Vanya's POV
I continued, "Take a good look at the new contract. If you don't trust me, you can have it reviewed by the law firm in Beverly Hills. If you do trust me, I'll make you the biggest star within a year."
Calvert hesitated for a moment, looking at my earnest expression. "Why not promote Neville?"
After all, Neville was the most popular artist under Dalton Media.
"Neville will be kicked out soon," I said, though the timing wasn't right yet.
Calvert fell silent for a while, then asked, "What's the catch?"
"Catch?" I asked, puzzled.
Calvert said coldly, "Are you trying to get me to hook up with female clients for you, or are you looking to...?"
He didn't finish his sentence, but his eyes shifted nervously.
I suddenly understood what he meant and said, "I'm not talking about that! I'm not asking you to hook up with clients, and I'm not trying to keep you!"
Calvert pursed his lips. "Then..."
"If there has to be a condition, it's that you can't jump ship once you become famous. You'll always be my artist," I said slowly. "In return, if I don't make you famous within a year, you can leave without paying a cent in penalties."
Calvert looked at me, as if weighing the truth of my words.
At that moment, Grandma Sutton called from the kitchen, "Kal, come help me chop onions!"
Calvert glanced at the kitchen, then said to me, "I'll take your offer," before walking into the kitchen.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
That day, Calvert and I had dinner with Grandma Sutton.
I left afterward, not knowing what Calvert did once I was gone.
All I hoped was that this time, I could change the fate of both Calvert and Grandma Sutton and get Dalton Media back on track.
Over the next half-month, while I was recovering, I shifted all the company's resources to Calvert.
In just a few days, he landed three TV shows and four endorsement deals. His popularity skyrocketed at an astonishing rate.
When Neville heard the news, he barged into my office.
Bang! Neville slammed his fist on my desk.
Looking into his eyes, which were full of rage, I inwardly sneered.
Neville said furiously, "Miss Dalton, this isn't fair!"
The manager tried to hold Neville back but failed.
"Why did the company give Calvert the resources that should have been mine? Who does he think he is? Does he even deserve to be compared to me?" Neville was furious.
Listening to his complaints, I knew he had always enjoyed the best resources at Dalton Media. But now those resources were given to a college graduate who hadn't even debuted yet. Of course, he couldn't swallow this.
Leaning back in my chair, I calmly asked, "Do you want to know why?"
"Of course!" Neville said indignantly. "Did Calvert give you some kind of benefit? Or was he..."
I threw the file in my hand onto the desk.
Neville was startled by my sudden action. He probably thought I was a naive woman who hadn't been in this industry long and would be easy to bully. But now my eyes were full of dangerous warnings.
I said coldly, "Neville, you're just an artist under this company. Watch your words!"
Neville continued to argue, "I'm the biggest star here! Dalton Media's performance every year relies on me. You just took over, and you're giving my resources to someone else?"
The manager, seeing my expression, was sweating nervously.
I sneered, "Your resources? All your resources were bought by Dalton Media! The biggest star? Look at yourself—you're barely a second-tier male actor. You say Dalton Media's performance relies on you? Take a look at this ledger."
I threw the ledger in front of Neville.
Neville's face changed dramatically. The manager was also uneasy.
I said calmly, "All the profits from every artist in the company are subsidized to you alone, Eugene Adams. You've got some nerve."
"Miss Dalton, I can explain..." Eugene's voice was trembling with fear.
I knew he had done this to cope with the Dalton Group. Otherwise, with Dalton Media's business capabilities, it would have gone bankrupt long ago.
For me, spotting the tampered accounts was a piece of cake.
I glared coldly at Eugene, who was trying to find excuses but couldn't.
Every company has one or two executives who ask the finance department to alter accounts and embezzle funds. As long as the money is paid back without being discovered, it's fine.
But Eugene and Neville hadn't filled the gaps in the accounts for three consecutive years. Even after I took over and hinted at it, they still thought they wouldn't be caught.
It was just that Eugene thought I was a powerless figurehead who would only go through the motions. He was sorely mistaken.
"Eugene, I'm giving you two choices," I said.
"Miss Dalton..."
"The first choice is to be fired," I said, watching Eugene's face turn pale.
"The second choice is to resign voluntarily," I said with a smile. "You pick."