s voice faltered, especially under Owens harsh re. He didn''t dare finish his sentence.


    "At a time like this, you''re telling me it can''t be done? Fine. Then give me a solution. Owen snapped, his face darkening with


    frustration.


    Nathan nervously nced at Harry. "Maybe Harry could go to the bank and take out a loan under his name. Once we things, we can repay it with thepany''s profits." Harry clenched his fists, seething with anger as he red at Nathan.