Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 451

Larissa explained calmly, “I have to prepare for the rights sale meeting. That’s why you’ll be representing Starlight Media.”

Ursa’s eyes lit up with a flicker of hope. “Prepare for the meeting? Ms. Judson, do you know Field of Lari?”

Larissa raised an eyebrow. “It’s not that I know her. I am her.”

“Oh, you are… wait, what?! Ms. Judson, what did you just say? You’re Field of Lari?” Ursa’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

Larissa nodded calmly. “Yes.”

“Ms. Judson, my dear Ms. Judson, this is not the time for jokes,” Ursa said, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Are you feeling alright? Has the stress of taking over the company been too much for you?”

“I am Field of Lari,” Larissa repeated, her voice steady.

Ursa looked at her with a complicated expression. “It’s not that I don’t believe you… but we’re talking about Field of Lari. The woman who single-handedly elevated genre fiction to the level of literary greatness. The author of four books that are both commercial blockbusters and works of art. A person like that… must be a brilliant, strategic genius. And you, Ms. Judson… with all due respect, you just don’t have that… vibe.”

“What kind of vibe do I have?” Larissa asked, genuinely curious.

“More… spontaneous. Uninhibited and flamboyant.” Ursa sighed again. “Fine. If you won’t go, then I will. I’ll represent Starlight Media tomorrow.”

It seemed that she, the loyal company secretary, would have to shoulder this burden alone.

“Take the new actress I signed, Leila, with you,” Larissa added.

“Alright,” Ursa said, her voice devoid of emotion. She was past arguing. She would do what she was told. After all, she was still drawing a paycheck from Starlight Media.

...

When the other employees saw the look of despair on Ursa’s face as she left the CEO’s office, they immediately sensed trouble.

“So if she’s not going to the meeting, what is she doing instead?”

Ursa replied, her voice flat with resignation, “She said she’s attending the meeting as Field of Lari, not as a representative of the company.”

The employees fell silent, staring at each other in disbelief.

“Is she… losing her mind?”

“If she’s Field of Lari, then I’m Chekhov.”

The head of the planning department threw a file onto his desk in disgust. “I knew it! The new CEO is all show and no substance. And to think, I turned down a job offer from Gale Entertainment with double the salary to stay here and work for… this! If we don’t get the rights to ‘Heaven’s Will’, I’m out of here.”

The finance director added, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “You probably haven’t heard, but I have it on good authority that the Judson Group has been losing money for years. Sprout Tech was in the red last quarter too. Maybe our new CEO can’t afford to bid on ‘Heaven’s Will’ because she’s too busy plugging holes in the other family businesses.”