"You don’t need to think about it that much, just do as I say... then tell them it’s my demand, understand?" Charlize said coldly from inside the car, then hung up the phone and tossed it to her secretary.
Dressed in a black won’s suit, her golden mid-length curly hair draped down, her crossed legs sheathed in flesh-colored stockings, her face was expressionless, yet her chin was slightly raised. It seed as though nothing could catch her eye, her proud and cold allure was quite tempting.
The secretary didn’t dare to let out a breath from her position in the front passenger seat, just sitting up straight. Although she knew that saying a few words wouldn’t really matter now, she couldn’t help feeling inferior when facing Charlize. Not just her, most people at ABC felt the sa. The title of Iceberg Queen wasn’t given for nothing; even the CEO often spoke to her very politely.
Who was behind Charlize at ABC wasn’t a secret, and although there were always private whispers: "She only climbed up by sleeping with the chairman of the board!" many more people admired her. Not to ntion, the extrely high ratings from "Arican Idol" were evident to everyone except the blind. Even though the idea might have largely co from the person behind her, the effort she had exerted for the show and the various tactics she had employed could not be erased. If kicking out Fassbinder had allowed her to gain a foothold in the planning departnt, then the success of "Arican Idol" had firmly established her position.
Moreover, although the Iceberg Queen was not easy to approach, and she never spared those who made mistakes, her sense of asure was always right, and she did not appear affected; therefore, the employees in the planning departnt still very much supported her. She never interfered with matters outside her own departnt, even with such strong backing, she still played by the rules. Being capable and rule-abiding, the higher-ups also had a very good impression of her. In just a little over a year, she had beco a key figure at ABC.
Interestingly, ABC and other TV networks and dia groups all had partnerships. Executives from those companies who t Charlize couldn’t help but make small talk, extend invitations, or even send flowers to woo her, but alas, they all t with disappointnt, without exception. There were also a few who knew of her background and still clung to their wishful thinking, but the Iceberg Queen never gave them a second glance. However, she did accept the flowers they sent.
"Use them to decorate the office so that everyone can co to work in a good mood every day. It’s like making the most of waste," she said lightly.
Only the flowers from a certain person were always thrown away rcilessly. No matter how fresh or beautiful they were, unsigned and with only a small card attached with many cheesy words written on it, many employees speculated whether the Iceberg Queen knew the sender, suggesting perhaps he had offended her before; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so dismissive. Only the secretary knew it wasn’t the case, though every ti she read the card, Charlize would snort with comnts like "Here it cos again" or "Just these old tricks," her lips would always curve up involuntarily, like a ray of sunlight refracting through the iceberg, a fleeting brilliant glow that could make any woman’s heart flutter.
"I’ll go up by myself; you wait here for a while," Charlize instructed her secretary after the car reached its destination and they proceeded from the parking lot to the lobby, where she inquired with the front desk receptionist.
Then, she took the elevator to the designated floor and walked down the corridor. The transparent secretary office soon ca into view. Charlize couldn’t help having so complicated thoughts every ti she saw this. Even though she’d been Adrian’s secretary for seven years, she would change offices every few years, and her ti spent here was the least, and now...
She quickly collected her thoughts because Ivanka wasn’t in her own office at the mont. Although there wasn’t any particularly special item on the desk, it probably wouldn’t be... Of course, it was hard to say, Adrian was very playful. So Charlize decisively walked to the office door and knocked with a firm "knock, knock, knock."
"Co in," Adrian’s languid voice ca out quickly.
Upon entering the office, Charlize imdiately raised an eyebrow. Adrian was leaning back in his high-backed chair, propping up his head, seeming to be troubled by sothing—but to her years of experience, it seed like he was up to sothing.
"Ah, dear Charli, you’re finally here. I thought I’d have to wait until tonight... in bed... to talk," Adrian said, opening his arms with an exaggerated tone, then suddenly pausing for so reason, his brow furrowed.
"What’s wrong?" Charlize narrowed her eyes slightly and sat down in front of the desk, casually asking.
"Nothing... It’s just... today has been a bit botherso. There was a eting earlier about the final preparations for ’The Matrix,’ and surprisingly... Sophie and Monica unanimously want to play that French man’s role," Adrian sighed, appearing genuinely troubled as he shook his head.
"Is that what’s got you stumped?" Charlize snorted, leaning back in her chair, crossing her legs as if she were in her own office, not Adrian’s. "That’s not like you, Ed."
"Of course not, it’s just... uh... that... uh... let’s talk about your business. You ntioned before that you had an idea that needed my support?" Adrian hemd and hawed for a bit then suddenly changed the subject, his face appearing sowhat peculiar.
Charlize raised her eyebrows again, continuing calmly, "You know, every September in Los Angeles, there’s a screening of TV series to facilitate the purchase of new shows by various networks. Although ABC has your kind of freak support..."
