CHAPTER 43: PRS 43

"Yes, good. Try looking to the right a little, lifting her chin... a sharp gaze straight ahead. Yes, that’s it! Perfect! Hold her expression, don’t change it yet!"

Click! Click! Click!

The photographer continued to direct the pose while adjusting the camera’s position on Reina, who had already changed outfits twice during the Chika Jewelry product shoot. The spotlight flashed brightly, reflecting the glitter of the jewelry around the young girl’s neck.

As soon as she heard Reina had arrived at the company and the photography crew was ready, Isabella immediately moved up the shoot schedule. The twenty-two-year-old had wanted to witness firsthand the first shoot after the company’s system was upgraded with the newly implemented Phoenix System.

"Very good," Isabella said, watching from behind the scenes. "I love her final expression. Her energy is strong yet elegant. This is exactly what the client requested. Reina really understood the brief well."

Siva, her personal assistant, jotted something down on a tablet. "Miss, the results are amazing. The production team said this was one of their best shoots ever. Even the photographer said Reina was very professional and easy to direct."

Isabella simply nodded slightly. "That’s natural. Reina truly deserves a major project like this. She’s been oppressed by a flawed system for so long. Now’s her time to shine."

However, the calm didn’t last long. As soon as Thania arrived and found the new photo shoot location, it was all over. The young woman’s face immediately turned bright red, her eyes blazing with anger.

"You bitch! How dare you steal my contract! That’s my contract! I got the offer first! Who do you think you are? Just a third-rate model who suddenly got lucky!" she shouted loudly, making everyone turn.

Before Thania could attack Reina, one of the company’s security guards, who had been on standby, sprang into action. "Miss, if you continue to cause a disturbance, we will not hesitate to take firm action," said one of the security guards in a calm but firm tone. "This is a professional workplace, not a market. Please behave yourself."

These words only further infuriated Thania. "You corporate dog! You have no idea who I am! If you dare touch me, the Xander family will deal with you! I can have you fired with just one phone call! You and your family will regret it for the rest of your lives!" she said arrogantly.

Watching the scene, Isabella, already fed up with Thania’s behavior, simply sighed. She glanced at Siva. "Enough. I’m tired of dealing with people like this. There’s too much drama for today."

Restraining herself, Isabella secretly sent a message to Ana, asking her to contact Alesio Xander to teach that woman who likes to use other people’s big names a lesson.

"What is your relationship with the Xander family?" Isabella asked with a disgusted expression. "As far as I know, they don’t have relatives like you. A family that big wouldn’t have a member who behaves this lowly."

Thania snorted, raising her chin arrogantly. "A young girl like you dares to defy me? You know nothing about our family ties! I’ll make sure your name is no longer in the capital! You’ll regret ever defying me! Trust me!"

"Really?" Isabella said dryly, then chuckled. "Wow, what a coincidence. Mr. Alesio just called. Let’s ask him directly, are you really part of the Xander family? Let’s clarify this right now in front of everyone here."

Thania’s face paled for a moment, but her arrogance quickly took over. "Nonsense! I don’t believe that’s really Alesio Xander! You must have hired a cheap actor to trick me! Do you think I’m stupid?!"

"Hello, Miss Isabella," a deep baritone voice echoed from Isabella’s phone. The room instantly fell silent. All eyes were on the phone screen, which now displayed Alesio’s handsome and dignified face.

Isabella smiled calmly. "Mr. Alesio, sorry to interrupt. I wanted to ask, is this woman named Thania really your family? Because she keeps threatening me using the Xander family name. She says she has close ties to your family and can protect them from any trouble."

Alesio’s face on the screen turned cold. He glared at Thania. "Is that ugly woman claiming to be my family?" he asked flatly. "I’ve never even seen her face before."

The words were like an invisible slap. Thania’s face instantly paled, her body trembling violently.

"Don’t you know," Alesio continued sharply, "the only family I have is my grandfather and my son. No one else. If she claims to be part of the Xander family, she’s probably just risen from the grave. Or maybe she’s claiming to be the ghost of my long-dead ancestor."

The room immediately erupted in laughter. Even some of the crew couldn’t help but laugh at the cold sarcasm from the man known for his seriousness.

Isabella held back a smile. "Then, aren’t you going to report him to the authorities, Mr. Alesio? I think many people have been deceived by him. This isn’t the first time he’s used your family name for personal gain."

At that, Thania immediately knelt down, prostrating herself at Isabella’s feet, crying. "Please, forgive me! I was wrong. I have no connection to the Xander family. I just... just casually mentioned that name! I didn’t know it would go this far! Please don’t report me! My family will be embarrassed!"

"Just casually mentioned?" Isabella tilted her head, looking at him in confusion. "So you think you can use the Xander family’s great name as you please? You think they don’t have the law? You think defamation has no consequences?"

