"That includes me interacting with you, and bringing in friends to collaborate with you. As those videos get released, your follower count will grow."
"And you saw this morning's proposal, I've already been in touch with my uncle. We'll get you some exposure opportunities on provincial TV programs."
Mira Sullivan's expression finally softened. She said apologetically, "Mr. Hayes, I didn't mean to lose my temper at you. I was just so frustrated after tonight."
"I understand, I understand. Anyone would be upset when their traffic gets siphoned off. To put it bluntly, we live off this traffic."
Iron Ox also softened his tone and said with genuine sincerity, "Bubbles, go home and get some rest. We'll have a meeting tomorrow to discuss things further."
"Alright. Goodbye, Mr. Hayes."
She politely closed the office door, but could still hear Iron Ox's angry cursing from inside: "Fucking hell, she won't let me touch her like she's some virgin, and keeps saying she's a lesbian."
"I'll have her underneath me sooner or later..."
Mira Sullivan pretended not to hear a thing, got into her Nissan, and drove away from the pany.
"Hello, the paperwork went through? Great, thank you for your trouble."
For now, she was only affiliated with Vivid Media for mutual benefit. After all, Iron Ox did have some connections in the industry, and the two had hit it off.
The contract they signed was quite unusual. Most panies wouldn't be so lenient with her, but Iron Ox's pany had just launched, all the new hires couldn't carry the weight on their own.
The agreement mainly revolved around money. For example, when she did cross-room battle streams with other influencers, Vivid Media would naturally send some gifts to boost the hype.
They had negotiated the costs for nearly a week before reaching a promise.
For instance, if 100 dollars' worth of gifts were sent, the platform took its cut and taxes (40%), leaving only 60 dollars in hand.
That 40% counted as operating costs, because Mira Sullivan's own accounts and side accounts remained entirely under her control, and she wasn't bound by Vivid Media's restrictions, she could leave anytime.
Iron Ox would continue crafting scripts, bringing in other influencers to collaborate, and giving her resources to appear on TV programs.
In return, Mira Sullivan would first help build the pany's presence, then use scripted interactions to help cultivate and grow the pany's new influencers and accounts.
They each got what they needed, a win-win situation.
So the final agreement was that they'd split these costs evenly. In other words, Mira Sullivan would work there, receive resources, but receive no salary. Instead, she'd have to invest her own money into the talent plan.
All revenue generated by her accounts belonged to her. The talent plan also included future plans for random local cross-room connections.
Before, she would have been confident and thought nothing of it. But now there were petitors, and three of them, arriving with fierce momentum.
And they were old rivals. Mira Sullivan didn't hesitate for a moment, she immediately put her small apartment up for sale and pawned her car.
On their side, they kept steadily releasing videos. Over at Blossom Media, they were methodically executing their counter-strategy.
There was no open warfare, they never met face to face or mentioned each other by name, but the intensity was like a knife fight.
Three days passed. Luis was getting a bit bored in the capital.
Xeno probably never expected that a GPS tracker had been planted under his car. Every day, as soon as Xeno left for work, Luis followed him.
He couldn't tail him inside the TV station, so Luis would rest at a hotel across the street. As soon as the car moved, he followed. When Xeno got off work, he followed too, snapping photos of who he ate with, who he met.
For workaholics, weekends were a joke. On Saturday night, Elara Ye worked until past ten before finally getting off.
Luis picked her up and took her to get a foot massage and a full body rub to unwind before heading home.
"I never felt this relaxed with your brother-in-law when we were together."
Elara Ye emerged from her bath like a vision, watching Luis busy in the kitchen, and teased, "Little Bin Bin is so adorable, handsome and hardworking. Your wife must be really happy."
Luis shamelessly replied, "Let's not make a big deal about my good looks."
Elara Ye murmured absentmindedly, "It's only since you arrived that this place feels like a real home. It was way too quiet before, I'd e back at night, drink, and pass out."
"I haven't turned on the TV in ages. Funny enough, people like us never have time to watch TV."
The sounds from the kitchen, the hum of the range hood, the wafting aromas... plus the TV that had been off for so long, and the living room AC running, it all felt unfamiliar yet warm.
The feeling of real life had once been foreign. Now, tasting it again, Elara Ye felt a rare sense of ease and fort.
"Big Sis, give this a try."
Elara Ye had grown up with every delicacy imaginable, never having to lift a finger in the kitchen. With her busy schedule, she'd just grab whatever was quick and easy.
Stir-fried snowflake beef with cilantro, braised beef ribs, spicy boiled tripe in chili oil, lamb tripe with yellow mustard, salted peanuts and edamame, all perfect drinking snacks.
"Wow, little brother, you're amazing! Your cooking could beat any restaurant out there."
After one bite, Elara Ye, who loved spicy food, lit up and gave him a thumbs up.
As she moved, her chest swayed noticeably, and Luis couldn't help but steal a glance.
After three days together, all the initial awkwardness had faded. It felt almost like they'd grown up together, natural and fortable.
She had changed into thin, silk shorts that barely reached her upper thighs. The fabric was so light and soft, and the pale color was slightly see-through, revealing a rose-red pair of panties underneath.
For women, summer's biggest torment was often the heavy bra, even in air conditioning. It was unfortable, and for those with sensitive skin, it could cause heat rashes. Many women hated wearing them.
Elara Ye was no exception. When alone at home, she liked to go topless, or even sleep naked.
Since Luis arrived, she'd dressed more modestly. But by last night, feeling unfortable, she'd gone braless for the first time.
Today, her shorts were quite revealing, any movement could expose her. Up top, she wore a cartoon-patterned tank top, loose enough that it was obvious there were no bra straps.
A hint of cleavage was faintly visible, and when she raised her arm, a glimpse of pale breast could be seen.
Too bad the top was dark-colored, so the outline of her nipples wasn't visible, just two faint little points teasing the imagination.
Noticing the man's gaze, Elara Ye didn't seem embarrassed. She blushed slightly as she opened a beer and teased, "You're eyeing your big sister's goods? What, is your wife flat-chested?"
"I wasn't doing it on purpose!"
Luis quickly looked away, smiling sheepishly.
He'd worked up a sweat in the kitchen, his clothes were soaked through. Summer kitchens were nothing short of hell.
Sitting down in the air-conditioned living room was pure bliss, like being released from torment. Luis grabbed a cold beer and downed half of it in one go.
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