Adrian sharply inhaled and then snapped back to attention, saying hurriedly, "Freak? How can you use that word to describe ?"
"Isn’t that how I always refer to you?" Charlize’s tone remained light, but her fist clenched involuntarily, "Anyway, ABC will participate, but as the head of the planning departnt, I hope to put more effort into reality shows. This past year has given a deeper understanding of the operation of the TV network, so I have an idea. However, after proposing it to the departnt, opinions were divided, with both support and opposition. So I ca over wanting to know your opinion, because... everyone knows you’re the expert in this area."
"Ha, should I feel flattered?" Adrian laughed, "Well then... tell your thoughts."
"My ti at ABC was incredibly beneficial, especially handling the entire process of ’Arican Idol’ from auditions to the finale," she snapped back to attention in an instant. "The majority of viewers don’t really care who wins in the end; what they relish is the sense of participation and control. The episode with the highest ratings apart from the finale was the one where a previously eliminated contestant was brought back by audience vote. The ratings would have been even higher if it weren’t for the fact that the contestant, a man in his thirties, almost won the finale after nearly being eliminated."
"Yeah, I know, young female singers are easier to make famous. That’s what you and Universal Records agreed on," Adrian said with a cheeky smile. "Which is why I’ve always thought you won the bet by cheating."
"That’s slander, Ed," Charli replied disdainfully as she slowly got dressed again, "We just gave that girl from New Jersey a bit more screen ti and tweaked her story to be more inspiring. And when reporting on her competitors, we simply added a hint of suggestion, that’s all."
"Alright," Adrian shrugged, shifted his position to make Ivanka more comfortable and then gestured for her to go on.
"The initial concept is this: an unknown poor kid suddenly inherits a fortune from a distant uncle and becos a millionaire. He intends to find a future spouse through a television program, leading nurous girls dreaming of marrying into wealth to eagerly participate." Charli gave Adrian a aningful look, its original inspiration obvious even without being stated.
"Of course," she continued, "if that were all, it would end up just another tacky talent show. So, when the show is nearing its end, we’ll reveal that the guy is actually still a pauper with not a penny to his na. This dramatic twist, along with the decisions of the participants involved, will attract countless viewers. Of course, to keep the show positive, we could have a girl choose him in the end, and we’d also write a check for at least a million dollars for him. The specifics on how it will work can be planned after we finalize the details. So in the departnt think it’s a viable concept and, if done well, could create a ratings peak. But others believe it’s deceptive and could devalue the network’s credibility. So, I want to ask you—Ed? Ed!"
"Yes, I’m listening!" Adrian jerked back to reality, hurrying to say and then adding under Charli’s dissatisfied gaze, "How to Marry a Millionaire!"
"What?" Charli said, puzzled.
"I an, the show could be nad... that," Adrian suggested earnestly.
"How to Marry a Millionaire?" Charli repeated, then raised her eyebrows, "You an..."
"An excellent concept," Adrian gestured approvingly, "Fully amplifying the materialistic side of human nature and presenting it in a very dramatic way is sure to attract a large audience."
"So, what do you think about the deception?" Charli asked imdiately.
"Isn’t ratings what a network aims for?" Adrian retorted with a smile. "Co on, Charli, such a show could only run for one season. With that in mind, what is there to worry about?"
He sighed suddenly, "You really shouldn’t have co to , Charli, this was your idea."
"So, if I didn’t visit would nobody say that?" Charli countered.
"...True," Adrian chuckled.
"Say what?" Ivanka, who had dozed off on him, was now coming to and lifted her head to chi in.
"Nothing, darling Innie," Adrian laughed, "rest well, I’m right here with you..."
He stopped abruptly, then suddenly checked the ti, letting out a shrill, "Oh, damn! I have dinner with Lily tonight!"
------------
The beauty of this world lies in its unpredictability. Even with Adrian’s foreknowledge, he couldn’t be completely certain of what might or might not happen. He could never have imagined that the reality show ’How to Marry a Millionaire,’ which created a ratings frenzy through deception and only lasted one season in his previous life, would be born from the mind of Charli!
Adrian could swear he never ntioned anything related to this reality show to Charli, so it must have been entirely her own idea. What more can one say? Even the handling was nearly identical... Charli really was exceptional, truly capable of achieving sothing with whatever she undertakes.
This too was a way he was changing the world. Adrian thought sowhat smugly to himself. As for poor Fox, since ’Arican Idol’ and many other series were snagged away, one more wouldn’t matter.
With his support, the show naturally went through without a hitch. Then, by late-August, as Adrian was preparing for ’The Matrix’ and trying on the role of a Frenchman, the world was once again altered because of him—Arica’s super-popular idol singer and the world’s number one record-selling diva, Britney Spears, after finishing her world tour, announced through her agent that she would be taking a break from work to further her studies at USC Thornton School of Music! (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian to vote for it, subscribe, or purchase a subscription. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
Reviews
All reviews (0)