Helena’s jaw tightened. “Lightness doesn’t sell subscriptions, Kaelen. Edge does. Remember the Dark Vows series? You made that a hit. Not giggles.”
That night, Helena didn’t go home. She sat in her glass-walled office overlooking the empty soundstage, scrolling through entertainment news on her tablet. Every headline seemed designed to mock her. MissaX 23 02 17 Helena Locke Jealous Mommy XXX ...
She got into her car and didn’t start the engine. Instead, she pulled out her phone and deleted the draft of a far crueler plan—one that would have buried Sable in a development deal for three years, the industry’s version of exile. Helena’s jaw tightened
“The analytics show a fad,” Helena cut in, her voice silk over steel. “I’m protecting the long-term brand. Kaelen needs a dramatic reset. Sable needs to prove she’s more than a one-trick chemistry hire. We announce tomorrow.” Remember the Dark Vows series
The last one was from a gossip blog she’d never even heard of. Someone on set was leaking. Her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: “He looks happier without your strings, Helena. Don’t you think?”