Chapter 70: Dirty Secrets

The 3rd-floor foyer stayed quiet for a long moment...

In the film industry, Julian Mercer was the executive who mattered. As COO of Apex Studios’ theatrical division, he oversaw production slates, budgets, and distribution schedules. Even established actors like Damon Vance and Camilla Frost treated him with careful respect.

Discovering that the man they had mocked as an uninvited guest was the chairman above Mercer cut the ground out from under them.

Damon stepped forward quickly.

"Mr. Lawson... Chairman Lawson, excuse us," Damon said, his voice unsteady. "We had no idea you held the chair at Apex. If we had known—"

"Our apologies, Chairman," Camilla added, keeping her head down. "We completely misread the situation."

Jude looked at them without expression.

Five minutes earlier, when they thought he had no influence, they were ready to call security to make a point for the cameras. The sudden apology came from panic, not sincerity.

Jude didn’t answer them. He turned toward Leonard Chen.

"Chairman Chen," Jude said. "Let’s head inside."

"Of course, Mr. Lawson," Chen replied, guiding the way toward the double doors of the ballroom.

Walking beside Jude, Chen kept his thoughts to himself. 6 months earlier, Apex Media’s board had been split by internal disputes and rival investor factions. Jude had stepped in quietly and secured controlling authority over the entire operation.

If he decided to move aggressively on Nexus Media, Chen thought, my board wouldn’t hold up for 48 hours.

Behind them, Damon and Camilla watched Jude walk into the ballroom. The lack of an answer made them even more nervous.

They turned quickly to Julian Mercer before he could follow.

"Julian, please," Camilla said, her voice dropping. "We didn’t know who he was. Can you talk to Chairman Lawson? Explain that it was a mix-up?"

"Julian, we’ve brought in hundreds of millions for the studio over the years," Damon added, wiping sweat from his face. "Don’t let a minor mistake hurt a 20-year relationship."

Mercer stopped, adjusting his cuffs, his face neutral.

"You decided to pick a fight with the chairman in front of 30 cameras, Damon," Mercer said. "I’ll handle the follow-up."

Mercer walked down the corridor and pulled out his phone, calling the head of production finance.

Mercer sighed. "Take Damon Vance and Camilla Frost off the lead roles tonight, and hold any new packages from their agency for the next 2 quarters. Let them sit out for a while."

90 seconds later, Damon’s phone rang. When he answered and heard his agent on the line, he leaned against the wall, realizing the $80 million package deal was gone.

Inside, the Grand Ballroom was packed with guests beneath high ceilings and chandeliers.

Waiters moved through the crowd with trays of champagne, while donors and studio executives stood in small circles across the floor.

Leonard Chen picked up two glasses from a passing server, offering them to Jude and Anna as they reached the reserved VIP table near the front.

"Mr. Lawson," Chen said after a moment, trying to ease into conversation. "Forgive me, but I haven’t been introduced to your colleague. Does she work on your executive team?"

Anna looked at him, her expression completely flat.

"I manage Mr. Lawson’s schedule and personal logistics, Chairman Chen," Anna said. "We can leave it at that."

Chen blinked, caught off guard by her directness.

Jude set his glass down on the table. "Anna oversees operations across my residential properties, Leonard."

Chen nodded quickly. "Understood, Mr. Lawson."

"Let’s get to the point, Leonard," Jude said, looking across the table. "You sent 3 requests for a meeting tonight. What’s on your mind?"

Chen paused, realizing there was no point in hedging.

"I’ll be direct, Mr. Lawson," Chen said. "Last week, Lawson Capital picked up a 30% block in Nexus Media Group, making you our second-largest shareholder. The board is nervous. I need to know if you’re planning a hostile buyout to replace management."

Jude listened calmly.

The 30% stake in Nexus Media had come through the System’s asset distribution...

While he had enough leverage to push Chen out, managing the technical infrastructure of a major streaming platform wasn’t how he wanted to spend his time.

Having a capable founder run operations while the firm collected dividends worked better.

"Your board is overreacting, Leonard," Jude replied. "We took that position for steady returns. As long as Nexus hits its numbers and dividend payments arrive on schedule, I’m not looking to take your seat. Run the business, and your role is safe."

Chen let out a quiet breath, the tension leaving his shoulders.

"Thank you, Mr. Lawson," Chen said, nodding. "We’re on track to beat our 3rd-quarter projections by 15%. I’ll make sure the numbers hold."

"Good," Jude said. "Anything else?"

"One administrative note," Chen said, glancing at the screens beside the stage. "The pledge drive starts in 5 minutes. Given where we’re seated, the organizers will probably approach Lawson Capital for a lead contribution. Do you have an amount in mind?"

Jude looked toward the stage, thinking back to the call he had overheard in the restroom 30 minutes earlier.

"Lawson Capital won’t be giving a dollar tonight," Jude said evenly.

Chen looked surprised.

At these events, most major funds contributed something simply to manage public relations.

"And if you care about Nexus Media’s standing," Jude added, "keep your firm’s checkbook closed until this is over. You’ll see why shortly."

Before Chen could ask, the room’s lights dimmed. A spotlight hit the center of the stage. The host stepped up to the microphone, and the 300 guests turned toward the platform.

"Ladies and gentlemen, trustees, and guests," the host announced. "Welcome to the Annual Metropolitan Philanthropic Gala. To open tonight’s $30 million pediatric endowment drive, please welcome our lead trustee... Mr. Gregory Vance."

Applause moved through the room. A man in his 50s with silver hair and a white dinner jacket stepped out from behind the curtain, smiling and waving to the crowd as he reached the podium.

"Thank you, everyone," Gregory Vance began, his voice projecting through the speakers. "Looking across this room, I see partners who make real work possible. Every dollar pledged tonight goes straight to our pediatric oncology clinics across the city. Tonight, we ask you to support that mission."

Another round of applause followed.

At the center VIP table, Jude sat back, his arms crossed, watching Vance at the podium.

The voice was an exact match...

It was the same man who had been in the restroom 30 minutes earlier, promising his mistress an $800,000 necklace paid for out of the children’s fund.

Jude tapped his phone in his pocket, where the recording was ready to play.