Chapter 192: Refusing to Cooperate

Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Refusing to Cooperate

"Our Prescott Group holds Miss Morgan in high regard. We hope to work with you, and of course, in terms of profit, we’re willing to make the biggest concessions. You can name your conditions, as long as you’re willing to join us."

Levi Prescott was a shrewd businessman. He wanted to use Renee Morgan to make Ethan Sterling compromise, but he wouldn’t lay his cards out and expose his weaknesses—that would only let his opponent control the game.

This was an active move: by controlling Renee Morgan, he could restrain Ethan Sterling.

Once Renee Morgan signed the contract, she’d be walking into the trap he’d laid. Whatever the Prescott Group suffered today, he’d make sure to recoup it—with interest—from both Renee Morgan and Ethan Sterling.

But he hadn’t actually watched that variety show, nor did he really know what kind of person Renee Morgan was. Today’s negotiation was bound to go awry.

Renee Morgan was always rational and clear-headed; she knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. In the entertainment industry, no artist would ever get such a contract. Why would the client give it to her?

Because she was at the top, popular and trending?

If that were true, they should have reached out to her right after the show ended.

Isn’t it just because this industry is controlled by capitalists? Whoever they want to make famous will be famous. Whoever they want to disappear vanishes without a trace. The power of speech never belongs to artists; they’re just chosen, and serve as money-making tools maximizing profit.

In a society dominated by capital, what client would offer such terms? It’s not like they’re some tiny, resource-less, cash-strapped startup.

"Sorry, Mr. Prescott, my current company and I work well together. For now, I have no plans to jump ship." Renee Morgan closed the contract in her hands and pushed it back.

Levi Prescott and Mandy Sheffield exchanged glances. Then Levi stared at Renee Morgan for a moment before spreading his hands and giving a laugh: "Miss Morgan, in the City of Maridia, the only company capable of going head-to-head with our Prescott Group is a subsidiary of Apex Conglomerate. Your current company is too weak. If Prescott wanted to acquire it, you’d still end up as one of ours. So what’s the point in all this trouble?"

"Is that so?" Renee Morgan had anticipated he’d say something like this when she refused him. Unruffled, she replied: "Has it occurred to you, Mr. Prescott, that what looks like a giant to you may not mean much in someone else’s eyes?"

"Oh?" Levi Prescott smiled indifferently. If Renee Morgan had a bigger background, she wouldn’t be stuck in a small company. If not for Ethan Sterling, she wouldn’t even have this opportunity to sit at the negotiating table.

Renee Morgan didn’t care about his disdain. She spoke up: "If you want to acquire my company, go ahead and try. Let’s see if your company has the ability."

"Heh, Miss Morgan looks like a smart person, so why act so foolish now? Chief Sterling speaks up for you just for novelty’s sake. A woman who relies on favor and repeatedly creates trouble—there’s no man who would like that." Levi Prescott just assumed Renee Morgan was emboldened by her ties to Ethan Sterling, hence her fearless attitude.

"Oh." Renee Morgan’s face showed not a hint of anger, she said calmly, "My relationship with Officer Sterling is none of your concern, Mr. Prescott."

Levi Prescott saw that Renee Morgan was impervious to his words, and his face darkened.

Mandy Sheffield suddenly spoke up: "Do you know Chief Sterling’s family background?"

Renee Morgan was preparing to leave, but looked up at Mandy.

Mandy Sheffield originally intended to warn her, to make her back off, but seeing that beautiful, envy-inducing face, the words suddenly stuck in her throat.

Let her be arrogant for a while. If she drives Ethan Sterling to impatience and then realizes what she’s lost, that’s the real tragedy.

"You’re just a female celebrity—if you want wealth and luxury, marrying into a powerful family isn’t hard. Why harm others and yourself?" Mandy picked up her coffee cup, took a gentle sip, and set it back down: "Our Prescott Family is willing to pay for Nicole Prescott’s mistake, and we hope Miss Morgan will give our family some face. Let’s end things here. As for this contract, it’s our compensation to you. We hope you will accept it."

Mandy came from a family that spoke to the point; if Renee Morgan were smart, she’d know exactly what she meant.

Ethan Sterling and her were impossible.

They had come to settle the matter, hoping Renee Morgan would take the win and stop causing issues.

You’re just a female celebrity—if you want wealth and luxury, marrying into a powerful family isn’t hard. Why harm others and yourself?

Put aside the fact that Renee Morgan and Ethan Sterling didn’t have that kind of relationship—even if she wanted a partner, she wouldn’t necessarily demand they be from a wealthy family, with mountains of cash to support her. Sometimes, a compatible soul outweighs all material things.

Besides, she didn’t need money right now.

Ethan Sterling was excellent, and his value shouldn’t be measured in money. Even if he wasn’t born into a powerful family, he had a soul far above anyone else’s.

But Mandy Sheffield and Levi Prescott would never understand that.

Renee Morgan didn’t care to explain further. She stood up from her chair, looking at them calmly: "The issue with Nicole Prescott has already been resolved at the police station. As for Ethan Sterling..."

She could vaguely tell from their tone and expressions—probably Ethan Sterling had done something, maybe someone from District J’s leadership stepped in to warn them?

No matter what, Renee Morgan knew Ethan Sterling wasn’t someone unreasonable. The reason he acted this way was clearly because he disliked how the Prescott Family operated.

"Whatever he decides to do, it’s not something I can control." Her stance was clear: she wouldn’t interfere with Ethan Sterling’s decisions.

After saying this, Renee Morgan picked up her bag and left.

Levi Prescott wanted to have someone forcibly stop her, but Mandy Sheffield quickly grabbed his arm.

"Bang!" Levi Prescott slapped the table, his anger uncontainable.

"Judging by her attitude, she still doesn’t know about Ethan Sterling’s real identity," Mandy Sheffield frowned.

"None of us know the full details of Ethan Sterling’s background, let alone a female celebrity," Levi Prescott said, unfazed.

Ethan Sterling’s identity—whatever he was willing to let others know, that wasn’t a secret. But what he chose to hide, layers above would cover up, and nobody dared let out a word.

Even so, the public identity he had—his position in District J, the significance he carried before those above, the privilege to bypass anyone for any authority—was enough to make them look up in awe.

"True. Ethan Sterling would never marry her, so how could he ever tell her any of it?" Mandy Sheffield said casually.

Levi Prescott neither confirmed nor denied, frowning in annoyance: "If we can’t get Ethan Sterling to give in tonight, the investigation team will move into the company tomorrow. Even if our accounts are clean, what will the outside world think of Prescott Group?"

Mandy Sheffield felt helpless too but could only reassure him: "Tomorrow, let everything run as usual. I’ll personally host the investigators—they should give the Sheffield Family some face. We’re not afraid of a probe, and without evidence, there’s nothing they can do to us."