Half an hour ago.
Brandon, Jackson, and Felicia walked out of the contestants' backstage area, their expressions grim. This episode, they had aimed to sweep the top three spots, and the songs they performed were meticulously prepared by their label. Even Brandon's original song had been rearranged and improved by Gemstone Records' top songwriters. Yet, the best performing of the three, Brandon, only managed third place. Jackson and Felicia didn't even make it into the top five. Losing to a folk powerhouse like Chloe was one thing, but they hadn't even surpassed Frank Castle. They had no way to explain this to the company.
Sure enough, their joint manager approached them, demanding answers. "Felicia, Jackson, what's going on with you two? The company invested so many resources in you, and this is your performance?"
Elise, thirty-five, with a somewhat sharp face, had been an agent at Gemstone Records for five years. Her colleague, Sarah Chou, who started at the same time, had soared to success with Celeste Monroe, while Elise was still babysitting three young artists. Already feeling resentful, now these two were unsupportable. Only Brandon was slightly better, but he hadn't met expectations either. Elise grew increasingly agitated, pointing her finger at Jackson and Felicia and scolding them. Felicia, who had long felt Elise favored Brandon, retorted in anger: "Elise, Brandon didn't outperform Frank Castle and Chloe either! Why are you only scolding us two?"
"You have the nerve to say that?!" Elise glared at her. "Brandon, at his worst, was still top three. You two didn't even make the top five! Even without Frank Castle, you still failed to meet the company's goals for you!"
"Elise," Brandon suddenly interjected. "If Frank Castle genuinely wasn't in the picture, we are confident we could have surpassed Chloe."
Elise paused, staring at Brandon. "You mean, Frank Castle is the biggest threat?"
Brandon nodded. "You heard 'The Balladeer.' If Frank Castle can continue to produce songs of that caliber, then no one will be his match. Elise..." Brandon glanced around. It was a secluded area, no one passing by, but he still lowered his voice: "Have the company initiate a 'containment' strategy."
"Containment," or "defensive explosion" , referred to efforts to stop a competitor from gaining rapid popularity, including but not limited to creating scandals, exposing negative information, setting traps, and slandering. This was especially common among major companies, where tripping up a rival's rising stars was a frequent occurrence. Elise had engaged in such tactics before, but it was the first time she'd heard of applying a containment strategy to an indie artist. Such a move required significant resources and carried certain risks. She looked at Brandon. "Is it necessary?"
Brandon's face was bright and pleasant, with faint dimples when he smiled, but his words were unusually cold. "As long as Frank Castle is out of the way, the overall champion will definitely be ours. And when we become famous, we'll certainly help you, Elise, make a name for yourself too."
Elise deliberated for a moment, then slowly said, "I'll consider it." She still had to report this "containment" matter to the head of the PR department.
Brandon's eyes flickered, and he spoke again: "Elise, one more thing." He smiled. "Celeste is also on the show. Could we ask Mr. Evans to put in a word and have her look out for us?"
Felicia and Jackson echoed, "That's right! Celeste is like the future First Lady of the label. If Mr. Evans asks, she's sure to..."
"Shut up!"
Elise's face changed, and she sharply snapped. Felicia and Jackson jumped, then realized their mistake and quickly shut their mouths. The matter of Mr. Evans, the owner of Gemstone Records, pursuing Celeste Monroe and being rejected was a company taboo. Everyone knew it, but no one dared to mention it.
Years ago, when Celeste Monroe was unknown, it was Mr. Evans who, with keen insight, signed her and poured all his efforts into promoting her. Celeste Monroe herself also strove tirelessly, rising from a newcomer to the number one Diva, and Gemstone Records grew from a small company to the top entertainment company in the music industry. Mr. Evans, too, transformed from a once humble small business owner into an entertainment mogul. Everyone said Mr. Evans discovered Celeste Monroe, and Celeste Monroe completed Mr. Evans; they were a match made in heaven.
As Mr. Evans watched Celeste Monroe evolve from a delicate girl into an unparalleled diva, his feelings shifted from initial admiration to greed. Two years ago, Celeste Monroe won her third annual Artist of the Year award, officially cementing her place as the undisputed number one Diva. On the night of the celebration party, Mr. Evans formally confessed his feelings to Celeste Monroe. All the company's top executives and A-list artists were present. What was expected to be a perfect, romantic ending instead saw Celeste Monroe directly refuse him.
The celebration party ended abruptly. Everyone else rushed away. It was rumored that Mr. Evans and Celeste Monroe had a fierce argument afterward. Later, Celeste Monroe nearly had an accident on her way home, and the next day, her manager and assistant disappeared. Celeste Monroe also began to maintain distance from Mr. Evans. There were many rumors within the company that the boss and Celeste Monroe had been dating for a long time, but Celeste Monroe had become too powerful, turned her back on him, and was even preparing to start her own label. This woman was ungrateful and too ambitious.
However, at the company's annual meeting, attended by all employees, Celeste Monroe directly went on stage and publicly clarified that she and Mr. Evans had always only had an employer-employee relationship, and there was no romantic involvement between them. Even more astonishingly, Celeste Monroe then demanded that Mr. Evans publicly confirm her words. With so many employees watching, Mr. Evans had no choice but to admit that everything Celeste Monroe said was true. For all those years, he hadn't even held Celeste Monroe's hand.
That scene, fresh in the minds of Brandon, Jackson, and Felicia, who had just joined Gemstone Records, was unforgettable. From then on, no one in the company dared to mention the rumors about Mr. Evans and Celeste Monroe again. Felicia and Jackson also knew they had just crossed a line and lowered their heads awkwardly, not daring to speak.
Brandon said to Elise, "Elise, their point is that since Celeste is the company's top artist, it wouldn't be difficult for her to casually look out for us. It's just that the only one in the company who can give Celeste orders is Mr. Evans. This is about company interests, nothing else. You agree, don't you?"
Elise thought for a longer time this time. After a few minutes, she finally spoke: "You two go on ahead."
"Elise..." Jackson still wanted to speak, but Brandon was already pulling him and Felicia away. Jackson was unwilling. "Brandon, why are you pulling me? Celeste Monroe is a company artist; shouldn't she look out for us?" Brandon glared at Jackson. Idiot.
Once the three were out of sight, Elise walked to a secluded spot and called the Director of PR at Gemstone Records. Gemstone Records was too large, with numerous factions. Elise had long since aligned herself with the Director of PR, Theodore Chow, who was Mr. Evans's brother-in-law.
She mentioned the idea of "containment" against Frank Castle. Theodore Chow thought it unnecessary, believing Frank Castle wasn't worth the company's resources to target. She then brought up asking Celeste Monroe to look out for Brandon, Jackson, and Felicia. "Director Chow, if it's too difficult, just forget it. I just wanted to mention it. Wouldn't want to upset Mr. Evans."
Theodore Chow was silent for a moment, then chuckled. "Mr. Evans won't be upset; he'll be very pleased." Elise didn't immediately understand. Theodore Chow continued, "Once Mr. Evans has given Celeste Monroe her instructions, you can take the three of them to see her. They're all from the same company; how can they not look out for each other?"
After hanging up, Elise pondered for a long time, finally realizing. Mr. Evans hasn't given up on Celeste Monroe yet!
A few minutes later, Celeste Monroe received a call from Mr. Evans, the owner of Gemstone Records.