bChapter /bb258 /b

    Ever since Maxine told her about Hamlin’s situation, she’d be even more obsessed than those directly involved, constantly scrolling through news and updates about Easnd Entertainment online,

    After the scandals broke out, many top–tier artists who could stand on their own left Easnd Entertainment. Those whose contracts were up refused to renew, and some were even willing to pay a fortune in termination fees just to get out.

    After all, Easnd Entertainment looked like a ticking time bomb right now. With the CEO caught up in kidnapping allegations, if things really went bsouth /band thepany copsed, let alone those massive termination fees, the artists could face aplete industry ban before thepany even bwent /b

    under.

    Not only would they be saddled with massive debts, but they’d also be cklisted from the industry for years, left with no choice but to be Easnd Entertainment’s cash cows.

    Hamlin’s hair had visibly grayed from the stress. These past few days had been pure hell for him.

    At Monday’s shareholders‘ meeting, several overbearing shareholders immediately confronted him, demanding a full exnation about the online rumors regarding the kidnapping case.

    No matter how he exined, the fact was that Hamlin did “invite” the Mason family’s son and Maxine up to that mountain vi. The police had already confirmed as much, though their statements were vague at best. Everyone could read between the lines and see what really happened.

    As if one crisis wasn’t enough, Hamlin’s mountain vi was soon exposed. Environmental groups questioned why, while all the other properties failed inspection, only the Jenson family’s vi was allowed to be built.

    An environmental activist posted a lengthy, professional analysis on an online forum, examining the construction costs and pollution impact bof /bbthe /bbvi /bon Southview. Screenshots of the post were turned into a video, which quickly went viral and even trended on Twitter.

    Hamlin sat in his office chair, scrolling through the webpage on hisputer. Public opinion was overwhelmingly negative. Thements under Easnd Entertainment’s official ount were aplete disaster zone. While the PR department could shut down thements section, they couldn’t stop the posts from spreading like wildfire.

    There was never a shortage of rubberneckers in this world.

    Thetest post on Easnd Entertainment’s official ount had itsments section disabled, but the staggering 60.9k retweets still bfelt /blike a dagger to Hamlin’s heart.

    A knock came at the office door. “Come in,” Hamlin called out, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

    The secretary entered cautiously, first casting a timid nce at Hamlin sitting there before speaking in a hushed voice. “Mr. Jensonb, /bMr. Woolridge called again. He insists you get back to him as soon as possible. And the PR department… they were wondering how you’d like to handle this matter.”

    They couldn’t just keep thements turned off forever.

    Easnd Entertainment must keep operating as usual, and their artists needed to continue working.

    The secretary hesitated, then said awkwardly, “Celeste Shorts attended an event this morning, but…” She pausedb, /bstealing a nervous nce at Hamlin’s increasingly grim expression, then forced herself to continue, “But she was confronted at the entrance by haters under bthe /bguise of environmental activists.b” /b

    They had no choice but to bite the bullet and swallow their pride. Since the current political climate was ball /babout benvironmental /bbprotection/bb, /bbthey /bcouldn’t very well say those views are wrong.

    Hamlin took ba /bdeep breath. “Is that it?”

    The secretary hesitatedb, /bclearly troubled by the recent spate of incidents. After a thoughtful pause, bshe /bbadded/bb, /bb“/bbA /bbpromotional /bbevent /bbin /bbBolkazan /bbhad /bbto /bbe canceled due to protester blockades. And our new show… well, it’s stuck in review because of… all bthis/bb./bb” /b