The man''s words were foul, his breath reeking of alcohol. Yvonne was about to p him when Marina suddenly grabbed his arm, forcing a coquettish smile. “Mr. Ward, don''t lower yourself by arguing with a little girl. Besides, you promised that tonight, it would just be me."


    Marina clung to Mr. Ward''s arm, her body pressing against his.


    The man let out a heartyugh, his greasy fingers pinching Marina''s chin. "Look at you, you minx. Fine, tonight you''re all mine."


    He wrapped his arm around Marina and started to lead her back into the room, but he couldn''t resist onest leering nce at Yvonne. "You just wait," he sneered. "Sooner orter, you''ll end up in my bed too."


    "Mr. Ward, why are you still looking at her?" Marina whined, physically turning his head away from Yvonne.


    Her voice was soft and yful, but Yvonne didn''t miss the flicker of disgust in her eyes.


    "Marina," Yvonne started to follow, but an arm shot out, blocking her path.


    She turned to see Sandra, her face grim.


    "Stay out of it," Sandra said. “Let''s go.”


    Yvonne hesitated for a moment, then followed Sandra out of the club.


    Once they were in the car, Yvonne fastened her seatbelt and asked, "Was Marina there by choice, or was she forced? And that man, Mr. Ward... what did he mean by ''the rules''?"


    Sandra let out a cold, cynicalugh.


    She didn''t start the car. Instead, she rolled down a window, lit a cigarette, and took a long drag. “You don''t know the rules at Nexus Media? No ying along, no sleeping with clients, no resources."


    "That scumbag George! Is he running an agency or a brothel?" Yvonne''s face was pale with rage.


    She truly regretted dying before she had the chance to put him behind bars.


    “He must have victimized a lot of artists over the years. Has no one ever fought back? Has no one reported him?” Yvonne asked.


    "Trading your body for resources is a ''voluntary'' act. You can break your contract, sure, if you can afford the astronomical penalty fees. George is careful He only signs artists with no connections or background. They''re easy to control and pose no threat to him," Sandra said, flicking ash from her cigarette.


    George had started as a poor kid who wed his way into a good university, then married into the wealthy James family.


    Once he had power, he didn''t use it to help others. Instead, he preyed on those who were just like he used to be-poor, ambitious, and desperate.


    He drained them dry to fatten his own pockets. A man like that had to face a reckoning eventually.


    "Sleeping with clients, huh?" Yvonne said with a chilling smile. “Next time an opportunityes up, arrange one for me. I''d love to see for myself just how George pimps out his female artists."


    At Nexus Media, there was a party almost every night.


    The very next day, Sandra arranged one for Yvonne.


    "I''m not worried about your fighting skills," Sandra said as they drove "Just remember, don''t drink


    anything that''s already been opened or that you''ve left unattended. Be careful with any food or snacks.


    “I''ll be waiting in the car. Call me if you need anything."


    "And one more thing. There are some important people here tonight. Try not to piss them off too badly. I''m still technically Chairman Spencer''s trusted subordinate, Don''t make my life too difficult."