Alesio, still on screen, glared at her. "I’ve been patient enough. But since he dared to touch you, Miss Isabella, I won’t be silent. My lawyer will process this case immediately. He must learn that there are consequences for every foolish action."

After saying that, the video connection was immediately cut off. Everyone stared at Isabella with a mixture of respect and admiration.

Isabella looked at Ana. "Give Thania the dismissal letter now. Immediately, before she causes another commotion."

Ana, who had prepared the documents earlier, handed them over without further ado.

"From now on," Isabella said firmly, "the company has no further involvement with you. All employment contracts you signed without our knowledge are your personal responsibility. Your name is also blacklisted. You will no longer be able to deceive or harm others using the name MIO Entertainment. The entertainment industry in this country will know who you really are."

With that, Isabella turned to leave, followed by Siva, who gestured to an employee who was livestreaming.

The influencer—who had been prepared by Siva—immediately pointed her camera at Thania, who was still prostrate on the floor, her face streaked with tears and her makeup a mess. "Guess what, guys! You heard it yourself, right? Thania is not part of the Xander family! This is straight from Mr. Alesio Xander himself! For those of you who have been deceived, you can sue him, because Xander’s team is also processing the legal case! Share this video with everyone who has been deceived by Thania!"

The live broadcast immediately exploded, with thousands of viewers streaming in within minutes. Thania’s name became a trending topic that afternoon.

Shortly afterward, a video clip of Alesio Xander claiming he didn’t know Thania went viral on all platforms. The public laughed at Thania’s arrogance, daring to use the conglomerate family’s reputation to deceive.

But what attracted even more attention was Isabella Clark. Her beautiful face, captured on camera, became a hot topic.

"Crazy! So young, but already the big boss of MIO Entertainment!"

"Young, beautiful, rich, and intelligent. This is the definition of a successful woman!"

"Isabella... do you want me to be your husband?"

"If I can’t, then just make me your assistant!"

Comments like these flooded the social media feeds on various platforms. Isabella’s popularity skyrocketed, making all the projects under her name even more widely known.

This positive effect was precisely what Isabella had planned. She knew that when a major project with the Xander Group launched, the already-established wave of public opinion would help accelerate its success.

"The more people know me, the easier it will be to expand my network," Isabella muttered softly, staring at her phone screen. "Make sure all social media analytics data is recorded. I want a public growth report next week. Details on engagement rates, follower demographics, and public sentiment."

"Yes, Miss," Siva replied. "The system has been collecting data since this morning. Everything is being recorded properly and will be analyzed soon."

But this popularity also had another effect—rumors about Isabella’s closeness to Alesio Xander began circulating online. Many assumed their relationship was more than just business.

"If they’re really together, they’re the most perfect couple in the capital!" wrote one gossip portal.

Elsewhere, Isabella’s older brother, Almes, read the news with a dark expression. He immediately summoned several of his trusted aides. "Investigate who Alesio Xander is. I want to know everything about him—his family, his business, his reputation, even his hobbies and habits. I don’t want my sister involved with a dangerous man," he ordered coldly.

Seeing her sister’s overprotective attitude, Liora could only sigh. "Almes, don’t be so possessive. Isabella isn’t a child anymore. If she finds out you’re investigating her, she’ll be furious. You know how Isabella is when she’s angry, right? She might decide not to talk to you."

Almes looked at Liora seriously. "I know. But I can’t stay silent. I just want to make sure she’s safe. She’s my only sister. I can’t let just any man approach her without knowing her background."

Liora smiled faintly. "You always do, even to me. But as for Isabella, it’s best to keep an eye on her from afar. She’s a stubborn girl, you know that. She doesn’t like being restrained or told what to do."

Almes nodded slowly, trying to calm his heart. In his heart, he vowed to protect Isabella from anyone—especially men who might be tempted by her beauty.

And his worries were justified. As soon as Isabella’s image went viral, the conglomerates in the capital who were looking for potential sons-in-law immediately took notice of the young woman.

Many big businessmen were competing to partner with MIO Entertainment just to meet Isabella in person. The company’s popularity skyrocketed, opening up collaboration opportunities with various major brands.

However, this good news actually infuriated Mr. Heru. All of his minions had been eliminated by Isabella. Thania—his main pawn—had committed a major folly and been ousted from the company with a ruined reputation.

Now, the old man could only sit in his office, holding his heavy head. "That girl..." he growled softly. "That girl destroyed the plans I’ve built over years in a matter of weeks. All the money I’ve invested, all the relationships I’ve built, it’s all gone to waste because of her."

He clenched his fists, the veins on his temples bulging. "Just watch, Isabella Clark. I won’t stand idly by. You’ll regret challenging me. I’ll make sure you pay. You and your company will be destroyed."