Rumors started flying around thepany like wildfire.


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    “I heard she’s just here to cash in, and her connections are even scarier than Leon Cole’s. Now she’s talking about changing all our contracts from ten or twenty years to freaking thirty. She’s basically Leon 2.0.”


    “Why can’t these people just go jump off a cliff or something? Why are we always the ones getting screwed? I was this close to only five years left on my deal, now it’s gonna be fifteen! Am I ever gonna see the light at the end of the tunnel?<b>” </b>


    “I heard at her oldpany, she’d force the female talent to sleep with clients. If you didn’t do it, you’d get shipped off to Raventon.”


    “Seriously? If that’s true, isn’t she even more ruthless than Leon Cole?”


    “Guess I really did get my hopes up for her for nothing.”


    As Ynda walked past the top floor, she couldn’t help but feel all those resentful stares directed <i>at </i>her.


    She assumed it was because she wasn’t moving fast enough. There was still plenty that needed reforming in Starlight, and she had to get a handle on all the rules before she could tackle anything real.


    Ynda had been working in the office until the evening, when she finally handed a folder to Walter, who was hovering behind her like her shadow.


    “Print this out, and once you’re done, give it to Ms. Hall,” she instructed.


    “Understood, Ms. Grant,” Walter said eagerly.


    Walter Hudson was tall, standing nearly six–foot–three, but his fashion sense was… let’s just say it desperately needed help. He always rocked suit pants paired with a id shirt that looked straight out of a programmer


    meme.


    Ynda’s gaze lingered over him before she let out a sigh. “Honestly, you should pick up some tips from online style bloggers. You’ve got a solid build–dress right and you’d be a total male model. Also, you really need to do something about your hair. And these sses–are they prescription or what? The lenses look thick enough to stop a bullet.”


    Ynda leaned in and reached out, about to take his sses off for a closer look, but Walter instantly backed


    away.


    ‘He must be shy about his looks,’ Ynda thought, deciding not to press it. “Just go print it,” she told him.


    With that, she slung her bag over her shoulder and got ready to clock out for the day.


    But the moment she stepped out of the elevator, some lunatic came barreling straight at her.


    “Ynda! Go to hell!” the person shrieked, their voice echoing with hatred.


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    22.00


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    Suddenly, a ss bottle flew at her, drenching her in a liquid with a sharp, acrid smell.


    Before Ynda could react, Walter hauled her out of harm’s way and shielded her in his arms.


    There was a sickening sizzle in the air as the corrosive liquid hit flesh, and terrified screams erupted all


    around them.


    Ynda was still in shock when Walter let her go almost immediately, barely pausing before dashing toward the exit. “I’m heading to the hospital,” he called out urgently.


    “I’ming with you!” Ynda called out, but Walter didn’t break his stride.


    Blood was streaming down his back, and the assant was still shrieking, “Why are you protecting her? Why defend that bitch? She’s even nastier than Leon Cole! She wants to bleed us dry, suck out everyst drop!


    Walter kept moving. “Ms. Grant, I’m used to handling things solo. You deal with the rest,” he said, his voice steady.


    With that, he left without looking back.


    Ynda wasted no time calling the police and handing over the security footage.


    As the crazed attacker was dragged away, their eyes fixed on Ynda with a venomous re, like <b>a </b>snake refusing to let go.


    “Ynda, none of us will ever let you off! Even if I’m thrown in jail, there are plenty more waiting to take you down!” the assant screamed. <fnf8b7> Updates are released by fin?novel</fnf8b7>


    Ynda realized then–someone must be behind all this, stirring everyone up against her.


    Without wasting another second, she headed back upstairs to Mary’s office.


    The young talent was standing in front of Mary, and when she saw Yndae in, she shrank back like Ynda was out to eat her alive.


    Ynda frowned, her gaze fixed on Mary. “What’s going on? It feels like all the talent suddenly hates me.”


    The young talent’s eyes were rimmed red and she bit her lip, ring at Ynda. “You’ve got the nerve to ask? Everyone knows about those new contracts you’re pushing–they’re even nastier than Leon Cole’s! I actually thought you were one of the good ones, but turns out you’re just another monster!”


    Mary barked, “Shut it!”


    The young talent instantly mmed up, her breath hitching with a shaky sob.


