Chapter 266: New Partners

Chapter 266: Chapter 266: New Partners

As her agent, Shelly not only managed her acting work and commercial deals, but also had to filter out countless trivial invitations. He fielded dozens of calls a day and often worked past midnight before heading home.

Chen Shiyu, meanwhile, had practically moved into Facebook’s office with his team, troubleshooting technical issues and operational strain brought on by the user explosion. He hadn’t had a full night’s sleep in days.

That afternoon, just as the Facebook video conference ended, Shelly found Irene. Exhaustion was written across his face, but his eyes were resolute. "Irene, we need to talk."

They sat on the sofa in the study. Vera brought in two glasses of warm water and quietly stepped out.

"I know you’re swamped, but some things can’t wait," Shelly said, taking a sip before getting to the point. "The current team can’t sustain your workload anymore. I’m your agent, not your CEO. Vera is an assistant, not a project director. Chen Shiyu can run Facebook, but he can’t manage your film investments and philanthropy work. Ever since you moved into investing with Million Dollar Baby, your scope has expanded, but the team hasn’t kept up."

Irene didn’t argue. She listened in silence. No one knew the strain better than she did, and Shelly was right.

"Last week I had to meet with investment banks, and I missed a critical script evaluation. I nearly cost another client a great project. If he complains to the agency, I’ll be in real trouble. Vera worked three nights in a row and almost slipped up coordinating with the editing team yesterday. And Chen Shiyu’s people are running on fumes. Some of them are already burning out."

Shelly’s tone softened with concern. "You’re not just a director anymore. You’re a director, investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist rolled into one. You need a professional team to back you up."

He paused, then continued. "My advice is to find someone who knows Hollywood, understands investment and management, and has real industry connections. Someone who can work independently and handle your film financing and commercial partnerships. That way I can focus on your acting and PR, Chen Shiyu can focus on Facebook, and Vera can handle day-to-day coordination. Everyone stays in their lane, and we avoid mistakes caused by overload."

Irene leaned back against the sofa, her fingertips tapping the armrest.

Shelly was right. The past few weeks had left her feeling stretched thin, and it was starting to affect her efficiency.

She knew that if she wanted to keep climbing — especially with the Facebook IPO ahead — she needed a stronger team behind her.

"You’re right," she said after a moment, her voice carrying a hint of relief. "Things have been too chaotic. I’ve felt the problem myself. I just hadn’t found the right time to bring it up. It’s time to expand the team."

Relief crossed Shelly’s face. "Good. Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye out for candidates. Ideally someone with management experience at a major studio, or who’s run investment projects independently. Character and competence have to be top-tier. No room for error."

"Mm." Irene nodded, then added, "A few more requirements. First, they have to share my philosophy — film is both art and commerce. I don’t want a dinosaur or a pure mercenary. Second, they must be discreet. A lot of my work involves trade secrets. Nothing can leak. Third, they need real execution skills. No talkers who can’t deliver."

"Understood." Shelly noted the points carefully. "I’ll tap my network and ask around the industry. I’ll move fast to find someone who can take some of the weight off you."

Just then, Vera knocked and entered with an urgent document. "Irene, this is the preliminary IPO evaluation from the investment bank. You need to review it today. They want to meet tomorrow morning to go over the details."

Irene took the file and flipped through it. Her relaxed expression turned serious again. Seeing that, Shelly stood. "You get to work. I’ll start reaching out to people now and look for candidates. I’ll update you as soon as I have leads."

"Okay." Irene looked up, her tone grateful. "Thanks for everything, Shelly."

Shelly smiled. "It’s my job. But don’t push yourself too hard. Take care of your health."

Watching him leave, Irene took a deep breath and turned her focus back to the report.

...

Ten days later, in New York, autumn had settled over the streets of Manhattan.

The glass facade of Rockefeller Center reflected the clear blue sky. Facebook’s newly relocated office was here. The open workspace was sleek and modern, dominated by black, white, and gray, with occasional greenery breaking up the lines.

Irene had just wrapped a meeting with the Goldman Sachs investment team. Her head was filled with partnerships and loose ends, the sheer volume giving her a headache.

Shelly was buried in urgent matters in Los Angeles and couldn’t make it. He had repeatedly stressed over the phone that she needed to be extremely careful with this interview.

Irene leaned back on the sofa in the reception area. She wasn’t expecting much — just someone professional, pragmatic, and capable of working independently.

After all, the odds of finding the right partner on the first try were about the same as a debut film becoming a blockbuster. She had beaten those odds once, but that didn’t make them any better.

Five minutes later, there was a soft knock on the office door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a middle-aged Caucasian man stepped inside. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

He looked to be around forty, medium height, with a solid, well-proportioned build. His appearance was unremarkable. His light brown hair was neatly trimmed without any trendy styling. His eyes were gentle, his nose straight, and his jaw had the softness common in middle-aged men. He wouldn’t draw a second glance in a Manhattan crowd.

Only his impeccably tailored dark gray suit and the steady competence in his gaze hinted at a seasoned executive.

Irene’s casual look sharpened instantly. She sat up straight, and a flicker of genuine surprise crossed her eyes.

She didn’t just know this man — he had left a major mark on her career.

The former Marketing Director of MGM Studios — Robert Smith.

Back when she finished her first film, Legally Blonde, it was Robert who overrode internal skepticism at MGM. He saw the film’s commercial potential immediately and pushed for a nationwide theatrical release. That decision turned it into a box office dark horse and gave her, a newcomer director, her first real foothold in Hollywood.

Later, because of her, he had been sidelined by office politics, moved from Marketing to Home Entertainment. The last time they met was two years ago, when Irene flew to New York for the Victoria’s Secret show. She hadn’t expected to run into him here today.