Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Although Ricardo was puzzled, he didn’t let it show. After a moment of hesitation, he said,

“Okay.”

Following behind Ricardo, Brielle entered the elevator. Just then, her phone rang; it was Max, his voice tender and soothing. “Have you arrived?”

Brielle smiled, Just got here, about to meet with the management team.”

“If you’re unsure about anything, just ask me.” Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

“Will do. Focus on your work; don’t worry about me.”

After hanging up, Brielle watched the elevator numbers climb steadily.

Through the reflective elevator walls, Ricardo observed her. She didn’t seem like an artist; she had an air of authority about her.

The elevator reached their floor, and Ricardo led Brielle to the partially open door of Keagan’s office. The office door was ajar, and some rather embarrassing noises came from inside.

Ricardo felt a wave of awkwardness and wished he could disappear into a crack in the floor. He glanced at Brielle. “Maybe we should come back later?”

Brielle glanced at her phone. It was ten in the morning, work hours. What on earth were the higher–ups doing? “Is that Stellar Stage Entertainment’s top brass in there?”

Ricardo nodded, “The Director.”

As the sounds from inside grew louder, Ricardo wished he could barge in and knock some sense into Keagan, that bastard.

But he dared not. After all, Keagan was the Director of Stellar Stage Entertainment, and Ricardo’s power only extended to protecting himself. If he pushed Keagan too far, his sister could become a target.

Before Ricardo could react further, Brielle kicked the door open with a loud bang.

Keagan, who had someone pinned to the desk, was startled and instantly deflated. He looked up to see Brielle, and his eyes lit up. Hastily zipping up his pants, he instructed the other woman to leave.

The woman shivered, clutching her clothes as she scurried out.

Ricardo was stunned and quickly pulled Brielle behind him. “Director Keagan, apologies for interrupting. We’ll be on our way now.”

At nineteen, Ricardo stood nearly six feet tall, shielding Brielle almost completely. But Keagan’s lecherous gaze seemed to pierce right through Ricardo to settle on Brielle. “Ricardo, bringing a new artist to sign? Not bad. The company didn’t waste time training you–bringing in fresh talent, too.”

Keagan’s smile was full of satisfaction as he stood up and approached Brielle.

Ricardo stood his ground, “Director Keagan, she’s just lost.”

A sharp glint crossed Keagan’s eyes; it seemed he had been too lenient with Ricardo, who now dared to talk back. “The company doesn’t feed you for nothing. Move aside now, or I’ll have others come in and force–feed you some ‘medicine. Then you can entertain our new CEO. Your sister’s been sick for three years, right? Wonder if she’s even still alive.”

Rage flashed in Ricardo’s eyes, and he clenched his fists, “Keagan, I’ve tolerated you for too long.”

Hearing his name spoken so boldly, Keagan raised his hand, but Brielle intercepted it. She stepped out from behind Ricardo, grabbed Keagan’s incoming hand, and threw it aside.

Keagan was staggered by the force and stumbled back into his desk, his face instantly paling. “You bitch! What do you think you’re doing? I was being nice because you’re pretty. If I call the security guards now, you won’t get out of here in one piece!”

Ricardo looked worriedly at Brielle. “The guards here are professionally trained. I don’t know what you came for today, but we should leave. I’ll take you out the back door!”

“You trying to leave? Ricardo, do you want to forget about your twenty–year contract? I could sue you, and you’d owe the company thirty million. How would you pay for that? Once you’re in jail, who will take care of your sister?”

Ricardo felt a blockage in his chest, his legs rooted to the spot.

A smug look crossed Keagan’s face. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll bring that woman over to me. Such a pretty face, offering her to others would secure the company’s resources for the entire year.”

Ricardo’s fists tightened, loathing the man before him but feeling utterly powerless to stop him.