    Ynda realized–<i>someone </i>must’ve been egging them on from behind the scenes.


    She had the young talent pull up the message threads, and sure enough, the source was Ken Ford and Wayne Ford–the infamous brothers.


    But those brothers weren’t amateurs. In the group chat, they never spelled anything out directly. Instead, they


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    dropped crypticments, steering everyone step by step into getting riled up and suspicious.


    So with this kind of “evidence,” there was no way Ynda could nail them to the wall.


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    Ynda didn’t bother joining the group chat. Instead, she went straight to thepany’s website and posted an announcement herself.


    Hey everyone, we’re still working on the new contracts for our talent. If there’s anything unfair or out of line, it’ll get fixed–but it’s gonna take a bit. Hang tight and we’ll make sure everyone gets an answer they can live with.


    People wasted no time grabbing a screenshot and sharing it in the staff group chat.


    Some started hoping things might actually change; others just kept doubting everything.


    Ynda was just turning to leave when the young talent blurted out, “If you really are doing this for us, then I apologize.”


    Ynda paused, one hand on the doorframe, her voice cold as ice.


    “Save your apology. Instead of saying sorry, try actually thinking for once. Don’t let yourself get yed as someone else’s pawn next time–I have no use for fools hanging around me,” she said tly.


    Fools only bring trouble, letting themselves get stirred up and causing havoc at the slightest provocation.


    That was definitely not the kind of talent Ynda wanted.


    The young talent’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she couldn’te up with a single word to defend herself.


    Ynda didn’t spare her a second nce–she strode out, her figure disappearing through the doorway.


    The young talent nced nervously at Mary. “Ms. Hall, is she really mad at me?”


    Mary gave her a look. “What do you think? Word just came in–someone actually believed all these rumors and tried to ssh acid on her at the lobby downstairs. If her assistant hadn’t jumped in, she’d be horribly scarred right now. Leon Cole squeezed you guys dry for years, and you just swallowed it. Ynda hasn’t even started, and you’re already turning on her. Let’s be honest, it’s because she’s a woman, and you think she’s an easy target.”


    That’s exactly what pissed Ynda off the most.


    The young talent’s face went from pale to flushed, and she didn’t dare say a word.


    After leaving the office, Ynda called Walter to check on his injuries.


    “Ms. Grant, I got it all sorted out. I’m good,” Walter replied.


    “Where are you? Which hospital? I’lle see you myself,” Ynda insisted.


    “No need for that. I’m taking a week off–hope that’s okay. I just don’t like getting too close with my boss.


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    Protecting you is part of my job, after all,” Walter said.


    Walter really knew how to keep his boundaries, but honestly, Ynda preferred it that way.


    She promised to triple his sry, and he didn’t turn it down.


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    Tomorrow was the weekend, so Ynda didn’t have to show up at work–she’d already promised to spend the day withn.


    Ynda had just turned the key, ready to drive back to Moonbay Estate, when Renee pinged her with a


    message.


    [Did your friend’s kid make it? Heard she was bleeding out, pretty badly.]


    Renee Sinir never felt even a hint of guilt–she honestly didn’t see any problem with what she’d done. At the moment, she was out with ke Alston on a movie date. ke was in line at the popcorn stand, prepping to buy snacks for them.


    ‘Funny how all this couple stuff feels so fresh to me,‘ Renee thought, a little amused. ‘I’ve never really done the whole “normal date night” thing before.


    Just as Renee was about to fire off another message and stir things up, she suddenly noticed a shadow looming over her.


    A man’s voice cut through the air. “Are you Renee Sinir?”


    Renee thought for sure he was about to ask for her WhatsApp, so she gave him a side–eye and smirked. Yeah, that’s me. But honestly, with my outfit and my bag, do you really think you’re on my level? You actually have the guts to hit on me? Do you even know who you’re talking to?”


    Before Renee could even finish talking, the man lunged at her with a knife.


    Everyone around started screaming in terror.


    Renee started screaming <i>too</i><i>. </i>


    ke, still waiting in line, was stunned for a second before rushing over to block the man.


    But the attacker moved with chilling speed–he stabbed ke twice in the shoulder, each strike vicious and merciless, like he saw nothing but prey before him.


    Renee had never felt death breathing down her neck quite like this.