Chapter 612: What Was He Planning?

“Let’s uncover the mystery behind Mylo’s sudden rise to fame and see how newcomers are making their mark in this fierce competition.”

“Breaking! Rayan’s hit song Moonlight just climbed to the top of the charts!”

One hot topic after another shot straight to the top.

Dave was surprised by how smoothly things were going. Blake had stopped making trouble and seemed focused on running the Lawson Group.

But what was he planning?

Dave leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, waiting for Michael’s call.

Emerald Artists Agency had become the hottest name in the country, attracting young hopefuls from everywhere. Bianca was swamped, managing the company while also leading the competition team.

Meanwhile, Blake’s Lawson Group was making huge profits from the event, leaving no room for anyone to challenge his position. Praise kept pouring in, and nothing seemed able to stop him now.

The chaos from the banquet had faded into the background, replaced by the booming success of the Lawson Hotel. Business was thriving, with many competitors, and viewers choosing to stay there.

Rooms 808 and 806 had become especially popular, once booked by Brenda and Reese, and are now favorite spots for influencers to check in.

It was clear that Blake had secured his place at the top. He had built a system where multiple parties profited, and in a small business circle like Edenfield’s, his rise was something others envied.

Not long ago, rumors had spread that the Lawson Group would collapse after Brady’s death. Yet within months, Brady’s illegitimate son had taken the company to new heights.

Critics called it luck, saying Blake was just a pawn for Universal Pictures.

Dave’s face darkened at the thought of him. While Phoenix Alliance Group and Emerald Artists Agency were in the spotlight, the real winner was Blake. If the rumors about him and Reese had been proven back then, he would still have come out ahead. Everything was falling into place for him. It was a long game, and he was playing it well.

He had barely escaped, thanks to Zane’s timely intervention. It had kept him from getting caught in any scandal.

Even now, Dave still didn’t know who was really behind everything, but he was certain it wasn’t Blake. He didn’t believe Blake could rise so fast after coming back from abroad.

Finally, Michael’s call came through.

“Dave, sometimes I think you’ve got some kind of supernatural intuition. You won’t believe what I’ve found!”

Dave had no patience for Michael’s theatrics. Last time, he’d shown up with a pile of irrelevant documents, even after Dave told him to stick to the essentials.

“Get to the point,” Dave retorted, clearly annoyed.

Michael’s suspenseful tone hinted at something, but Dave wasn’t in the mood. “I’m not in the mood for your nonsense right now.”

When Michael heard this, his tone turned serious. “I’ll keep it short. A friend of Brenda told me she first came to Edenfield to work with the Phoenix Alliance Group. From what I’ve learned from her family, she’s had her eye on Sophia and Reese for a long time. She also planned to scout a few top-tier male actors.”

“The thing is, Brenda isn’t one for drama. She made it clear she wanted to meet with the key actors and agencies in Edenfield quietly, behind the scenes. But something changed after she arrived. She altered her original plan.”

“From what I’ve found, Brenda is stubborn; she doesn’t change course easily. What’s more worrying is that her family hasn’t heard from her in a while. The only contact they’ve had is through cryptic emails, which is very unusual.”

Dave’s brow furrowed. Too many strange details pointed in one direction.

Before he could speak, Michael said grimly, “It looks like Brenda’s been coerced or controlled.”

Dave’s eyes narrowed. He had suspected this all along, but now it was confirmed. Whoever was behind this wasn’t an amateur. They were calculated, ruthless, and smart.

“This is more complicated than I thought,” Dave said, feeling the heavy pressure.

But what was the goal? This approach only seemed to benefit Phoenix Alliance Group and Emerald Artists Agency, especially after the failed attempt to ruin his and Reese’s reputations.

“It’s a tricky situation, but I have a plan. Want to hear it?” Michael’s voice carried a hint of pride. “Fair warning, it’s going to cost a lot.”

Dave paused for a moment, then nodded.

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

Michael explained his plan in detail. After thinking it over, Dave finally said, “We’ll go with your idea.”

When the call ended, Michael turned to the woman standing behind him. “Then you’ll be coming with me.”

Meanwhile, with Bianca’s help, Dave had arranged a meeting with Brenda. He needed to see for himself if his suspicions were correct.

“The meeting’s at the Edenfield Hotel,” Bianca told him over the phone. “I’ll be there first. If you’re free, head over now. Come early, and we can talk before.”

“Miss me?” Dave teased, a faint smile on his lips.

Lately, the two had been caught up in their own worlds, too busy to share any real time together. It felt like ages since they’d had a truly intimate moment.

“Hey, I have someone else here,” Bianca said quickly, her cheeks warming as she hurried out of the meeting room.

Diana watched her leave, instantly guessing that something Dave said had made her blush.

Once Bianca was alone in a quieter spot, she leaned against the wall and let out a deep breath. Her voice softened, almost like a confession. “I do miss you. Do you miss me?”

“Yes. Come back to the Waterfront Apartments with me after tonight.”

It had been a long time since either of them had been there, their lives tangled up in everything else.

“I’ll make sure to keep an eye on you this time,” she said firmly.

Her meaning was clear. Last time, her lack of vigilance had led to the trouble at the Lawson Hotel.

Dave’s expression darkened. “Last time, it was the wine Reese brought. That was the real problem.”

Bianca chuckled. “I was just teasing you. Are you still upset?” A small smile curved her lips. “I promise we’ll go back to the Waterfront Apartments tonight.”

Dave briefly stopped, then told her about Michael’s investigation.

“We need to watch things carefully during dinner. I’ve sent you some photos of Brenda at public events. See if you can get her thoughts on the matter.”

“It’s our only option. Blake will be with Brenda tonight, as she asked. I can’t exactly refuse,” Bianca said, her tone carrying a hint of doubt. “They seem close, but I haven’t noticed anything strange so far. Things look like they’re going our way. Are you sure you’re not overthinking this?”