As the Triple Group continued to expand, South City was no longer enough to satisfy it.
They wanted to penetrate the city with the largest economy in the region, which was North Hampton.
Soon, the list of guests for the charity gala was announced.
“Ms. Lopez, take a look at the guest list quickly!”
Gerry and his staff brought over the list hastily.
“Morris!, Wilford, Trisha…” Zoey read out their names solemnly.
There were ten in total, and they were all new stars who the Oriental Star Group was promoting.
They had surreptitiously signed a spokesperson’s contract with the Triple Group without the company’s knowledge.
Zoey was infuriated. “Didn’t I say that we would decline to work with the Triple Group? Why did some of them still sign a contract still? Go and get all of them here!”
Meanwhile, Gerry replied, “Ms. Lopez, please calm down. Our contracts with them do not contain any clauses that bar them from freelance work. Hence, what they’re doing is not illegal and neither does it breach the contract terms. If there’s any conflict with them, it would not benefit us at all. Given how well received the two movies are currently, it would damage both our reputation and financials if we offended the lead actors.”
“Are you suggesting that we just bear with it?” Zoey fumed.
“For now, that’s our only choice. We have to pretend that we don’t know anything about it,” Gerry concluded reluctantly.
He did not expect to have been promoting such an ingrate. Maurice was even more difficult to deal with than Niall.
“Ms. Lopez, Maurice wants to see you.”
At that moment, Maurice arrived and threw a set of accounts onto the table.
“Zoey, the movie has grossed ten billion now!”
Zoey picked up the accounts and took a look.
Aren’t these the respective accounts for the two movies?
The accounts were supposed to be confidential. Other than the company and large broadcasting websites, no one had access to them.
“Where did you get the accounts from?” Zoey demanded.
Meanwhile, Maurice sat down and sneered, “It doesn’t matter where I got it from. I just want to know – how much are you going to pay me now that you made ten billion?”
“Maurice, stop being rude! You’re speaking to Ms. Lopez!” Gerry reprimanded him.
Maurice scoffed, “So what if she is? She’s still human. What’s wrong with my question?”
Zoey smiled in response. “Five hundred thousand. Your pay for both movies is simply five hundred thousand!”
“It has been decided in the very beginning that all the actors’ salaries combined would not exceed ten million. The company still needs to spend on special effects and pay the scriptwriters. Everyone knows that.”
Maurice nodded. “I understand that. But it’s obvious that the movies have made a profit of ten billion. Are you serious in just paying me five hundred thousand?”
Zoey’s lips widened into a broad smile. “That’s right. It’s because the contract states that your fee is five hundred thousand. Whether the film is a success or a failure, it has nothing to do with you.”
“Hahaha, didn’t you always emphasize that Oriental is a people-centric company? In the end, you still choose profits over ethics. How could you only pay the male lead five hundred thousand when the movie has made ten billion. Isn’t that simply unfair?” Maurice challenged.
Zoey remained expressionless. “I speak based on my principles and will follow the contract to the letter. No more, no less.”
“Fine, shall I expose this issue and let the public decide who is in the right?”
Maurice was smart to use the film’s popularity to blackmail the company.
“No, don’t! Maurice, please calm down. Everything is open for discussion,” Gerry interjected.
If the matter got out, it would be very damaging to both the company’s reputation and financial position, regardless of who was in the wrong.
“Maurice, name your price!” Gerry demanded.
“Three billion!”
