Hollywood Zenith



They reviewed minor details for the rest of the meeting; Samuel agreed to acquire company shares while Delphina already did. Before they struck with full force, they wanted to achieve a majority so that no one could dispute her leadership.

About the share of VITA, they left it in Samuel's hand; it would keep their enemies guessing whether Samuel was on her side or he was attacking her. The solution for Samuel's arrest was a statement from both parties coming to arbitrary terms.

Samuel might not like it, but he was an investor in his movies, and with his image taking a hit right before the release, it was better to sweep everything under the rug. His only wish was that Anne, the person who interviewed him and her colleague, should not face any prosecution.

They were the ones that helped him acquire the footage, and he didn't want them to be sidelined. Delphina ultimately agreed; she valued her employees a lot. If not, Joshua wouldn't be here, whose son was the culprit.

They ended the meeting on a high note when Delphina and Samuel shook hands for the first time. They were now partners, and Delphina gave him a special card to all of her family company's stores to show support. It came with plenty of perks; knowing Samuel's history, she made it exclusively for him.

When Samuel left, Serena teased her friend a lot; they got off on the wrong foot but, by afternoon, were comfortable enough to share jokes and laugh together. Delphina might have felt embarrassed if she knew what Serena was pointing toward, but her mind was filled up with business, so she never even considered relationships.

...

...

...

When Samuel was driving home, he received a call from Lucie, the American Express agent that helped him a few days ago. She told him about a castle that she heard about, but Samuel said he would meet in person because he had another job for her.

" Mr Samuel you are here, Let me park the car for you." Lucie was waiting outside the coffee shop when they agreed to meet. As usual, she was way too formal and polite in front of him.

" It's alright. I can see an open spot." After denying her offer, he parked the car and met with her.

" I have already booked the place for an hour, I know the owner so there will not be any problem but I could have came to you if you just given me the location." Lucie asked as they walked inside.

" I was wandering the city, so it's no big deal. I came because I had another matter to discuss with you." Samuel inspected the place; it was not big but had a calm feeling.

Unlike other coffee store chains, it felt much more personal; it looked like she lived pretty close to it, too, because she was not wearing anything fancy, just an overcoat with normal-looking trousers. Her hair was not done; it was a simple ponytail making her look like someone out on groceries. 

" I am sorry for my messy appearance. I didn't have much time and had to rush here to inform James about closing the store for an hour." She felt Samuel's gaze and immediately apologized. It was unnecessary, but he was used to other people who knew about his identity being afraid of him.

" It's fine. Shall we take a seat? I don't want to take much of your time." Samuel said it was better to ask her superior to assign her to him. He quite liked her character and her attention to detail.

" Ah, yes, I ask them to bring double shot espresso. They have some of the best coffee in town." Samuel was surprised, and seeing his face, she elaborated," I saw you order it twice when we went around the other day. I thought you liked it."

" Good, I am thankful. On the phone you said, you found a suitable property?" Samuel moved on to their business talk. He wanted to head home and play with Elise.

" Yes, I asked around, and there is indeed a good castle that was owned by a Viscount until he decided to put it up for sale. It's at the outskirt of the city because the land mass is huge, encompassing a large garden and even a vineyard!" Lucie had seen photos of the place and thought it would fit Samuel perfectly.

" That's sounds good, do you have anything-"

" Here, I compiled everything inside. There are only some high resolution photos I asked vice chairman of the estate company that is facilitating the sale. He assured me it's few days old but if you want I can visit personally or guide you to see for yourself."

Listening to her, Samuel inspected everything. It looked much better than he anticipated because a suitable property was rarely seen on the market. Someone with money would always buy it as an investment.

" I will trouble you with it. It says here there are many long-time employers that worked in the manor? Where are they now?" Samuel looked and saw more than thirty people employed by Viscount, cooks, gardeners, butlers, maids etc. It seemed he took care of the place diligently.

" As far as I know, they are waiting for the new owner; for now, their salaries have been halved to curb the rising cost. It's an important clause in the contract, the discussion about their fate." Lucie was not happy when she learned of their predicament. The previous Viscount took great care of his people, but since his son inherited the place, he had been cutting back at cost after losing vast amounts of money in bad investments.

Everything was neatly recorded, it was her personal information collection, but she needed him to see it as a potential buyer. Her loyalty lay first and foremost with Samuel; even if she felt wrong about those people, she had no choice but to look away if Samuel decided against it.

" There is no need to make that face, I already have a good solution, but you have to work hard for it." Samuel could tell it bothered her, he liked her integrity, but there was an obvious solution.

" Is there such a thing?" Lucie exclaimed but immediately calmed down with a blushing face.

" hahaha, how about transforming the place as a rental property? Just like how Buckingham Palace generate revenue, we can open the place for public for few months. There could also be a special occasion service, like marriage or birthday party, I believe it could sustain itself in few years?"

" Wow, amazing. That's a great idea! How did you come up with it on the spot!?" Lucie asked, but his answer was a little disappointing.

" It's not a new idea, since the time I decided to buy such a property I was wishing for this scenario. Have you ever seen me make a bad investment?" Samuel chuckled, looking at her displeased face. He could tell a lie that he was a genius or something, but he thought he had impressed her enough!

" Hmm.."

" What about it? Will you take the job? I can provide you with some trusted people, you only have to give some direction?" Samuel wanted her to do it, but she promptly answered.

" No, I don't think I am right for the job. Also, I have my job as an agent, which I like a lot." She was surprised to turn down his offer, but he anticipated her answer.

" You don't have to leave your job. I will ask your company chairman to assign you to me like before, in that way you can do your job which will be to assist me? After everything is set up, you only need to check on the property periodically. Isn't it a good deal?" Samuel offered her once again.

If someone else were to say they would settle it with the chairman, she would never believe it. American Express has a rich history spanning one and a half centuries! But she also knew Samuel had invested heavily in the financial sector, so Amex was no exception. He might not be the largest shareholder, but his words had weight, and if he wanted something, the company would always provide for it!

Samuel was offering her a job, so how could she refuse him?

" I will do it!"

" Good, you already have my number but I will send you someone else who will facilitate the deal. It will not be under my name but under a different project. Also you need to move fast, don't care about the money but I want the deal finished before I leave the country, alright?"

" Yes sir!" She exclaimed. As his fan, she had achieved the highest position by being able to talk to him casually and having his personal number was just a blessing! She vowed to give it her best as her idol was counting on her!

" Good, with that out of the way. I have another job for you, can you secure backstage pass for a upcoming event?"

" Huh? Event?"

" Yeah, it's a concert. Just try to get us to meet the band, but there are only a few days left. Can you do it?" Samuel could go through different channels and ask the president to do him a favour, as he already owed one, but it was too excessive. It would also be embarrassing to ask the leader of a country to help with some tickets!

" I can do it! Leave it to me; I will get you the best seats possible!" Lucie declared Samuel was smiling, seeing her enthusiasm, but he was bound to regret it when he found out what type of plan she hatched in only a few days.